Other driver's insurance ghosting us after parking lot hit — what do we do?

Went through almost the exact same thing last year. The trick that finally worked for me was sending a written letter — actual mail, certified — to the insurance company's claims department. Something about getting something physical in their hands made them respond within a week when calls had done nothing for a month. Also CC'd the adjuster's supervisor whose name I found on their website. Worth a shot before you escalate further.

Don't be surprised if this is a deliberate stall tactic. Some of the smaller carriers bank on claimants just giving up or getting so frustrated they go through their own insurance instead. That way the other company pays out nothing. Keep a detailed log of every call you make — date, time, who you spoke to (or that no one answered). That record matters if this ever goes further.

So I used to work on the inside and I can tell you a few things. First, adjusters carry ridiculous caseloads at some of these smaller companies, so it may not even be intentional. Second — and this is important — you can absolutely file a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance. Carriers are required to acknowledge and act on third-party claims within specific timeframes set by state law. The moment they see a regulatory complaint filed, things tend to move very fast. Look up your state's DOI website, it usually takes about 10 minutes to file online.

The state insurance commissioner route is legit and way more powerful than most people realize. Every state has 'unfair claims settlement practices' regulations, and unreasonable delays in communication can actually be a violation. Filing that complaint costs you nothing and puts the insurer on notice. Also — the fact that the named insured is different from the driver typically doesn't block the claim as long as the driver had permission to use the vehicle, which they almost certainly did.

File the complaint with the DOI today. Stop waiting. You've been patient for three weeks and gotten nothing. Being polite is fine but at some point you have to apply actual pressure and that's the fastest legal lever you have.

This sounds so stressful, especially when your daughter did everything right and is still the one being inconvenienced. I really hope you get this sorted quickly. The idea that the person who caused the damage just gets to ignore it while she waits around is infuriating.

Not legal advice, but a couple of things worth knowing: if the insurer continues to stall without resolution, your daughter may have the option of pursuing the at-fault driver directly in small claims court depending on your state's limits and the repair estimate. That sometimes motivates insurers to settle quickly because now there's a court date involved. Also, a free consult with a PI attorney costs nothing and they can often tell you in 15 minutes whether you have any additional options. Most won't charge unless they recover something.

Just want to ask — is your daughter doing okay physically? Sometimes people brush off bumps and jostles in low-speed parking lot hits and then feel neck or back stuff days later. If anything feels off, get it documented with a doctor sooner rather than later. Probably fine, just worth mentioning.