Pedestrian hit by a truck while crossing the street — completely lost on what happens next
I'm still kind of in shock writing this out but here goes.
About three weeks ago I was crossing at an intersection near my apartment — had the walk signal and everything — when a pickup truck blew through and clipped me. I don't remember much after that. I woke up in the hospital with a shattered collarbone, two cracked ribs, and a serious concussion. I was inpatient for almost a week.
I'm 28, I work a physical job, and I'm currently on unpaid leave because there's literally no way I can do my job right now. Bills are already piling up and I haven't even started physical therapy yet.
Here's where I'm stuck: I have no idea what to do from a legal standpoint. Like, zero. My family keeps telling me to 'get a lawyer' but I don't know how to find one I can actually trust versus just some billboard guy. I don't even know if I need one or if the other driver's insurance is just supposed to handle everything automatically.
A detective called me once and left a voicemail — I haven't called back yet because I'm honestly overwhelmed and still on pain meds half the time.
Does anyone have experience with this kind of situation? Pedestrian accidents, serious injuries, the whole thing? I don't know where to start and I feel like every day I'm falling further behind. Any advice from people who've actually been through something like this would mean a lot right now.