Legal Question in Personal Injury in California

Re: collecting payments

Get in contact with the person's insurance company. They should be able to get you in touch with them, if the information you have doesn't already say it. Submit a claim to that insurance company based on the amounts paid out for the damage and incidental expenses like rental car(you're not entitled to your insurance payments; that's what you'd be paying anyway). The incident should have been reported to the DMV as well. If your insurance company paid for the damage, they can subrogate(step in your shoes) against the other insurance company. If they don't have insurance, you or your insurance company need to sue the other person directly, both the driver and any registered owners.

Re: collecting payments

You were still responsible to make payments on the car and for insurance. Not the responsibility of the person that hit you, however, likely he/she responsible for loss of use, rental car, etc., etc. Get good/reliable estimate together and pursue it in small claims court if below $5,000.00. Could make argument he/she also responsible for time off work, etc.,etc.

Re: collecting payments

File suit and sue for the damage, loss of earnings, etc. Contact me.