Hit by an uninsured driver, no UM coverage, and now collections is calling. I'm lost.

Oh man, I could've written this post myself about 18 months ago. Same exact situation — guy ran a stop sign, no insurance, and I had no UM either. The collections calls are the worst part because you're already stressed and then your phone becomes a source of dread.

What actually helped me was calling the collections agency directly and asking them what the lowest settlement amount they'd accept was. They'll sometimes take significantly less than the balance if you can do a lump sum. I also pushed harder on the hospital's financial assistance program — like, called weekly until someone gave me a real answer. It took persistence but they did reduce a chunk of it. Not everything, but enough to breathe a little.

Don't let the collections agency bully you into making payments on a timeline that doesn't work for you. They buy debt for pennies on the dollar sometimes — they have WAY more room to negotiate than they let on. Ask for everything in writing before you agree to anything and never give them access to your bank account directly.

I used to work on the insurance side and here's something most people don't realize: even when a driver is uninsured, it's worth sending a formal demand letter directly to them. Most people ignore it, sure. But occasionally someone has assets or a job with garnishable wages and they'd rather settle quietly than deal with a judgment against them. A judgment also shows up on their record and can complicate their life in ways that motivate payment years down the road. It's not a guarantee, but it keeps the option open.

Also — and I know this doesn't help right now — call your own insurer anyway and ask them to walk through your policy line by line. Sometimes there are coverages people forget they have, like medical payments coverage, that can cover additional amounts beyond PIP.

Please don't let the financial stress cause you to skip or delay any of your physical therapy or follow-up care. I've seen patients cut corners on their own recovery because they're worried about adding to the bill, and it genuinely makes things worse long-term — sometimes turning a temporary injury into a chronic problem. Ask your providers about sliding scale fees or payment deferrals. Most hospitals and PT clinics have options they don't advertise upfront.

Suing her in small claims is honestly worth doing even if she seems judgment-proof right now. Filing costs very little, and if you win (which you likely would given the police report), that judgment is good for years in most states. Life changes — people get jobs, inherit things, buy property. A judgment means you're first in line when that happens. It also puts something on paper that protects you legally. Do it.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this on top of recovering from the actual injuries. That's just so much to carry at once. I hope you're at least doing okay physically — please don't neglect yourself while you're fighting all the paperwork battles.

Quick question — when you say your hospital said they'd "look into" financial assistance, did you actually fill out a formal charity care or hardship application with documentation, or was it just a verbal conversation? Because those are very different things. Most hospitals won't do anything meaningful until you submit an actual application with proof of income. If you haven't done that formally yet, that's probably your most immediate move.