Uninsured driver T-boned me and totaled my grandpa's truck — what do I even do now?

I went through almost the exact same thing two years ago — uninsured driver, only had liability, thought I was totally screwed. One thing I wish someone had told me sooner: check whether your auto policy has uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. I actually had it and didn't even realize it. Call your insurer and ask specifically about UM, not just your liability portion. It saved me.

Even if you do have UM coverage, be really careful about how you talk to your own insurance company right now. They are not on your side — even your own carrier. Don't give them a recorded statement without understanding what you're agreeing to. Adjusters are trained to find reasons to minimize payouts. Document everything yourself first.

Former adjuster here. A few things worth knowing:

1. Providing a fake or lapsed insurance card to a police officer can actually be a criminal matter in most states — worth mentioning to the responding officer or filing a separate complaint if you haven't. 2. If you do have UM coverage buried in your policy, the claims process will feel weirdly adversarial even though it's your own insurer. That's normal and kind of messed up, but it's how it works. 3. Even without UM, you can still pursue the at-fault driver in civil court. Collecting is a different story, but a judgment follows someone around and can attach to future wages or assets.

Not legal advice, but from what you're describing there are potentially a few avenues — UM/UIM claim if you have it, a civil suit against the at-fault driver, and depending on your state, there may be an uninsured motorist fund or victim compensation program. The medical bills piece is actually really important to handle carefully because if you do eventually recover anything, liens from the hospital can eat into it. Talking to a PI attorney for a free consult doesn't cost you anything and could help you understand your options before you make any moves.

Please don't ignore the shoulder injury just because you're focused on the truck and the insurance stuff. Shoulder trauma from a side impact can involve the rotator cuff or labrum and those injuries are notorious for feeling manageable at first and then getting significantly worse over weeks. Make sure you follow up with an orthopedic specialist, not just the ER discharge instructions. And keep every single record — imaging, visit notes, all of it.

I'm so sorry about your grandfather's truck. That's not just a vehicle, that's a piece of him you were carrying around with you every day. The practical stuff is important but I just want you to know that grief on top of an accident on top of medical bills is a lot to carry. Be kind to yourself while you figure all this out.

Real talk: suing an uninsured driver is usually more effort than it's worth unless you know they have assets. Most people who are driving without insurance are doing it because they're broke. A judgment means nothing if there's nothing to collect. Focus your energy on your own insurance policy first — dig out the full declarations page and read every coverage line. That's where your answer probably is.

Quick question — are you absolutely sure you don't have UM coverage? A lot of people think they only have liability but UM was bundled in at a low cost when they first got the policy. It's worth actually reading your full declarations page rather than going by what you remember selecting. What state are you in? Some states actually require UM to be offered and some even make it default-on unless you opt out in writing.