6 Questions to Ask Your Lawyer After a Trucking Accident

By Trapp & Geller

Car accidents happen every day, but you don’t think one will happen to you until it’s too late.

This could be anything from a fender bender to a trucking accident with a large vehicle. Either way, a thousand things start going through your head once the collision happens.

What are you going to do about your car’s damages?

Who’s going to cover you at work while your medical needs are addressed?

These are just a few of the many questions you might have. Luckily, an accident attorney can help you figure things out.

Before you hire someone to defend your case, though, there are some things you should ask them.

Here are six questions to bring up to any potential defense lawyers.

1. Do You Specialize in Auto Accidents?

The world of law is pretty expansive.

Some lawyers specialize in family law and divorce cases while others prefer to focus on immigration or workers’ compensation.

Make sure the office you’re in contact with is all about auto accidents.

The lawyers at this firm may have a mix of niches like auto as well as family, but make sure your kind of case is somewhere on their list.

Remember: a trucking accident is not a regular car accident.

Ask about your potential attorney’s experience level as well. Talk everything from schooling to previous success stories involving a trucking accident.

2. Have You Battled Big Corporations Before?

Speaking of success stories, remember a trucking accident is not a regular car accident.

When you get in a normal car accident, it’s you against another person who owns their car.

Your biggest battle is likely going to be against their insurance company, but trucking accidents set you up against large corporations.

These are companies that have teams of top-notch lawyers ready to defend cases against their drivers.

It’s part of their business, but it can make your lawyer’s job much harder. As such, confirm the person who might be defending you can handle the pressure.

3. How Do You Assess Damages?

Part of making a strong case against any accident is assessing the damages. Ask the lawyers you talk to about their approach to this.

You want someone who is diligent and on top of this process. The more attentive they are to damage assessment, the better they will be able to understand the situation at large.

Assessment usually begins with damage to your vehicle. These are things like stating if your car needs a new side bumper or if it was totaled.

But, damages include medical assessments as well.

Medical records can be anything from a standard visit to the hospital to life-altering physical conditions that happen as a result of a trucking accident.

Such situations can be amputation or paralysis, or even the death of a loved one who got in an accident.

4. Will You Handle the Insurance Company Claims?

Some lawyers will wait to hear back from insurance companies and look over the claims those third parties made on their own.

Others will expect you to handle insurance communications and pass the information back to the firm.

Then, there are the attorneys who will take care of every step for you. This is the kind of person you want to count on after a trucking accident.

When you know your situation is handled from top to bottom on paper, you can better focus on the things going on in your life.

An accident will have a lasting emotional effect.

It can also cause physical things you’ll have to work through before going back to daily life.

You may have a broken bone or even be in need of surgery. If you have head trauma, the recovery process could be longer than you might guess.

All of this adds up over time and it takes a toll on you every step of the way.

This is why the right attorney makes all the difference.

5. What Kind of Compensation Can I Expect?

Although it pays to know someone is in your corner while you work through personal situations, you should be expecting some form of payment in the long run.

At the end of the day, that is all a trucking company can do after a trucking accident. Make sure you get every penny’s worth.

This should be enough to cover your medical costs and car damages. Extreme medical compensations may qualify for large sums or various expenses paid out to you over time.

Talk to your lawyer about the kind of settlement they plan to negotiate.

5. Paying Your Lawyer

While you’re discussing the payments you can expect to receive, it’s a good idea to bring up the fees you’ll owe an attorney.

Thankfully, contingent fees make this process a breeze.

A contingent fee means the lawyer only gets paid in the event that you win your case.

When you win, their payment is a percentage of the compensation settlement you receive.

This percentage is predetermined before an attorney opens your case for a trucking accident.

6. What Do You Expect of Me?

After bringing up payment expectations, ask about any requirements your lawyer asks of you.

You may need to provide medical history or insurance information within a certain amount of time. They might also want to plan future meetings to keep your case moving along.

Some lawyers will have a specific method of contact they prefer. Others will share that they operate with a team of support staff – like secretaries or interns – to help them work with multiple clients at once.

These little insights can make a big difference. When you ask what will be expected of you, you get a closer look at the level of professionalism and service you’ll get from one lawyer versus another.

Making a Case For Your Trucking Accident

Asking all the right questions is the first step to making your case.

These help you find the perfect lawyer to fight for your rights after a trucking accident.