Other driver had literally NO insurance at the time of the crash — what do I even do now?

Oh man, I went through almost this exact nightmare about a year and a half ago. Different circumstances but the other driver was also uninsured. First thing I did was file through my own UM coverage and honestly it moved faster than I expected — my own insurer was way easier to deal with than I thought they'd be. Don't sleep on that option, it's literally what you've been paying for.

Even when you file through your own UM coverage, don't assume your own insurance company is fully on your side. They're still trying to minimize the payout. Document EVERYTHING — every doctor visit, every symptom, every day your car was undriveable. Don't give a recorded statement without really thinking it through first. They will use anything vague against you.

Worked claims for years. UM claims are handled in-house by your own carrier, and the tricky thing is they're essentially negotiating against their own policyholder. That's a weird conflict of interest that most people don't realize going in. Your policy limits matter a lot here — if your UM limits are low, you might hit a ceiling pretty fast once medical bills pile up. Worth knowing what your limits actually are before you get too deep into the process.

Not legal advice, but just so you know — even though the guy was uninsured, you can potentially still sue him personally and obtain a judgment. The practical problem is collecting on that judgment if he doesn't have assets. Some attorneys will still pursue it depending on the situation. Your UM claim is almost certainly the more reliable path, but those aren't your only two options. Worth at least a free consult.

Please don't brush off that neck pain. I've seen so many people assume whiplash-type injuries will just go away and then six weeks later they're dealing with something much more serious. Get properly evaluated, even if it feels minor right now. And keep notes on your symptoms day by day — pain levels, sleep disruption, anything. That record matters medically AND if you ever need to document your injuries for a claim.

This is so stressful and I'm sorry you're dealing with it. You did everything right — stopped, called the cops, exchanged info — and now you're the one scrambling. That's genuinely unfair. Please make sure you're also taking care of yourself emotionally through this, not just the logistics. This kind of thing can really mess with your head.

Quick question — did you actually verify UM coverage is on your policy, or are you assuming? Some people drop it to save money and forget. Worth pulling up your declarations page before you bank on that being your solution. Also curious what your state's minimum insurance laws look like — some states have guarantee funds for uninsured situations that most people don't know about.