How Do I Choose an Attorney for a Truck Accident?
A truck accident is one of the most damaging vehicle accidents a person can ever experience. Commercial trucks are several times larger and heavier than even the biggest passenger vehicles on the road and are therefore capable of causing devastating damage in an accident. Truck accidents also have a high chance of affecting multiple vehicles due to their size. If you or a loved one recently suffered injuries and financial losses due to a truck accident, contact our firm. It’s essential to know your legal options for recovery and the value an experienced truck accident attorney can provide.
What Should You Ask a Lawyer Before You Hire Them?
While it’s vital to hire an attorney as soon as possible after a truck accident to have the best chance of securing a recovery for your losses, your decision to hire legal representation is not one you should rush or take lightly. Consider taking advantage of a free consultation offer to determine whether an attorney is right for your case. During this initial interview, ask a few questions that will help you gauge whether the attorney is a good fit for your situation:
- “How much experience do you have handling cases like mine?”
- “Do you notice anything unique about my case?”
- “Will you move for a quick settlement or do you think my case should go to trial?”
- “How long do you expect my case to take before it concludes?”
- “Do you think I can win my case?”
These are only a few examples of questions you should ask an attorney before hiring them to represent your truck accident claim. Develop several more questions more specific to your unique situation to get the most well-rounded impression of the attorney before agreeing to their services.
When Should You Get a Lawyer?
If you plan on filing any type of personal injury lawsuit in the near future, it’s best to hire an attorney as soon as possible to meet the statute of limitations that applies to your case. In California, the statute of limitations or time limit for filing a personal injury action is two years from the date the incident in question occurred.
For example, if you experienced a truck accident in December of 2020, you would have until December of 2022 to file your personal injury accident. The sooner you hire an attorney, the better your chances are of successfully filing your personal injury claim within the statute of limitations.
Is It Worth Hiring an Attorney for a Truck Accident?
Some truck accident victims may wonder whether it is worth the trouble and expense to hire a Palm Desert truck accident attorney, especially when liability for their damages is clear and their case seems very straightforward. The reality is that if you forego legal representation and attempt to represent yourself in a truck accident lawsuit, you will have a lot to manage. You must handle all the procedural obligations of pursuing your case, meet the court’s filing deadlines, and compile solid evidence, all while managing the aftermath of the accident. Hiring an attorney means having a reliable legal team that will handle your case on your behalf so you can focus on recovery.
Truck accident claims are also some of the most complex vehicle accident claims a person can experience. Liability is not always clear, and many truck accidents implicate multiple parties as liable for a victim’s losses. The concept of vicarious liability often comes into play. This term describes any situation in which one party is liable for the actions of another party. For example, a trucking company can absorb vicarious liability if one of their drivers causes an accident. An investigation must reveal that the trucking company did not follow proper regulations when hiring the driver and assigning them work.
Another reason to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer to handle your case is the fact that a seasoned attorney will know every available avenue of compensation available in your case. Even if you manage to successfully represent yourself and secure a settlement or trial verdict, an experienced attorney will likely secure a much more substantial recovery on your behalf, even when you subtract the cost of their legal fees.
How Do I Prepare for a Lawyer Consultation?
One of the best ways to prepare for a lawyer consultation is to develop a solid list of questions about your case. A good attorney will take time to answer each of your questions as clearly as possible and help you feel more confident about your situation. Ultimately, a consultation is a two-way interview; the process allows you to gauge the suitability of the attorney to handle your case while allowing the attorney to earn more business for their practice.
An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you identify the challenges and opportunities you are likely to face in your truck accident claim and provide you with an honest, professional opinion of your chances of succeeding with the lawsuit. Most personal injury attorneys accept clients on a contingency fee basis, which means they only collect attorneys’ fees when their clients win their cases. If a personal injury attorney agrees to take your case, this is typically a good sign that you are likely to win.
How Do Lawyers Figure Out Pain and Suffering?
California state law allows a personal injury plaintiff to claim compensation for their pain and suffering. This type of compensation is often confusing to claimants; many personal injury clients wonder how anyone can assign a monetary figure to something abstract such as physical pain or emotional distress. Typically, attorneys will use one of two methods to calculate an acceptable amount of pain and suffering damages to claim in a client’s lawsuit.
The first method is a “per diem” method that seeks a set amount of compensation for each day between the date of the client’s injury and the date they reached maximum medical recovery. The second method is multiplicative. The attorney will multiply the client’s claimed medical expenses by a number between one and five, depending on the severity of their injuries. A less severe injury that causes pain for a few weeks may only result in pain and suffering damages equal to the victim’s medical expenses. By comparison, a severe injury that causes months of severe pain and years of chronic pain following recovery will likely result in much more substantial pain and suffering compensation.
Hire Your Legal Representation as Soon as Possible
Time is a critical factor in any personal injury case, especially one as potentially complicated as a truck accident claim. If you or a loved one suffered physical injuries, property damage, and other economic losses due to a truck driver’s negligence, a trucking company, or multiple parties, call our firm. A truck accident attorney is your best asset when it comes to securing compensation for these losses.
At the Law Offices of Susan Handel, our team has extensive experience representing clients in highly complicated truck accident lawsuits. We understand how challenging these cases can be and the substantial damages they often involve. If you are ready to secure legal representation from an experienced and compassionate truck accident lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Susan Handel today and schedule a consultation with our team. We will help you determine your best available options for legal recourse against the party responsible for your truck accident damages.