Damages from truck accidents are often severe, primarily because of the size and weight of the trucks. This is why it is advisable to contact the best truck accident attorneys whenever you are involved in such accidents.
Indeed, having the best truck accident attorney on your side can help you get the most compensation for your damages. How do you find the best option for you, especially in a saturated market?
We have compiled this guide to help you quickly locate the best truck accident lawyer for your case.
Why Hire a Truck Accident Attorney?
While a truck accident may seem similar to an auto accident, they are often more complicated. This is mainly because there are multiple liable parties in trucking accidents. Plus, injuries and damages from such accidents are usually more severe.
Naturally, the best truck accident attorneys can easily navigate such accident situations for the best outcome. Moreover, these lawyers are already familiar with the complex regulations of national trucking associations. So, they know how best to pursue your accident case and fight to win reasonable compensations.
Factors to Consider When Looking for the Best Truck Accident Lawyer
Here are some of the top considerations you should make before hiring a lawyer for your trucking accident case:
- Extensive experience with handling trucking accident claims
When looking for an attorney to handle your accident claim, one of the first factors you should look at is how much experience they have. Although they might be experts in handling general personal injury or passenger car accidents, they may not be experienced in handling truck accidents.
You already know that damages and injuries from truck accidents are a lot more severe than those from passenger cars. Plus, there are several federal and state laws regulating the trucking industry. So, it’s best to choose an attorney who’s already familiar with the situation.
During your first meeting, you should ask the attorney about their experience with truck accident claims. How many cases have they handled? What’s their success rate? If they have good track record, it’s a good indication that they are well-versed in truck accident laws and will know how to approach your case.
- Fee structure
Generally, lawyers who handle accident cases work on a contingency fee basis. This means that their pay depends on how your case turns out. So instead of charging you an hourly rate, they get a certain percentage of your compensation, usually around 30% to 40% of your settlement or court award. If your lawyers lose the case and you don’t receive any compensation, then they’re not getting paid. This way, they’re motivated to get you the best outcome and the most compensation possible.
When you first talk with an attorney, you should ask about their fee structure. While they won’t charge you an hourly rate, they might expect you to pay for additional expenses such as court filing fees, expert witness fees, and investigation expenses. Otherwise, the costs will be deducted from any compensation you receive at the end of the case. Surely, knowing these things will help you make an informed decision.
- Strong negotiation skills
When seeking the best truck accident attorney, it is essential to look at their negotiation skills. After all, strong negotiation skills are necessary for every accident attorney. Your lawyer should be able to effectively advocate for you in and outside the courtroom. They should be able to present the facts and build a compelling argument for why you deserve specific compensations.
Your truck accident attorney should also have the willingness to go above and beyond in making sure you get the maximum compensation possible. Sometimes, the trucking company may try to shift some or all of the blame to you, and if you’re found to be at fault, you might not be able to recover compensation. Your attorney should also be able to counter these claims and reduce your portion of liability as much as possible.
- Open and clear communication
Of course, the key to building a strong lawyer-client relationship is effective communication. When you speak to your lawyer, you should be able to easily understand what they are saying. If they constantly use legal jargon without breaking it down into simple language, they may not be a good fit for you. The best truck accident attorney should be able to communicate well with you and explain all the complex legal matters in a way that makes sense.
Throughout your case, your attorney is obligated to provide you with regular updates on the progress of your case. So, ask about how they are going to do that.
Also, because of the busy schedule of lawyers, you will likely be interacting with their assistants frequently. However, you should still be able to easily reach your attorney, and they should promptly respond to your questions or concerns at any time.
- Resources
Trucking companies typically have extensive resources at their disposal to defend themselves against claims. So to level the playing field, you’ll want an attorney with access to similar resources. This includes access to traffic experts and a team of investigators. For instance, your attorney can work together with medical experts, traffic engineers, and accident reconstruction specialists to recreate the accident scene. From that, they can determine who was at fault and how much damage was caused.
Moreover, your attorney should have a team of investigators to gather evidence. A police report doesn’t always provide a full picture of the accident, so they may need to collect other documents like truck maintenance records, driver logs, and witness statements. These documents can reveal the underlying issues contributing to the accident, so they can establish who was liable.
The Coleman Law Group can Help You
Finding the best truck accident attorney takes time and effort, but it’s worth it to find yourself the best representation possible for your specific case.
Luckily, the Coleman Law Group is committed to providing the best representation for victims of truck accidents, and we are ready to you too!
Contact us now, let’s help win your case.
