The Shoulder
The Shoulder
67
Insurancespry-marmot-952

Car rotting at tow lot, other driver's insurance ghosting me — what do I do?

I'm so frustrated I don't even know where to start.

About three weeks ago a delivery van blew through a four-way stop and T-boned me on the driver's side. Thankfully I walked away with some bruising and a messed-up shoulder, but my car is a different story — it's been sitting at a tow yard ever since.

The police report is crystal clear: the other driver failed to yield. Witnesses stuck around and gave statements. So liability should be a no-brainer, right?

Here's where it gets ugly. I only carry liability on my own policy (I know, I know), so my insurance basically said "not our problem, good luck." I filed directly with the at-fault driver's carrier and they gave me a claim number and told me an adjuster would reach out within a few business days. That was three weeks ago. I've called probably eight times, been bounced between three different departments, and I still don't have an actual adjuster assigned to me.

Meanwhile the tow yard is charging me a daily storage fee. My car wasn't worth a ton to begin with — I picked it up at auction for cheap — so I'm genuinely worried the storage fees are going to eat up whatever payout I might get, or maybe already have.

My questions: 1. Should I try to get the car moved to my driveway to stop the bleeding on storage fees? 2. Is there anything I can do to light a fire under the insurance company and get an actual human assigned to my claim? 3. Does moving the car hurt my case at all?

I feel completely lost dealing with another person's insurer. Any advice appreciated.

11replies

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11 replies

  • 8
    curious-raven-958

    Ugh, I went through almost this exact situation last year. The other driver's insurance dragged their feet for weeks and my car was racking up storage fees the whole time. What finally worked for me was sending a formal written demand — email with read receipt — directly to the claims department stating that I expected assignment of an adjuster within 48 hours or I'd be escalating to my state's insurance commissioner. They called me back the next morning. Seriously, mention the insurance commissioner and things tend to move.

    • 11
      keen-kestrel-271

      They're doing this on purpose. The longer your car sits, the more pressure you feel to just accept whatever lowball offer they eventually throw at you so you can make the bleeding stop. Don't let them use storage fees as leverage against you. Document every single call — date, time, rep name, what was said. That paper trail matters.

    • 2
      gentle-commuter848

      Wish I had seen this a month ago — would have saved me a lot of stress.

  • 21
    patient-sparrow-842

    I used to work in claims and honestly? Files fall through the cracks all the time, especially when they get transferred between offices or departments. It's not always malicious — sometimes it really is just disorganization. That said, the fix is the same either way: stop calling the general 1-800 number and try to get the direct line or email for the specific claims office handling your region. Also ask specifically for a 'supervisor' or 'team lead' — that word gets more action than just asking for any rep.

    • 8
      kind-dreamer209

      How long did it end up taking in your case?

  • 14
    spry-fox-319

    A couple of practical things worth knowing: most states require insurance companies to acknowledge a claim and begin investigation within a set number of days — often 10 to 15 business days depending on where you are. If they've blown past that window, you may already have grounds to file a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance. That complaint alone often shakes things loose fast. Also, regarding moving the car — I'd strongly suggest getting written permission from the insurance company before you do, and photograph absolutely everything beforehand. You don't want any dispute later about the vehicle's condition.

    • 0
      honest-dreamer787

      Solid advice. Getting it in writing is the part most people skip.

  • 9
    bold-dove-463

    Call the tow yard today and ask if they'll cap or pause fees while a liability claim is pending — some will work with you, especially if you explain the situation. Then file that insurance commissioner complaint online. Both things take maybe 30 minutes and cost you nothing.

  • 16
    warm-hare-198

    I know the car stuff feels urgent because of the money, but please don't forget about your shoulder. 'Bruising' from a T-bone can sometimes mean more than it feels like at first — soft tissue injuries have a way of showing up fully days or even weeks later. Make sure you've been seen by a doctor and keep records of every symptom, even if it seems minor right now. That documentation matters if your shoulder turns out to be more serious than expected.

  • 18
    candid-wren-966

    Not legal advice, but situations like this — liability-only coverage, at-fault third-party carrier dragging its feet, and a personal injury mixed in — are pretty much exactly what PI attorneys handle every day. Most offer free consultations and work on contingency, so there's no upfront cost. Even a 15-minute call can help you understand your options, especially with that shoulder injury in the mix. Having an attorney reach out to the carrier on your behalf often speeds things up considerably.

  • 14
    calm-swan-606

    This sounds incredibly stressful, especially when you're also dealing with a physical injury on top of it. Please don't try to handle all of this alone — it sounds like you might really benefit from having someone in your corner, whether that's a lawyer or even just a friend who can help you stay organized with the calls and paperwork. You shouldn't have to fight this hard when the fault is this clear.