Other driver's insurer has been 'investigating' for 4 months and won't return my calls

I used to work claims and I can tell you exactly what "investigating coverage" usually means — they're trying to figure out if they can deny the claim entirely because the driver wasn't listed or excluded on the policy. They will drag this out as long as possible because an open investigation costs them nothing. The moment they formally deny, the clock starts on YOUR options. Push them to give you a written coverage decision. Don't let them keep you in limbo indefinitely.

Four months with no resolution is not normal — it's a stall tactic. They're hoping you'll either give up or make a mistake. Stop calling and start putting everything in writing, email only. That way there's a paper trail if this ever goes anywhere. And document every single storage fee and rental car receipt. Every. Single. One.

A few things worth knowing: most states have a department of insurance that handles consumer complaints, and filing one is free. Insurers are actually required to respond to those within a set timeframe — it lights a fire under them in a way that phone calls just don't. Also look up your state's "unfair claims practices" statute. Unreasonable delay in investigating a claim can be a violation. You don't necessarily need an attorney to file that complaint, but it can move things faster than anything else you've tried.

Not legal advice, but I'd push back gently on the idea that no attorney will touch this. Some personal injury attorneys will handle property damage claims, especially if the delay has caused consequential losses like storage fees and rental costs that have stacked up. The value of the claim matters to them, obviously, but four months of extras can add up. Worth a few more consultations. Also — if the driver truly wasn't covered, you may have options under your own uninsured motorist property damage coverage depending on your state. Check your declarations page.

Went through something almost identical last year. Different state, same runaround. What finally broke it loose for me was filing a complaint with the state insurance commissioner AND sending a certified letter directly to the claims department (not the adjuster, but their supervisor) stating I intended to pursue all available legal remedies if I didn't receive a coverage decision within 15 days. Got a call within a week. Sometimes you just have to make noise in writing.

Stop waiting for them to come to you. File the state insurance complaint today — it takes maybe 20 minutes online. Also call your own insurer back and specifically ask whether you have uninsured motorist property damage on your policy. A lot of people don't realize they have it. And get those storage fees in writing from the shop — that's leverage.

Quick question — did you actually confirm in writing that the at-fault driver was cited and accepted it? Sometimes tickets get contested later and it muddies the liability picture. Also, has your own insurer formally told you they won't handle this under any of your coverages, or did they just redirect you to the other carrier? Those answers change what your options actually are.

Ugh, I'm so sorry. The fact that you're paying storage fees and renting a car while they just sit on their hands is infuriating. You did everything right and you're the one suffering for it. I really hope the complaint route works — you deserve an actual answer, not just endless "we're looking into it."