Hit and run driver admitted fault over text but now ghosting me — what do I do?

I went through almost the exact same thing last year. The person was super apologetic at first and then just disappeared. What ended up working for me was going through the DMV — in my state you can submit a formal request tied to a police report and they can pull the registered owner's insurance information. It's slow but it works. Definitely don't let that police report sit — follow up on it in a few days.

Be really careful about going through your own insurance even with UM coverage. Once you file, your insurer becomes involved and they have their own interests — not yours. They might go after the other driver's carrier themselves but you could still end up absorbing some cost or dealing with a rate bump. Exhaust every other option first before you let your own company into the mix.

Those text messages are genuinely valuable — more than most people realize. When I worked on the claims side, written admissions like that changed the entire trajectory of a case. If you can identify his carrier (sometimes you can find this through a DMV records request linked to a police report), and you send them those screenshots, they will take it seriously. Adjusters are trained to spot liability when it's handed to them in writing. Don't sit on that evidence.

A few practical things worth knowing: First, follow up with the police department in writing — email if you can — so there's a paper trail that you're actively pursuing this. Second, in most states, leaving the scene of an accident is a misdemeanor, and police can compel insurance info if they issue a citation. Whether they will is another story, but the report gives you leverage. Third, those messages could absolutely be used to file a third-party claim if you identify his insurer. Talk to someone who handles PI cases — a lot of them do free consults and can tell you exactly what your options are.

Not legal advice, but just to echo what others are saying — written admissions in a hit and run situation are genuinely significant. The tricky part is identifying his carrier without his cooperation, but a police report combined with DMV records can sometimes get you there. If you hit a wall, a personal injury attorney can often track that down through channels you don't have access to on your own. Most will look at a case like this for free before you commit to anything.

I just want to ask — are you physically okay? Even low-speed parking lot impacts can do weird things to your neck and back, and symptoms sometimes don't show up for a few days. If you have any soreness, stiffness, or headaches at all, please get checked out and document it. I've seen people brush off minor discomfort and then deal with real problems months later.

Ugh this is so infuriating to read. He literally admitted it over text and now he's hiding. I'm sorry you're dealing with this — it's such a violation. Please don't let him off the hook. Keep pushing on the police report and maybe talk to someone who can help you figure out next steps. You did everything right here.

Stop waiting for him to respond and stop hoping the police magically fix it. Take those screenshots, file the police report follow-up in writing, find out if your state has a way to pull insurance info through DMV on a reported accident, and consult a PI attorney — this week. You have a solid paper trail. Use it.

Quick question — did the witness who took the photo give you a statement or contact info? If this ends up going further, her account could matter. A photo alone shows a car leaving; her saying she watched the actual impact is a different level of evidence. Worth reaching out if you haven't already.