Hit and run, uninsured motorist claim denied — my car's been sitting dead in my driveway for 3 months

This happened to me almost exactly. Hit and run in a parking lot, UM claim opened, adjuster went dark for two months, then I got a vague letter saying the claim was 'under review pending additional investigation.' What finally moved things was sending a formal written complaint to my state's Department of Insurance. I'm not exaggerating — within two weeks of filing that complaint I got a call from a supervisor at the insurance company. Worth trying.

They do this on purpose. Close the claim quietly, hope you don't push back, save themselves the payout. The adjuster going silent isn't an accident — it's a strategy. Do NOT just let this sit. Document every call you've made with dates and times. That paper trail matters if this escalates.

I used to work claims and I'll be real with you: closing a UM file because they 'can't confirm' the other driver was uninsured is a stretch. UM coverage generally exists precisely for situations where you can't identify or verify the other party. The argument they're making is flimsy. That said, some policies do have specific language requiring a physical contact requirement or a corroborating witness for hit-and-runs — dig out your actual policy documents and check. If the language doesn't support their denial, you have grounds to appeal formally.

A few practical steps: First, send a written letter (email + certified mail) to your insurance company formally requesting the specific policy language and reason for denial in writing. They are generally required to provide that. Second, look up your state's Department of Insurance — most states have a consumer complaint portal online and insurers take those seriously. Third, keep a log of every contact attempt. If you ever talk to a PI attorney, that documentation is gold.

Not legal advice, but what you're describing — a UM claim closed without a clear written denial citing specific policy exclusions — is something personal injury attorneys who handle insurance disputes look at pretty regularly. Many offer free consults. The fact that you have a police report from the day of the incident is important. That's corroboration that a collision occurred. Worth at least one conversation with someone who knows your state's insurance laws.

Stop calling. Start writing. Every single communication from here on out should be email or certified letter so there's a record. Then file a complaint with your state insurance regulator — Google '[your state] department of insurance complaint' and it takes like 15 minutes. That's your fastest lever. Also pull your full policy document tonight and read your UM section word for word.

Three months without a working car while getting stonewalled is genuinely exhausting, I'm sorry you're dealing with this. You did everything right — stayed at the scene, got the police report, filed promptly. This shouldn't be happening to you.