Delivery truck crushed my driver's side at a parking lot — do I even need a lawyer?

I was in almost this exact situation — my car got clipped by a catering company van in a shopping center lot. The commercial carrier dragged their feet for almost two weeks and then came in with an offer that was way below what I needed to replace my car. The moment I mentioned I was talking to an attorney, things started moving faster. Not saying that's definitely your path, but don't let the silence fool you into thinking they're working hard on your behalf.

Commercial carriers are not your friend. Full stop. They have adjusters who handle fleet claims ALL DAY LONG. You are one claim on their spreadsheet. The silence isn't an accident — it's a strategy. They're hoping you get desperate and take whatever they offer first. Don't.

Worked commercial lines for years. Here's the honest truth: fleet policies have dedicated adjusters who are evaluated partly on how low they settle claims. When they go quiet early on, it usually means they're pulling telematics data, reviewing dashcam footage, and building their version of events before they ever talk to you. You should be doing the same — gather any witnesses, get your own photos, and document every symptom from that shoulder stiffness. Even if it feels minor now.

Please don't brush off the shoulder thing. Soft tissue injuries — especially from lateral impacts like you described — can seem like they're resolving and then flare back up weeks later. See a doctor now and get it documented. Even if you feel 80% fine, having a record of the initial injury protects you if symptoms return. Don't wait until you're hurting again to establish a medical timeline.

A few practical things regardless of whether you get an attorney:

1. Send everything in writing — follow up your calls with emails so you have a paper trail 2. Don't give a recorded statement to the commercial carrier without understanding what you're agreeing to 3. Check if your policy has uninsured/underinsured motorist or rental coverage you can lean on while this drags out

Commercial claims genuinely move slower than personal auto, but a week-plus with zero adjuster contact is worth escalating. Ask for a supervisor and document that conversation too.

Not legal advice, but — commercial fleet claims are a different animal than standard auto claims. The carrier has experienced adjusters and legal resources behind them. Most PI attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency, so there's no out-of-pocket cost to at least talking to one and understanding your options. The shoulder symptoms, even if they feel minor, are also worth including in any claim. Just something to think about before you accept anything.

I know it doesn't feel this way right now, but you're actually in a decent position — clear liability (they hit a parked car), a commercial policy which usually means higher coverage limits, and you caught the shoulder issue early enough to document it. A lot of people in accident situations are dealing with murky fault or underinsured drivers. You have real leverage here, you just have to use it.