Estimates suggest almost seventy percent of all American goods are delivered by tractor-trailers. Thousands of people die every year in large truck accidents. Many more are injured.
There have been advances in the safety features on many tractor-trailers, but accidents can still happen.
If you’ve been involved in a tractor-trailer accident, you’ll need to hire the best personal injury lawyers. Here are some questions to consider asking to help you find a good personal injury lawyer.
1. What Cases Does the Lawyer Typically Handle?
Some lawyers do a little bit of everything. That might include personal injury practice.
You need a legal expert in the field of personal injury lawsuits to get the best possible results. They’ll be able to help prove your case against a trucking company, for example.
2. How Long Has the Lawyer Worked in Their Field?
Lawyers who take on personal injury lawsuits tend to charge similar fees regardless of how long they have been practicing.
This could mean that for the same fee, you get a lawyer with one or two years of experience or a lawyer with twenty years of experience. Experience matters. This is especially true in car accidents involving tractor-trailers.
3. Does the Lawyer Have Court Experience?
Getting the maximum settlement in your case means being prepared to go to court. If you hire a lawyer who always settles and never goes to court, you may need to be prepared to accept a lower dollar figure in damages.
Some lawyers may refer your case to other lawyers to do any court-related work. You might though want to consider hiring a lawyer who actually has experience in going to court themselves.
In the personal injury field, it’s not uncommon for lawyers to collaborate with each other on cases. They may share the fees so this could work in your favor. Ask how your potential lawyers tend to operate.
4. What Is the Lawyer’s Track Record?
Most insurance companies will be aware of the lawyers in your area who take on personal injury cases. They’ll know how successful they are and if it is worth the risk.
You should ask to see a list of the successful case outcomes a lawyer has had. You should also ask what percentage of cases your potential lawyer has won.
Always ask a personal injury lawyer for references. Ask for the contact information of at least one satisfied former client. Don’t just rely on favorable website copy or promotional materials.
5. Who Will Actually Handle Your Case?
It may be the lawyer you meet has created a good impression. You need to know if they are the person who will be representing you. Lawyers very often work in teams.
Ask questions so that you’re clear about how the lawyers you’re considering to take on your case will work together.
Find out if less experienced associates will be handling your case and who would be responsible for supervising them.
6. What Are the Fees?
Many lawyers charge on a contingency basis. This means they’ll take a percentage of the amount recovered.
Expenses may be handled differently. These can sometimes run into tens of thousands of dollars. These costs could relate to things like expert witness fees.
There are several ways lawyers may try to recover expenses. This could be by a loan or a client reimbursing the lawyer for the expenses settles once the case. You need to be clear about how this will work before agreeing to hire a lawyer.
7. What Is Your Case Worth?
This is really the ultimate ‘bottom-line’ question. A personal injury lawyer should be able to give you a fair idea of what your case might be worth.
There are likely to be many dependencies, such as liability and any pre-existing medical issues. However, meeting with a potential attorney should give you an idea of the range of possibilities.
8. What Are the Lawyer’s Financial Resources?
Lawsuits involving serious personal injuries can be very costly when they go to court. You need to be sure that your lawyer has sufficient resources to fund your case properly.
9. Has the Lawyer Won Any Awards?
The sign of a top lawyer can lie in any awards they have been given by legal organizations. They may hold a leadership role in a bar association. This is considered an honor.
Lawyers who often lecture at legal education seminars will tend to be held in high esteem by their professional colleagues. Those who write articles in legal publications are often authorities in their field.
Some personal injury lawyers may list the topics of their speaking engagements or publications on their website. You should ask for more details about these.
10. What Will Be Your Role in the Lawsuit?
You need to fully understand what your role will be in any lawsuit and what will be expected of you. Lawsuits are a commitment, and they can be stressful. You may want to attend depositions and other meetings.
Some lawyers may encourage this, others will not. Make sure the vision you have of the journey you’re embarking on is shared by your lawyer. It’s very important they are a person you feel you’re going to get on well with.
Finding the Best Injury Lawyers
Before hiring a lawyer for your case, it’s a wise move to do some research. This is going to improve your chances of finding one of the best injury lawyers available.
Contact us today to find out how one of our highly experienced lawyers can help you to win your case.