You’ve been in a truck accident, and now your world has changed. Hiring the right truck accident lawyer can help change it for the better. Truck accidents frequently involve major damage and severe injuries – not just any attorney will take on truck accident cases.
Therefore, it’s best to consult with a lawyer specializing in this type of personal injury case. Read on to find out some tips on hiring a lawyer for your truck accident case.
1. Consider Their Experience
There are many types of personal injury cases, but a general personal injury attorney might not be your best option. Truck accident cases have many specifics involved, and you want a lawyer who is well-versed in these.
Incidents of wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and other damages make truck accident cases much more complicated than your run-of-the-mill personal injury case. You want an attorney who focuses on trucking accidents, not someone who handles multiple types of personal injury cases.
2. Know Their Fee Types
Some lawyers charge up front, while others work on a contingency basis. With a lawyer who works on contingency, you pay nothing upfront. They take your case and see it through without any initial out-of-pocket charge.
Instead, an attorney working on contingency will take their fee as a percentage of your settlement – provided you get one. If for some reason you don’t receive a settlement, your lawyer waives their fee.
3. Do They Offer Free Consultation?
With personal injury cases involving truck accidents, many lawyers offer a free consultation before taking your case. During your consultation, you will get to know your attorney and vice-versa. If you feel that the attorney doesn’t fit what you’re looking for, you don’t have to worry about paying them to meet and discuss your case.
4. Be Realistic About Your Expectations
A personal injury case involving a trucking accident isn’t always cut and dry. Even when it is, the process can take months to complete.
Also, when it comes to settlements, it’s important to stay grounded regarding what you may receive. The size of a settlement depends on various factors and will vary widely from case to case.
The size of your settlement is another reason to hire a lawyer specializing in truck accident cases. You want someone who knows a lowball offer when they see one.
5. Know Your Role
Your relationship with your attorney is a partnership, and they will explain to you your role in the case. They’ll describe to you what you should expect beforehand, so you feel comfortable moving forward. Never be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something.
When explaining your situation, never withhold anything, no matter how trivial it may seem. Truth and honesty are crucial to your case’s success, and sometimes that requires sharing personal information. If you ever feel uncomfortable sharing that information with your attorney, you may want to look for another.
6. Consider Their Reputation
A lawyer with a good reputation reflects the hard work they’ve put in and the success they’ve achieved in the past. If you know people who have used a lawyer before, and they sing their praises, all the better. But, most of the time, you’ll have to rely on the words of strangers.
Sometimes attorneys will have testimonials on their website. You can also find reviews pretty easily using Google.
7. Know Whether They Are Willing to Go to Trial
Most truck accident cases are settled out of court before going to trial. However, in rare instances, this is not the case. Sometimes, no matter what you do, your lawyer must fight for you in court.
Ideally, you want a lawyer capable of settling your case without going to court. But in the event that doesn’t happen, you want to make sure your lawyer also has experience fighting for their clients at trial. When a lawyer avoids going to court, the results are usually a lesser settlement than you deserve.
8. Hire an Attorney You Like and Trust
Your truck accident claim can take as little as a few weeks or as long as a few months to solve. During this period, you’ll be working closely with your attorney. Make sure they’re kind and respectful and that you have a reasonable affinity for one another.
As mentioned, you’ll likely be disclosing personal information to your lawyer. Every piece of information, no matter how small, is important, and sometimes a person tends to share less info with someone they don’t particularly like or trust. Don’t let an abrasive attorney ruin your chances at a settlement.
You also want to ensure you’re confident in your attorney’s ability and willingness to handle the claim no matter how complex it gets. Again, a dedicated trucking accident attorney excels in this area.
9. Check Their Disciplinary Record
The state bar makes disciplinary records available to the public whenever a lawyer is disciplined. By reading their record, you can ensure they haven’t been disciplined for ethical issues or missing deadlines.
Some unscrupulous lawyers are disciplined for various reasons, not the least of which being embezzlement or other criminal convictions. To discover your prospective attorney’s discipline record, contact the California State Bar Association.
Take Your Time When Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer
Hiring a truck accident lawyer is something you shouldn’t take lightly. You want a lawyer you like and trust with considerable experience handling trucking accidents.
Our team at Golden State Accident Lawyers has years of experience handling truck accident cases in the State of California. We take our clients seriously, offer them the respect they deserve, and will vehemently fight to get them the largest settlement we can.
If you’d like to know more about what we do and how we can help you, contact us today.
