The aftermath of a serious accident is a turbulent time for injury victims, especially when the accident involves a large commercial truck weighing as much as 80,000 pounds vs. an average 4,000-pound family car. Often, a complex compensation claim adds to the distress of painful injuries, medical procedures, and lengthy recovery times. Some truck accident injuries have life-altering adverse consequences for the injury victims, including temporary or permanent disability. Instead of adding a stressful legal process involving large trucking companies and their powerful insurers into the mix, many victims turn to skilled St. Louis truck accident legal counsel for assistance in the claim or lawsuit process—often their first experience with this type of serious claim. How does an injury victim choose the right lawyer for their truck accident claim?
An Attorney With Experience In Your Type of Claim
Just as you wouldn’t see a podiatrist for headaches, you probably would do well to avoid using an attorney who primarily handles divorce law for a truck accident injury claim. It’s important to put a little time into researching the attorney’s case history to ensure that they have a strong background in pursuing compensation claims for truck accident victims. Keep in mind that the attorney doesn’t have to handle truck accident cases exclusively, but should have a background including plentiful experience in similar cases. To choose the best possible attorney for your claim, look at the attorney’s background in your type of claim and their history of case results. Results are typically available on the attorney’s website. A history of success in truck accident claims is an important qualification. It’s also helpful to read client reviews to see how past clients related with the attorney and how they feel about their case results.
Truck Accident Lawyers Should Offer Free Consultations
Most reputable personal injury attorneys—including truck accident lawyers—offer a free initial consultation to evaluate the merits of your case. Then you should expect contingency-based payment from a reputable injury attorney. With contingency-based payment, your attorney takes on the financial risks associated with the claim and only obtains their attorney’s fees after recovering their client’s compensation through a settlement or in court. Be sure to ask what percentage of your settlement or court award they will charge for your legal fees and compare to similar attorneys in your area.
A Truck Accident Attorney Who Tailors an Individual Strategy to Your Case
When reading about a prospective attorney’s recent case results and client testimonials, look for an attorney who doesn’t use a cookie-cutter approach for every case or rush for a settlement that may not be the maximum compensation available to you. A skilled attorney looks at the individual circumstances of your unique case and tailors a strategy to help you obtain the largest possible settlement through one or more liable parties.
A Truck Accident Lawyer With Plentiful Court Experience
Finding the right truck accident attorney also means looking at their history of court litigation. It’s beneficial for an attorney to prepare each case as though for court so they have a more powerful voice during negotiations and are fully ready to go to trial if required to recover full compensation for your damages. A strong history of trial experience is beneficial whether or not your case requires a judge and jury or ends in a settlement.
Good Rapport Is an Important Quality When Choosing a Truck Accident Lawyer
Finally, during the initial consultation, it’s important to ask if the same attorney you speak to is the one who will represent you or if another attorney at the law firm will handle your case. Once you’ve spoken to your attorney, it’s helpful to consider if there was good rapport and if you feel comfortable with the lawyer so you can anticipate a good working relationship throughout the progress of your claim.