You have 2 years from the crash date to file an Idaho injury lawsuit, and yes - if you wait too long, a trucking company can lose, overwrite, or "routine-delete" evidence that could prove your case.

What you need right away is proof of what vehicle hit you, who controlled it, and what data existed. After a Lewiston wreck on US-12, US-95, Thain Grade, or near school-zone traffic by bus stops, try to gather or save:

• the truck number, trailer number, DOT number, and license plate
• photos of the cab, trailer, company name, cargo, skid marks, debris, and road layout
• the Idaho State Police or Lewiston Police crash report number
• names and numbers for witnesses, especially parents, school staff, or bus drivers nearby
• your ER, urgent care, or clinic records tying the injury to the crash
• any insurer letters identifying the driver, carrier, broker, or shipper

For commercial trucks, the big evidence is often the electronic logging device (ELD), engine control module/black-box data, dashcam video, driver qualification file, dispatch records, bills of lading, maintenance records, and post-crash drug/alcohol testing records. Some of that gets overwritten fast if nobody demands it be preserved.

That matters because the insurer may act like this is just a normal Idaho car claim with 25/50/15 minimum coverage. It often is not. Interstate trucking companies usually carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, often $1 million or more, and hazmat loads can require much higher limits.

Also do not assume the name on the trailer is the only company involved. The driver, the motor carrier, and sometimes a broker are different entities. Your proof is the paperwork: police report, insurance filings, shipping documents, dispatch records, and the USDOT/MC information tied to that truck. If the insurer is being slippery about who insured what, that is a real red flag, not you being paranoid.