As uncomfortable as it is to think about getting involved in an accident, the truth is, they do occur, and quite a lot at that. There are different causes for such accidents to occur, particularly those that involve trucks, ranging from road conditions to a truck driver’s inept training or distraction.
Nevertheless, no matter what the reason is, if you are involved in a road accident with a truck, then you need to take the proper steps to get compensation for the trauma that you had to go through. If you need to contact a truck accident lawyer but are unsure where to start or what you need to be looking for, then you can use the following guide to help you find and settle on the right lawyer for you.
1- Finding a Truck Accident Lawyer
Nowadays, with the use of technology, it is relatively easy to find a truck accident lawyer. All you have to do is go to your preferred search engine and type in what kind of lawyer you want. This will get you millions of hits. Of course, you cannot really use them all, and you need to find the one that will succeed in helping you get what you want.
2- Experience
The first thing that you need to look for when trying to find a lawyer to help you after a truck accident is how much experience he or she has in this field. After being in a truck accident, you will want the most reliable law firm to ensure that you are not left to fend for yourself against the truck driver, the trucking company as well as the insurance companies involved. The more experience the firm has, the more likely they are to succeed in building a case for you to get proper compensation for the accident you were in.
3- Success Rate
While the years of experience a lawyer has can be a good indicator, you should also make it a point to check the success rate of the attorney you are choosing to represent you. After all, what good would a lawyer with ten years of experience be if he does not win most of the cases presented to him?
4- Compassion and Understanding
If the lawyer you choose to represent you is not compassionate with your case, they might not work as diligently. You need to find a person who is understanding and empathetic to your case to ensure that you get proper legal representation. A compassionate lawyer can change the outcome of the lawsuit.
5- Knowledge of Pertaining Laws
This goes without saying, but a good truck accident lawyer is aware of any and all pertaining laws that may affect the outcome of your case to get compensation. Traffic laws concerning trucks differ from one state to another. This means that your lawyer needs to be aware of the traffic laws that could apply to the area that you had the accident in. For example, in some states, trucks are allowed to take turns using two lanes, while in other states, this could be used against truck drivers in case of an accident.
6- Location
As mentioned above, traffic laws differ from one place to the other. A good tip to follow when looking for a truck driver is searching for one in the area you live in. This will ensure that you are nearby and can easily reach your lawyer at their office in case of any new information or follow-up that is needed for the case.
Of course, if you are involved in a truck accident when you are traveling abroad, you might want to look for a lawyer that is in the immediate vicinity of the accident rather than one you are in contact with in your home country. This will ensure that they are aware of the different laws in place and take proper procedures that may differ from one place to another.
7- Loyalty
The last but certainly not least factor that you should think of when looking for an accident lawyer is how loyal they are. Having a loyal attorney ensures that they are going to do their utmost best to get you the outcome you want. It also ensures that they cannot be bought off by the trucking company to just let the accident go away, which is a concern especially if the company does not want its reputation to take a hit.
Truck accidents are much more horrible to be in than regular car accidents. Statistics show that not only do truck accidents have a much higher fatality rate, but it can also result in the injury of multiple passengers in different vehicles on the road. Now that you are aware of all the factors you need to take into consideration before hiring a truck accident lawyer, you can use these tips to get the perfect legal counsel for your needs.