Delivery van blew a red light and totaled my car — now I'm stuck in limbo with no info

I used to work claims and I want to be honest with you — when a police report has bad info on the at-fault party, adjusters use that as a reason to slow-walk everything. It becomes a "liability verification issue." Don't let them stall indefinitely though. You can request that your own insurer pursue a direct investigation using the dashcam footage, witness statements, or delivery company records independently of the police report. They have tools to locate the at-fault carrier. Push for that in writing.

Oh my gosh, the wrong info on the police report thing happened to me too. I was rear-ended by a company vehicle and the officer transposed digits on the plate number. It took my own persistence — calling the precinct directly, asking for the records division specifically, and submitting a formal amendment request in writing — to get it fixed. Don't wait on the officer themselves, go around them. Also get a copy of the current report right now even if it's wrong, because you need a paper trail showing what it said before any corrections.

That line from your insurer about not "complicating things"? That's a flag. They're protecting their own subrogation interests, not yours. Be very careful about giving recorded statements or signing anything that limits your rights against the at-fault party before you know the full extent of your injuries. Rib and shoulder stuff can linger in ways that don't show up on initial imaging.

Three things to do this week: 1) Get the police report in hand today, errors and all. 2) Call the records division and ask exactly what their amendment process is and get it in writing. 3) Check every intersection on your route for city or business cameras — footage usually gets overwritten in 30 days or less, so this is urgent. Don't wait on the officer, the insurance company, or anyone else. Move now.

Not legal advice, but: the incorrect police report doesn't kill your claim — it just makes early steps harder. Evidence like traffic camera footage, witnesses, and the delivery company's own dispatch records can all establish liability independently of the police report. If the at-fault insurer stays unreachable and your own insurer isn't moving fast enough on your transportation and medical needs, a consultation with a PI attorney is worth it. Many take accident cases on contingency so there's no upfront cost. Just something to know.

Please keep up with your follow-up appointments even when you're exhausted, especially for that rib. Fractured ribs can mask other issues — splinting your breathing to avoid pain can sometimes lead to partial lung complications. And the fatigue you're feeling is real and physical, not just stress. Your body took a massive hit. Also make sure whoever is treating you is documenting every symptom, even the ones that seem minor or unrelated. That documentation matters later.