The Shoulder
The Shoulder
68
keen-finch-307

Hit-and-run sandwiched me between two cars on the interstate — anyone see it?

Long shot, but I'm desperate so here goes.

About two weeks ago I was driving home from work on a pretty busy stretch of interstate, mid-afternoon. Traffic had slowed way down because of some kind of fender-bender in the left lane. I was stopped, basically at a standstill, when I got absolutely slammed from behind. The force of it pushed me straight into the pickup truck stopped in front of me.

The truck driver and I both pulled onto the shoulder. We're exchanging info, shaken up, trying to figure out what happened — and then it hits us: whoever rear-ended me just... kept going. Didn't stop, didn't pull over, nothing. By the time I even thought to look, traffic had swallowed them up.

From what I remember, it was a lighter-colored sedan, maybe silver or white? My rear bumper and trunk are pretty mangled, which tells me they were going a lot faster than the rest of us. I've got some neck and upper back pain that's been lingering and I have a feeling it's not going away on its own.

The police report is filed and my insurance knows, but without the at-fault driver's info it's getting complicated fast. I live in a no-fault state so there's some coverage available to me, but I still feel like I'm the one getting punished for someone else running away.

If you were on I-77 southbound near the Broad Street interchange on a Tuesday afternoon a couple weeks back and saw anything, or if you've got dashcam footage from around that area, please reach out. Even a partial plate or a description of the car could change everything for me right now.

Thanks for reading. This whole thing has been a nightmare.

12replies

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12 replies

  • 18
    sharp-marmot-363

    Ugh, this is so unfair. You did everything right and now you're the one dealing with pain and insurance headaches while the person who caused it just drove away. I really hope someone comes forward with footage. Sending good vibes your way — please keep us updated.

  • 18
    gentle-seal-548

    Not legal advice, but situations like this — hit-and-run with a chain-reaction collision — can get complicated quickly, especially with multiple vehicles and an unidentified at-fault driver. It's worth at least having a free consultation with a PI attorney who handles these. They can help you understand how your UM coverage interacts with any potential claim against the truck driver in front of you, and whether there are other avenues you haven't thought of yet.

    • 14
      plain-owl-848

      Did you get a traffic camera request filed through the police report? Interstates usually have DOT cameras and sometimes local law enforcement can pull footage pretty quickly if they submit the right request. Just wondering if that's already in motion or if it fell through the cracks.

    • 0
      restless-sidewalk919

      Saving this whole thread. Really appreciate the honesty here.

  • 16
    clever-owl-294

    Reach out to any businesses near that interchange — gas stations, fast food spots, anything with an exterior camera facing the road. You'd be surprised how many places have footage that covers nearby traffic. Call them directly, don't wait for police to do it, and ask fast because a lot of systems overwrite after 2-3 weeks.

    • 1
      weary-neighbor689

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

  • 13
    careful-bison-373

    I went through almost this exact thing last year — stopped traffic, rear-ended, pushed into the car in front of me, and the person who caused it all just vanished. It's such a helpless feeling. What ended up helping me was that a guy about four cars back had a dashcam and actually posted in a local Facebook group looking for the victim. Maybe try posting in neighborhood or local traffic groups for that area? People are surprisingly willing to help when you put a human face on it.

    • 11
      silent-heron-603

      Just a heads-up — even if you're going through your own uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance company is still looking out for their bottom line, not yours. Don't let them rush you into a recorded statement before you know the full extent of your injuries. That neck and back pain you mentioned? Get it properly evaluated before you say anything definitive about how you're feeling.

  • 13
    bright-marten-414

    Former adjuster here. When you file a UM claim for a hit-and-run, your own insurance company will often require you to show there was actual physical contact with the unidentified vehicle — this is a rule in a lot of states to prevent fraud. You were rear-ended, so you have that, but make sure the police report clearly reflects it. Also document the damage to your rear bumper with tons of photos before anything gets repaired. That damage tells the story of what happened and it's harder to dispute later.

  • 8
    careful-hare-700

    Please don't wait on that neck and back pain. Whiplash and soft tissue injuries from rear-end collisions can feel manageable for the first week and then get significantly worse. The inflammation and muscle guarding sometimes masks the real damage early on. Get imaging done if your doctor thinks it's warranted — you want that documented now, not six weeks from now when you're really struggling and the insurance company is asking why you waited.

    • 20
      quick-elk-111

      A few things worth knowing: most states require police to be notified of hit-and-runs, which it sounds like you've done — good. Make sure you get a copy of that report and check it for accuracy. Also, your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is specifically designed for situations like this, but the claims process can be tricky because your own insurer sometimes behaves like an adversary. Document everything — every medical visit, every symptom, every day you miss work or can't do something you normally would. That paper trail matters a lot.

    • 5
      thankful-backseat602

      Adding this: keep copies of every email. It mattered for me.