The Shoulder
The Shoulder
49
Insurancequick-swan-540

Delivery truck reversed into me at a light, trucking company's insurance ghosting me — what do I do?

I've never dealt with anything like this before and honestly feel completely out of my depth. Hoping someone here has been through something similar.

About two months ago I was stopped at a red light on a surface street behind a large delivery truck — the kind with a box body, not a full semi but still massive. Out of nowhere the truck starts reversing. I laid on my horn immediately. Didn't matter. It kept coming and literally pushed my car back several feet before it stopped. The driver then just... pulled forward, got into a turning lane, and drove off. I don't even think he realized what he'd done, or maybe he did and didn't care.

I pulled into a nearby parking lot to check the damage. Hood is buckled, grille is cracked, and one headlight housing is destroyed. Driveable but ugly.

Here's what I did right, I think:

  • Called police, got a report number
  • Found a business nearby with an outdoor camera and asked about footage — they actually gave me a clip that shows the whole thing clearly
  • Got the truck's company name off the door panel and tracked down their insurance carrier

The problem is the insurance company for the trucking company has been completely unresponsive. I've called four times. Left messages. Sent an email with the footage attached. One adjuster called me back once, asked me to send photos, I did, and then went totally silent again.

I don't have an attorney. I didn't think I'd need one since the footage is so clear. Am I being naive? Is this normal for commercial insurance to just stall like this? I'm not even injured — just want my car fixed. Starting to lose my patience here.

14replies

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14 replies

  • 21
    bold-fox-473

    Oh man, this is almost exactly what happened to me with a landscaping company's truck. Clear footage, obvious fault, and their insurance still stonewalled me for weeks. What finally moved things was sending a formal written demand letter via certified mail directly to the insurance company AND the trucking company. The moment there was a paper trail they couldn't ignore, I got a call back within two days. Don't just call — put everything in writing.

    • 4
      hopeful-optimist330

      That lines up with what my adjuster told me too.

  • 10
    keen-tern-434

    I used to work claims for a commercial auto carrier, so let me be real with you. Commercial insurance adjusters handle way higher volumes than personal auto adjusters and their default move is to let files sit until someone pushes hard enough. You have a video — that's actually rare and valuable. But they know that too, and some carriers will stall hoping you'll accept a lowball just to make it go away. Don't. Keep every single communication logged with dates and times. If you have to escalate, your state's Department of Insurance has a complaint process that carriers take seriously because it goes on their record.

    • 10
      quiet-walker728

      Did you have to escalate, or did they come around after the first ask?

  • 22
    brave-seal-503

    Please do not trust that adjuster even a little bit. The moment they do call back they're going to try to get a recorded statement from you. You are NOT required to give one to the other party's insurance. They're fishing for anything they can use to reduce what they owe you. You have video proof — you're in a strong position. Don't let them use friendliness to get you to say something that muddies the waters.

    • 6
      steady-parent320

      Really glad you posted an update — gives the rest of us some hope.

  • 11
    curious-swift-818

    Not legal advice, but I'd say this: commercial trucking claims are genuinely different from regular car-to-car accidents. Trucking companies often have legal teams involved early specifically because liability claims against commercial vehicles can get expensive. The stalling you're experiencing isn't unusual — it can be strategic. Given that you have footage and a police report, a PI attorney would likely want to hear your case, and many do free consultations. Even if your damages feel 'small,' an attorney sending a representation letter sometimes magically speeds up adjuster response times.

  • 15
    brave-crow-795

    A couple of practical steps that don't require hiring anyone yet: First, file a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance for failure to respond within a reasonable timeframe — most states have rules requiring acknowledgment and action within a set number of days. Second, loop in your own insurance carrier even though it's not your fault. They can sometimes go after the other carrier directly through a process called subrogation, and it takes the pressure off you to chase them yourself. You might owe your deductible up front but could get it back.

    • 4
      tired-passenger567

      This is really helpful — thank you for posting it.

  • 14
    clever-finch-255

    You're not being naive exactly, but you are being too patient. Four calls and an email with no resolution is enough. Stop calling. Send a certified letter to the insurance company stating that if you don't receive written confirmation of a claim decision within 14 days, you'll be filing a complaint with the state insurance commissioner and consulting an attorney. Then actually do both those things if they don't respond. Polite persistence isn't working — escalate.

    • 8
      steady-passenger965

      How long did it end up taking in your case?

  • 15
    cool-finch-928

    Just want to gently flag — you said you weren't injured, and maybe you're right, but sometimes after an impact like that (being pushed by a large vehicle) people notice neck stiffness or headaches a few days later and chalk it up to stress. If you've had any of that, even mild, please see a doctor and document it. Not trying to alarm you, just something worth being aware of. Bodies are weird after accidents.

    • 8
      calm-walker134

      How long did it end up taking in your case?

  • 10
    genuine-kestrel-600

    This sounds so frustrating, I'm sorry you're dealing with it. You did everything right — police report, footage, tracked down the company. The fact that they're ignoring someone with VIDEO is honestly wild. Please don't let them wear you down. You deserve to have your car fixed.