The Shoulder
The Shoulder
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Insurancekind-crow-558

Hit and run, uninsured motorist claim denied — my car's been sitting dead in my driveway for 3 months

I honestly don't even know where to start because I'm so frustrated I could scream.

Back in late winter I was sideswiped in a parking garage by a driver who just... took off. No plate, no nothing — they were gone before I could even process what happened. I filed a police report the same day and opened a claim with my own insurance under my uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which I specifically pay for every single month for exactly this kind of situation.

That was over three months ago.

Since then I've left probably a dozen voicemails for my adjuster. Silence. I finally got someone on the phone last week — a completely different person — and they casually told me my claim had been closed. The reason? They said they couldn't confirm the other driver was actually uninsured. Like... they fled the scene. That's the whole point of UM coverage, isn't it??

Meanwhile my car is undriveable and just sitting there. I can't afford a rental out of pocket indefinitely. I've been bumming rides to work and it's affecting my job.

Has anyone else had their UM claim denied or closed like this? Is there any way to fight back? I feel like I've been paying into this policy for years and the moment I actually need it they just ghost me and slam the door shut.

Any advice — even just knowing I'm not alone — would help right now.

12replies

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12 replies

  • 9
    careful-crane-119

    This happened to me almost exactly. Hit and run in a parking lot, UM claim opened, adjuster went dark for two months, then I got a vague letter saying the claim was 'under review pending additional investigation.' What finally moved things was sending a formal written complaint to my state's Department of Insurance. I'm not exaggerating — within two weeks of filing that complaint I got a call from a supervisor at the insurance company. Worth trying.

    • 15
      brave-vole-043

      Quick question — did you actually get a written denial letter or did someone just tell you verbally the claim was closed? Because those are very different situations. If it was just a phone call, I'd push hard for written confirmation of the closure and the stated reason before you do anything else. You need that in writing.

    • 10
      quiet-commuter475

      That lines up with what my adjuster told me too.

  • 9
    swift-owl-978

    They do this on purpose. Close the claim quietly, hope you don't push back, save themselves the payout. The adjuster going silent isn't an accident — it's a strategy. Do NOT just let this sit. Document every call you've made with dates and times. That paper trail matters if this escalates.

  • 14
    clear-badger-126

    I used to work claims and I'll be real with you: closing a UM file because they 'can't confirm' the other driver was uninsured is a stretch. UM coverage generally exists precisely for situations where you can't identify or verify the other party. The argument they're making is flimsy. That said, some policies do have specific language requiring a physical contact requirement or a corroborating witness for hit-and-runs — dig out your actual policy documents and check. If the language doesn't support their denial, you have grounds to appeal formally.

    • 14
      cool-tern-851

      Were you hurt at all? Even minor stuff like neck stiffness or headaches after the impact? I ask because people sometimes dismiss symptoms and then they get worse weeks later. If you had any physical complaints, make sure those are documented with a doctor now — both for your health and because it changes the picture legally if you end up in a dispute with your insurer.

  • 7
    curious-bison-043

    A few practical steps: First, send a written letter (email + certified mail) to your insurance company formally requesting the specific policy language and reason for denial in writing. They are generally required to provide that. Second, look up your state's Department of Insurance — most states have a consumer complaint portal online and insurers take those seriously. Third, keep a log of every contact attempt. If you ever talk to a PI attorney, that documentation is gold.

    • 3
      hopeful-rider929

      Same boat here. Did anyone mention a deadline to watch out for?

  • 15
    bold-crane-464

    Not legal advice, but what you're describing — a UM claim closed without a clear written denial citing specific policy exclusions — is something personal injury attorneys who handle insurance disputes look at pretty regularly. Many offer free consults. The fact that you have a police report from the day of the incident is important. That's corroboration that a collision occurred. Worth at least one conversation with someone who knows your state's insurance laws.

  • 15
    gentle-fox-575

    Stop calling. Start writing. Every single communication from here on out should be email or certified letter so there's a record. Then file a complaint with your state insurance regulator — Google '[your state] department of insurance complaint' and it takes like 15 minutes. That's your fastest lever. Also pull your full policy document tonight and read your UM section word for word.

    • 5
      weary-neighbor608

      Seconding this. The same approach worked for me last year.

  • 6
    swift-marten-400

    Three months without a working car while getting stonewalled is genuinely exhausting, I'm sorry you're dealing with this. You did everything right — stayed at the scene, got the police report, filed promptly. This shouldn't be happening to you.