You’ve been injured in a truck accident, and you know you need legal help—but how do you find a good truck accident lawyer? It can be hard to know where to start, especially since every truck accident case can be different. Thankfully, there are certain characteristics good lawyers have in common that you can begin looking for.
Below, we’ll cover the most important areas to consider when finding a good lawyer for your truck accident case.
Truck Accident Cases Are Often More Challenging
First, keep in mind that you will need to work with someone who thoroughly understands truck accident cases. Unlike other auto accidents where two or more passenger cars are involved, commercial truck accidents can involve multiple parties beyond just the drivers. The at-fault parties can include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company that employs the driver
- A manufacturer
- A cargo company
- And more
You might end up dealing with multiple insurance companies and attorneys that care most about their bottom line—not you. Plus, truck accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries and serious vehicle damage. Therefore, your lawyer will be your biggest advocate during the truck accident claim process. You will need someone who understands truck accident cases and how to juggle all of the moving parts.
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How You Can Find the Best Truck Accident Lawyer
It’s best to schedule a consultation with the lawyer before you make a definite decision. During the consultation, you can show the lawyer details of your case, ask them questions, and make sure you’re a good fit for each other.
With the above information in mind, here are some of the most vital factors to consider when looking for a good truck accident lawyer.
Ask About Their Experience
When it comes to a commercial truck accident case, you want a lawyer who has the experience to back up their work. Ask about where they earned their degree, how many years they’ve been in practice, and any examples of cases like yours they’ve won. Get details about these cases, such as whether or not the case was settled or went to trial, how much was won, and how long ago the case happened.
It’s best to look specifically for a truck accident lawyer, not just any personal injury lawyer. Truck accidents are a specialty of personal injury law, so some lawyers know about personal injury but aren’t specifically well-versed in truck accidents.
Choose Someone with a Good Reputation
Besides experience, you want to work with someone who is well-known and recommended. If you have any friends, family members, co-workers, or acquaintances who have recently worked with a lawyer, you might ask them for recommendations. However, again, it’s important that anyone you choose has experience with complex cases like truck accidents.
Online reviews and lawyer review sites can also give you an idea of how the lawyer has been received by past clients. It’s even better if there is evidence of the lawyer being involved with their community. In addition, if you have a lawyer in mind, you can ask them for a list of references from past clients.
Make Sure Their Negotiation Skills Are Strong
In complicated cases like truck accident claims, you often need a lawyer whose negotiation skills are on-point. Insurance companies will usually offer you a lowball settlement that will lead your lawyer to negotiate for a fair recovery.
If your case goes on to court, your lawyer will also need strong negotiation and presentation skills as they build a strong argument. Don’t be afraid to ask a prospective lawyer about when they have had to negotiate complex cases in the past and how that turned out for their past clients.
Ask About Their Resources
A lawyer who is experienced in truck accident cases will have a team of experts they routinely call on for help. Ask the lawyer you speak to about what expert contacts they have and how they’ve worked with them in the past. These experts might include:
- Medical experts
- Consulting experts
- Accident reconstruction experts
- Mental health experts
- Engineering experts
- Manufacturer experts
- And more
A lawyer with many contacts is typically a sign that they’ve been in the business many years and are comfortable calling on any resources they need to strengthen a case.
Since truck accident cases can be really complicated and involve multiple parties, you may need access to several experts when proving liability and your damages.
Do They Give You Undivided Attention?
Pay attention to how the lawyer responds to your information during the consultation. Do they seem genuinely interested in your case? Do they listen closely to what you say? Are they quick to answer any questions you have?
Your lawyer will be your greatest ally and your biggest lifeline after your truck accident. The mark of a good truck accident lawyer is someone who truly cares about getting you the best outcome possible. If you get a sense of this during the consultation, it’s generally a good sign.
Do You Feel Comfortable with Them?
You should also feel good talking to your lawyer. This can be a very individualized factor. You will want to feel comfortable telling your lawyer any details about your case, as the aftermath of a truck accident can be deeply personal.
To fully demonstrate how the accident has affected you, you’ll need to speak honestly with your truck accident lawyer, potentially even divulging personal or slightly embarrassing information. When a lawyer is a good fit, you should be able to tell them anything that will help your case.
Questions to Ask During a Truck Accident Lawyer Consultation
Before choosing any truck accident lawyer, always call them to schedule a consultation. Most lawyers will offer the consultation completely free of charge. Bring all the details and documentation of your case with you, and be prepared with questions.
At John Foy & Associates, the consultation is always free and we don’t take a fee unless we win you money. To get a FREE consultation with one of our experienced and compassionate truck accident lawyers at John Foy & Associates today, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
Here are some examples of questions you can prepare before meeting with the prospective truck accident lawyer:
- Do you think my truck accident claim is valid?
- What is your experience and comfort level working on truck accident cases?
- How many truck accident cases have you handled that were similar to mine?
- What were the outcomes of those cases?
- Will you be personally working on my case, or will it get assigned to someone else?
- How long do you think my case will take to finish?
- How do you handle payment (when, how much, fee versus hourly, etc)?
In Georgia, you have two years from the date of your accident to file your claim (Georgia Code § 9-3-33). Don’t wait to start looking for the best lawyer for your case today.
Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer in Georgia for Free Today
Our truck accident lawyers at John Foy & Associates have 20 plus years of experience helping countless victims win the compensation they need after their accident. Over the past two decades, we’ve grown to become one of the largest and most well-respected law firms in Georgia.
Call us today at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online for your FREE consultation.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
