Tangent wrote: And I'll get nothing out of it because I don't have a job and thus no lost wages.)
Methinks thou dost protest too much! or perhaps not enough....
Unless the accident was SOMEHOW your fault (driving backwards blindfolded?????) you are not responsible for replacing the vehicle, AND you should be able to get money for the pain you are feeling now.
If the law allows criminals to sue homeowners for damages inflicted upon themselves while breaking INTO someone's property, you should be able to be compensated for pain suffered. (Note: this is NOT urban legend. I'm in the security Industry and it happens ALOT!!!)
You need to talk to a lawyer. If you have already talked to a lawyer, you need to talk to a COMPETANT one. Most lawyers with a proven track record will only take big money cases. The rest will either brush you off or require a big retainer before acting (and some of THOSE will proceed to stop returning phone calls)
But Insurance companies are THERE for this reason. One letter FROM a lawyer, and an Insurance company will offer to settle. Sometimes they try to settle BEFORE people get a lawyer, thereby paying a fraction of what they should actually be responsible.
The very least you should get is compensation for the vehicle. You SHOULD get money for the pain. It's all on how many hoops you want to jump through. Losing your rainy day savings is NOT a hoop I'd want to jump through.
Just my opinion. Take it at it's intent and good luck whatever you decide.