patient-stoat-6225/16/2026

Intersection crash — no cameras caught it and I'm stuck without a car. Any hope?

This has been the worst two weeks of my life and I'm honestly just venting but also genuinely asking for help because I don't know what to do.

So here's what happened. I was driving through a busy intersection on a solid green light — totally normal, going straight. Out of nowhere a driver coming from the opposite direction made a left turn directly into my path. Full collision. My car is absolutely done.

Here's the problem: I only carry the minimum liability coverage because money's tight. My own insurance basically told me there's nothing they can do for my vehicle since I don't have collision coverage. The police report apparently just says "failure to yield" on the other driver's part, but the other driver's insurance is dragging their feet and sort of implying it's not so clear-cut.

The thing is — I know I had the right of way. A left-turning driver is almost always supposed to yield to oncoming traffic. But without a witness or footage, I feel like I'm just talking to a wall.

Here's what I'm thinking though: there's a gas station and a pharmacy on two of the corners of that intersection. Those places almost always have exterior cameras. I just don't know how to actually get that footage before it gets recorded over. Is that even something I can request on my own?

Also — the other driver's insurance hasn't formally denied my claim yet, they're just being slow and vague. Is that a tactic? Should I be pushing harder?

I'm bumming rides to work and I genuinely cannot afford to keep doing this much longer. Any advice from people who've been through something similar would mean a lot right now.

9 replies

Most helpful first

humble-finch-8045/16/2026
I went through almost the exact same thing last year — left-turn crash, other driver's insurance playing dumb. The camera thing is REAL and it saved me. I physically walked into the gas station near the intersection, asked to speak to a manager, explained there was an accident, and asked if they could preserve the footage. They were actually really cooperative. You usually only have 24-72 hours before it loops, so if you haven't done this yet, go TODAY. Like right now, before you finish reading this thread.
- clear-hare-7775/16/2026
  "Slow and vague" from the other driver's insurance is absolutely a tactic. They're hoping you get frustrated, give up, or say something they can use to reduce their payout. Don't recorded-statement them without thinking it through carefully first. They are not on your side — even when they sound friendly and sympathetic on the phone.
humble-tern-8185/16/2026
I used to work claims for a carrier and I'll be straight with you: when liability is even slightly unclear, adjusters are trained to sit on it and let time pressure work in the company's favor. A left-turn vs. straight-through collision is actually pretty standard in terms of fault — oncoming traffic almost always has right of way — but without hard evidence they'll keep stalling. Camera footage or a witness statement changes the whole conversation almost immediately. Get that footage first, everything else second.
- spry-hare-1135/16/2026
  A couple of practical things here. First, you can send a formal written preservation letter to both businesses near that intersection asking them to hold any footage from the date and time of the crash. You don't need a lawyer to do this — just write it out, include the specific date/time/location, and deliver it in person or via certified mail. Second, the other driver's insurer typically has a duty to investigate and respond within a reasonable timeframe — what counts as "reasonable" varies by state, but prolonged silence can sometimes be escalated to your state's insurance commissioner. Not legal advice, just stuff I've seen work.
swift-marmot-3465/16/2026
Left-turn collisions carry a strong presumption of fault against the turning driver in most jurisdictions — that works in your favor. The camera footage piece is genuinely your most urgent priority right now, because digital footage overwrites fast. If you want a free case evaluation, most PI attorneys offer them and won't charge you anything upfront. Not legal advice, just general info — but seriously, don't wait on the footage.
mellow-dove-0525/16/2026
Are you doing okay physically? Sometimes after an impact like this people brush off soreness or headaches because they're so focused on the car and insurance stuff. Please don't ignore your body — some injuries don't fully show up until days later. Even if you feel mostly fine, it's worth getting checked out and having it documented. That documentation matters more than most people realize.
- patient-crane-8855/16/2026
  Quick question — did the police actually cite the other driver at the scene, or is "failure to yield" just your interpretation of what happened? And did you get a copy of the actual police report, or are you going off what someone told you verbally? The exact wording on that report matters a lot for how the insurance company reads the situation.
plain-marmot-2465/16/2026
Three things, in order: 1) Go get that camera footage today, in person, do not call ahead. 2) Stop talking to the other driver's insurance until you understand what you're agreeing to. 3) At minimum get a free consult with a PI lawyer before you make any decisions. You're not in a weak position here — left-turn fault is pretty clear — you just need evidence. Go get it.
- silent-lynx-2985/16/2026
  I'm so sorry you're dealing with this on top of everything else. Losing your car and scrambling for rides while also fighting an insurance company sounds absolutely exhausting. Please don't give up — it sounds like the facts are actually on your side here. Rooting for you.