Hit by a delivery van and driver won't give me his insurance info — what do I do?

Not legal advice, but frame damage on an older vehicle is a red flag worth paying attention to — insurers sometimes try to total the car and offer you less than you'd expect. If the company's carrier starts pushing a quick settlement before you even know the full repair scope, that's a sign they're trying to close it out cheap. Might be worth at least a free consult with a PI attorney before you sign anything.

I used to work claims and honestly, commercial fleets are easier to deal with than personal auto in one way: the company usually WANTS to handle it quietly and quickly to avoid litigation. Call their main office, ask to speak to whoever handles fleet claims or risk management, and be matter-of-fact about it. Have your police report number and photos ready. That said — if they stall or lowball you, don't sit on it. There are deadlines that matter.

You mentioned the door caved in — please make sure YOU are okay too. Sometimes the adrenaline after a collision masks soreness that shows up a couple days later, especially in your neck and shoulder. If anything feels off, see someone before you settle anything. Medical records dated close to the incident matter a lot if symptoms pop up later.

The police report is huge here — don't underestimate it. In most states, officers will note the other driver's insurance info if they respond to the scene, and you can request a full copy of the report if you only got a case number. Also worth knowing: if it's a commercial vehicle (sounds like it is), the company is required to carry commercial auto liability, and those policies are sometimes filed publicly with state transportation or trucking regulators. A quick search on your state's DOT website using the plate or company name might surface a policy number or carrier.

Watch out — if you do reach the delivery company's insurer directly, they're going to try to minimize your claim from the jump. Don't give a recorded statement without thinking it through first. They'll frame it as just "routine" but they're building a file to use against you. Get your repair estimate in writing before you talk numbers with anyone.

Ugh, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. The fact that he just drove off without giving you anything is infuriating. At least you had the presence of mind to grab the plate number — that's honestly what's going to save you here. Hang in there, sounds like you're handling it the right way.

Almost the exact same thing happened to me with a landscaping truck. What worked for me was calling the company directly and asking for their "certificate of insurance" — businesses usually keep that on file and it has all the carrier info. Be professional, don't tip your hand that you're frustrated yet. Once I had the carrier name I went directly to them and bypassed the driver entirely.