How to sue a trucking company?

So Saturday about noon, I pull into the Pilot in Terre Haute x11, in line to get fuel, truck in front of me, starts pulling in to the left side of the fuel islands, figured he would take the one on the left, I'd take the one on the right. He knew I was behind him.

There was about 20ft of space from my front and his rear, when he stopped, I stopped, and he proceeded to then back up. I thought ok, he's going to pull into the pump on the right.

Wrong.

He kept backing up, and 20ft turned into 15, then 10, then I immediately look in my right mirror, see that there's a CRST truck behind me, so that option is out the window, then I thought ok, turn to the right (I was about a 45 degree angle with my trailer on my blind side at this point), but if I kept turning to the right, I'd still clip this guy, then I'd be at fault. So 10 ft turned to about 8ft, and that's when I lay on the air horn. He didn't stop. Before I knew it, the corner of his trailer goes through my hood into my radiator, coolant and steam flying out everywhere. He then pulled forward, adjusted, then continued to back into an open parking space, while I turn my lead to the left and just give him that stupified look, and he gives me one back. The whole time he was backing up, I was at a dead stop. He did not have his 4 ways on, just his right turning signal.


Maintenance guy saw the whole thing. He called the police, I got out, took pictures. Cop shows up, can't make a police report on private property in IN, he mediates the exchange of info, which I asked for, because the other driver got out of his truck after he parked, and starting getting belligerent with me, blaming me.


Anyways, the truck I was driving belongs to my boss, and I'm paid as an Independent Contractor. Because the truck is not available for me to drive due to it being screwed, I'm out of work for the week.

How do I sue for lost wages? I would have made the exact same thing I would have made the previous weeks, as I'm on a dedicated route. My boss does not have another truck available for me to drive the route.

Would I have to call the trucking company of the guy who hit me? Or call their insurance company? Would I have to sue in small claims court? Or when my boss makes the claim to have his truck repairs paid for, can he also claim my lost wages on my behalf?

The accident happened in Indiana, my boss' trucking co and the carrier he is leased onto is in MI, the driver's company is in NJ and he lives in FL.

Sorry for the long story, but I had to tell my story like every other trucker loves to tell theirs

Thanks for any and all replies.

 

I didn't ask about that, I asked how I would go about suing or filing the claim, the proper way.

I don't need to be chastised for my business decisions, thank you. And no, if I did sue in small claims, it would cost me maybe $300 for the lawyer to show up in court, and I doubt the other company would spend the money to defend themselves for the sake of $1,100.

As far as workman's comp, I'm glad you brought that up, my boss has an occupational accident policy for me that he pays for. I wonder if I could file the claim on that?

I hope there are people here in this forum that know about all of this from experience. Thanks.

 

Yeah, unfortunately, the manager of that Pilot said the cameras were not pointing in that particular area. But the maintenance guy who saw the whole thing said he would provide a written account of what he saw for my sake. I guess it's a good thing I go to that particular Pilot twice a week, and tip for the showers that that very same maintenance guy has to clean

 

I save money for taxes, thank you.