18-wheeler vs. my SUV last month — how do I even start finding the right lawyer?

I was in almost the exact same situation two years ago — commercial truck, highway, totaled vehicle, the works. The thing that helped me most was specifically asking lawyers during consultations: 'How many trucking cases have you taken to trial, not just settled?' A lot of them got a little vague at that point. The one I ended up going with had actual depositions of trucking company safety directors under his belt. That specificity matters.

That 'niceness' you're picking up on? Trust that instinct 100%. The friendlier and faster the trucking company's people are moving, the more worried you should be. They are NOT calling to help you — they're calling to get you to say something they can use, or to get you to accept something quick before you understand what your case is actually worth. Do not give them a recorded statement. Do not sign anything. Get a lawyer first.

I used to work claims for a large carrier — not trucking specifically but I know how it works. When a serious commercial accident happens, the trucking company's insurer often dispatches an investigative team within hours. They're already building their file. That's not me trying to scare you, it's just the reality. The black box data, driver hours-of-service logs, maintenance records — that stuff can get harder to preserve over time if no one's pushing for it from your side. An attorney who knows trucking cases will know to send spoliation letters fast.

A couple of practical things worth knowing: most personal injury lawyers who handle trucking cases work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront and they take a percentage only if you recover something. So cost shouldn't stop you from at least doing a few consultations. Also, when you're vetting attorneys, ask specifically whether they handle trucking cases or whether they refer those out to co-counsel. Some general PI firms bring in a trucking specialist behind the scenes — not necessarily bad, but you want to know who's actually running your case.

Please make sure you're not skipping any follow-up appointments for those ribs and especially your shoulder. Cracked ribs can mask other things — cartilage issues, pneumothorax in bad cases — and shoulder injuries after a high-impact collision can develop into bigger problems weeks later. Document everything medically. Keep a simple notes app log of your pain levels, what you can't do, how your sleep is affected. That day-to-day record becomes really important if your case goes anywhere.

Not legal advice, but I'll say this: trucking litigation is genuinely its own subspecialty. The FMCSA regulations alone — hours of service, weight limits, inspection requirements — create a whole layer of potential liability that doesn't exist in a typical car crash. When you interview attorneys, ask if they've ever taken a 30(b)(6) deposition of a trucking company's safety director, or retained an accident reconstruction expert in a commercial case. Their answer will tell you a lot. Most legitimate trucking attorneys offer free initial consultations.

Stop answering calls from the trucking company's side. Full stop. You don't owe them a conversation. Get two or three consultations with attorneys this week, not next month. The clock on preserving evidence is real.

I know it feels overwhelming right now, but the fact that you're asking these questions five weeks in — and haven't signed anything or given a recorded statement — actually puts you in a better position than a lot of people. You still have time to do this right. Take a breath and make a few calls.