The Shoulder
The Shoulder
68
genuine-newt-337

Got hit in a parking lot, no police report, other driver went ghost — what now?

So I feel like a complete idiot but here's what happened. Someone clipped the front corner of my car while I was pulling out of a spot at the grocery store. It wasn't a huge crash, more of a crunch, and honestly I panicked and didn't even think to call the police. First accident ever and my brain just... stopped working.

We both pulled over, exchanged info, took pictures of each other's licenses and insurance cards, and she even said out loud "yeah that was totally my bad." I got her phone number and we texted a little that evening. She seemed cooperative at first.

I took my car to a shop and got a damage estimate. When I sent her the number she just... stopped responding. Completely. Left on read. It's been almost three days.

Here's what I have going for me:

  • Photos of both cars right after impact
  • Her insurance card (photo)
  • Her license plate
  • Text thread where she admitted fault
  • The shop estimate

I never filed a police report. I know. I've been looking into whether I can file one now, even late — some places allow it. I'm also wondering if the parking lot has cameras.

My big fears right now: if I go through her insurance and they decide to fight it, what do I actually do? And will my own rates go up even though I didn't cause this?

I'm not even sure if I need a lawyer for something like this or if I can handle it myself. Any advice from people who've been through something similar would mean a lot right now.

14replies

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14 replies

  • 18
    tidy-crow-468

    I was in almost this exact situation a couple years ago — low-speed lot accident, no cops, other person went silent after admitting fault over text. Honestly those texts saved me. When I contacted her insurance directly and mentioned I had written acknowledgment of fault, things moved pretty fast. Don't underestimate what you've got in that message thread.

    • 10
      quiet-dove-885

      Worked in auto claims for years. Here's the thing — her going quiet is actually common and it doesn't necessarily tank your claim. When you call her insurer, they'll open a file and reach out to their insured. If she doesn't cooperate with her own carrier, that can actually work against her. Most policies require the insured to cooperate with their company. Also, that text admitting fault? Screenshot it and back it up in multiple places. That's genuinely useful evidence.

    • 5
      plainspoken-road-soul462

      This thread is gold. Thanks everyone.

    • 8
      hopeful-parent330

      Thanks for sharing. Hope things are getting a little easier for you.

  • 14
    gentle-marten-232

    Do NOT wait for this woman to respond. Call her insurance company yourself, directly, today. You have her card — use it. Adjusters are way more motivated to open a claim when the claimant contacts them first rather than waiting on their insured to self-report. And be careful: when the adjuster calls you, don't let them record a statement until you know exactly what you want to say. They will use vague language against you.

  • 18
    clear-heron-754

    A few practical things: yes, you can usually file a late self-report with the DMV or local police — the window varies by state so look that up for your specific state ASAP. Second, contact the grocery store's management or corporate and ask about parking lot camera footage. Stores often overwrite footage after 7-14 days so time is actually a factor here. Third, your own insurer should be looped in even if you don't plan to use your own coverage — they can sometimes assist in going after the other party on your behalf.

  • 19
    quiet-marmot-062

    Are you feeling okay physically? Parking lot impacts can be deceptively jarring — the weird angles and low speeds sometimes mean you don't feel soreness until a day or two later. If anything feels off in your neck, shoulders, or back, please see a doctor now rather than waiting. It's easier to connect symptoms to the accident when you're evaluated close to the date.

    • 5
      calm-parent554

      Thanks for sharing. Hope things are getting a little easier for you.

  • 18
    sharp-raven-181

    Stop stressing about what you didn't do and focus on what you can still do. You have her info, you have photos, you have her admitting fault in writing. Call her insurance. Ask about filing a late report. Chase down that parking lot footage. You're not as stuck as you think.

    • 9
      steady-rider985

      Curious whether you did this on your own or had help with it.

  • 18
    daring-kestrel-469

    Ugh, this is so stressful, I'm sorry. The fact that she admitted fault over text and then ghosted is honestly really frustrating. You did the right thing getting the estimate — just keep all those documents somewhere safe and don't delete anything.

    • 18
      quiet-fox-246

      Quick question — did you get any of her verbal admission on video, or is it purely the text thread? And is the damage purely cosmetic or did the shop mention anything structural? Asking because the complexity of what you're dealing with kind of depends on those details.

    • 1
      thankful-late-shift663

      Following up on this — any update on how it turned out?

  • 9
    keen-wren-777

    Not legal advice, but the text admissions are more meaningful than people realize — written acknowledgment of fault is something that can come up in a dispute. If her insurer denies the claim or lowballs you, it might be worth at least a free consultation with a PI attorney to understand your options before you accept anything. Most will talk to you for free.