Mom (74) hit by a delivery semi — insurance already pushing a quick settlement. Do we get a lawyer?

I used to work on the carrier side and I'll be honest with you — when we moved fast on a claim, it was never because we were being generous. Commercial truck policies carry much higher liability limits than personal auto. The early offer is almost never reflective of what the claim is actually worth, especially with an elderly claimant who has documented injuries and an ongoing recovery. Do not let her give a recorded statement. Anything she says can be used to reduce what they ultimately pay.

We went through almost the exact same thing with my father-in-law two years ago — commercial vehicle, fast settlement offer before any bills came in. We almost took it. Please don't let her sign or agree to anything yet. Once she accepts that money, it's almost certainly over and done, even if she ends up needing surgery or months of therapy down the line. We learned that the hard way watching a neighbor go through it.

Short answer: yes, get a lawyer, and do it before anyone in your family says another word to that insurance company. Don't give a recorded statement. Don't accept any offer. Don't sign anything. Commercial truck accidents with documented injuries and a fault admission in the police report are serious claims. An adjuster calling four days post-accident isn't doing your mom any favors — they're doing theirs.

Not legal advice, but commercially-operated trucks fall under a different regulatory framework than regular drivers, and cases involving them tend to be more complex — there can be multiple liable parties (the driver, the company, even the cargo loader depending on circumstances). The speed of the outreach you're describing is something I'd want to know more about. Most attorneys who handle these cases offer free consultations and work on contingency. It costs nothing to have a conversation before your mom makes any decisions.

I just want to say — you're a good kid for looking out for her. A lot of parents in that situation would just want the stress to be over and take whatever's offered. You're right to be asking questions. Trust that instinct that something feels off.

A few things worth knowing: trucking companies are required to preserve a lot of evidence — driver logs, GPS data, the truck's onboard systems, maintenance records. That evidence can start disappearing or getting overwritten quickly. An attorney can send what's called a spoliation letter to make sure it's preserved. Also, with a police report showing the driver admitted fault and her being transported by ambulance, this is exactly the kind of case most PI attorneys will take on contingency, meaning no upfront cost to your family.

As someone who works in trauma care — cracked ribs in a 74-year-old are not a minor thing, and concussion symptoms in older adults can evolve over weeks or even months. Cognitive changes, balance issues, chronic pain... her "final" medical picture honestly isn't clear yet. Settling before her doctors have a full sense of her recovery trajectory is really risky. Please make sure all her follow-up appointments are documented carefully.