what is so bad both for the OP's DD and so many of the rest of us, the driver who was breaking all the laws won't suffer for their criminal acts. The true victims will suffer, whether it is $500 or more or less.
I was hit by an driver with a suspended license driving someone else's car. My insurance told me I can deal directly with the other insurance myself, or file with them and they would pay my costs less my deductible. If they got the other company to pay enough to refund my deductible they would. I spent many hours when I should have been working, getting estimates and dealing with insurance companies. And the driver of the car, drove after the accident, with a ticket from NC Highway Patrol. I was shocked they let him drive off with no license.