Uninsured driver hit my parked car — no collision coverage on my end either. Now what?

Ugh, I went through almost the exact same thing two years ago. Person who hit me had let their policy lapse and kept saying 'I'll take care of it' for weeks. Spoiler: they did not take care of it. I ended up filing in small claims and actually won, but collecting was a whole other nightmare. Definitely document absolutely everything — every text, every quote, every receipt for rides.

Stop waiting on this person to 'figure something out.' That's not a plan, that's a stall. Send them a formal written demand — even just an email — spelling out exactly what you're owed: repairs or the vehicle's fair market value (whichever is less), plus your transportation costs. Give them a deadline. If they don't respond, small claims court is your next move. Most states have a pretty straightforward process for this.

Even though their insurance lapsed, I'd still call the carrier they supposedly had and report the incident. Sometimes policies aren't actually lapsed — drivers lie about it hoping you won't check. Worth a five-minute phone call before you spend months chasing this person personally.

A few things worth knowing: you can absolutely pursue the at-fault driver personally in civil court for the actual damages — repair costs OR fair market value of the vehicle (courts typically award the lower of the two), plus documented out-of-pocket transportation expenses. Keep every single receipt. Also, check whether your state has any kind of uninsured motorist fund — a handful of states have programs to help cover exactly this situation, though eligibility varies. It's not legal advice, just stuff I've seen come up a lot.

Former claims adjuster here. When a car's repair cost exceeds its actual cash value, it's typically considered a total loss. That matters because even if you sue and win, you'd likely only be entitled to the ACV of the vehicle, not the full repair estimate. Get a couple of market value comps from places like KBB or local listings to know what that number actually is before you go into any negotiation or court filing. That's your anchor number.

Not legal advice, but worth knowing: 'personally liable' is real, but 'collectible' is a different question. If this person has no insurance they may also have limited assets, which makes winning a judgment easier than actually seeing any money. A lot of attorneys who handle these cases will give you a free consult and can at least tell you whether it's worth pursuing and how. Doesn't hurt to make a few calls.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. It's so stressful when someone else's irresponsibility lands on you like this. Please don't let them string you along with vague promises — you deserve to actually be made whole here. Rooting for you.