3-car pileup, middle car here — how long does this limbo actually last??

Ugh, the middle-car thing is so brutal because everyone treats you like you caused the whole pile-up even when you're literally the victim twice over. I was in almost this exact spot two years ago — got pushed into the car ahead of me and that driver's insurer came after me for a while. Hang in there. It does eventually get sorted but yeah, the waiting is awful.

Watch your own insurer on the UM (uninsured motorist) claim. A lot of people assume their own insurance is on their side — it's not, really. They still have an incentive to minimize the payout. Don't give a recorded statement without understanding what you're agreeing to first, and definitely don't sign anything that closes the claim before your car and any injuries are fully handled.

Used to handle exactly these kinds of multi-car files. Here's what's likely happening internally: your insurer is trying to figure out subrogation — meaning, if they pay you out under UM coverage, they want the legal right to chase whoever caused this later. That process takes time and it can stall your settlement while they build that file. On storage fees — call the lot AND your insurer today and ask specifically about a storage fee cap or waiver. Some policies cover it, some don't, but adjusters don't always volunteer that info. You have to ask.

For the hit-and-run timeline question: most states have their own rules but generally if the at-fault driver can't be identified within a reasonable window (which varies, sometimes 30 days, sometimes longer), your UM claim takes over as the primary vehicle for recovery. The police report noting the trooper witnessed a fleeing vehicle is actually really helpful for your UM claim — it corroborates that this wasn't a phantom accident you made up. Keep a copy of everything. Also, the pickup driver's liability angle is thin if the physics of the crash show you were pushed — an accident reconstructionist opinion (or even just the damage patterns in photos) can demonstrate that.

Are you doing okay physically? A lot of people in rear-end sandwiches feel fine at first and then neck and back stuff creeps up days or even weeks later. Please don't wait until something gets bad to see a doctor. And document everything — even if it's just stiffness or headaches, tell your doctor. That record matters later.

Three things to do right now: (1) Get the full police report and read every line of it. (2) Stop letting storage fees accumulate — call the lot and tell them there's an open insurance claim; some will pause fees if they know payment is coming. (3) Ask your insurer point-blank in writing: 'What is the status of my rental benefit and when will it be authorized?' Put it in an email so there's a record. Verbal conversations with adjusters disappear.

This sounds so stressful, I'm sorry. The fact that you were in the middle and still somehow getting treated like a suspect is infuriating. Rooting for you to get through this quickly.

Not legal advice, but the pickup driver's claim against you is worth taking seriously even if it seems absurd — 'pushed into' is a factual defense but you'd need evidence to support it (damage location, photos, possibly an expert). If anyone serves you with anything in writing, don't ignore it. Also, uninsured motorist claims have their own deadlines and procedural requirements depending on your state, so if this drags past a few more weeks without movement, a free consult with a PI attorney wouldn't hurt just to understand your options.

Few things I'd want to know more about: Did you take photos at the scene before anything was moved? Is there any dashcam footage — yours or any other vehicle nearby? And what exactly does the police report say about the fleeing vehicle — is it noted as the 'striking vehicle' or just mentioned as fleeing? Those details matter a lot for how your UM claim gets handled.