Blog

If you or someone you care about was injured in a truck accident, the aftermath can be stressful, painful, and heartbreaking. Being in the middle of the country, Amarillo is along the route of many trucking lines; and, with the continuous increase in truck transport, there is a greater chance of being involved in a trucking collision. While talking to a lawyer or filing a lawsuit may not be at the top of your list of things to do after a catastrophic roadway wreck, there are a variety of reasons why obtaining the counsel of an experienced attorney is crucial immediately following a trucking accident. When reaching out to find the best choice for you, be sure to know what questions to ask when hiring a truck accident lawyer.

Semi-Truck Accidents are Unique

Due to the size, weight, and force of 18-wheelers and other large commercial trucks, the consequences of a crash involving one are often catastrophic and even fatal. Trucks have problems braking, blind spots, and can have improperly loaded cargo, for example. In addition to an increased force of impact and the resulting more serious damages to both life and property, truck accident cases are different because they can involve a large number of potentially responsible parties. You need an experienced lawyer who can thoroughly investigate your situation and fight for compensation from all of the potentially at-fault parties, including but not limited to a truck manufacturer, a service provider, a cargo loader, truck owner, truck operator, dispatcher, and more. Even beyond the liability puzzle, truck drivers and the vehicles themselves are subject to a variety of state and federal regulations that must be considered as part of working up a truck accident case, including those propounded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

In addition, last year in Texas, Governor Abbott signed a new bill into law that protects commercial motor carriers involved in accidents. The bill went into effect in September 2021, effectively modifying the previously established state law framework of trial procedures. The law splits cases going to trial into two phases – the first phase being a liability and compensatory damages only and the second phase covers solely exemplary damages.

How To Ensure You Hire the Right Truck Accident Lawyer for Your Case

One of the most important decisions truck accident victims can make is choosing the right lawyer to help them through the process of seeking justice – from start to finish. When it comes to taking on trucking companies and their powerful insurers, your choice of legal representation affects your chances of success. Before signing a contract to hire a lawyer, you should meet with them in person, if possible, and ask questions about both your case and their experience. Some of the most important questions to ask when hiring a truck accident lawyer include:

• How many years have you been practicing law, and of those years, how many have been devoted to handling personal injury cases?
• How many truck accident cases have you handled?
• Have you handled a case like mine before?
• Who will I be working with within your office?
• What would be your strategy for winning my case?
• What is your style like when working with clients / what is your personality or style as a lawyer in general?
• What is your assessment of my case, including what do you think my case is worth?
• What potential problems do you see with my case?
• How are you compensated for handling my case?
• How long will my case take?

Amarillo Truck Accident Lawyers

Cases involving large commercial truck accidents are often significantly more complicated than cases involving a wreck between two passenger cars. Truck accident claims involve more complex points of law and generally require more extensive investigation to determine and prove the cause of the crash. Additionally, taking on large trucking companies is more challenging than bringing a claim against a regular motorist with a normal auto insurance policy.

In addition to the list of questions above, before your initial consultation meeting ends, ask each truck injury lawyer you meet with or talk to if there are other questions you should have asked or if there is anything else the attorney wants to tell you. Once you’ve met with all of the options you want to consider, review your notes from each meeting and decide which attorney you want to hire based on their level of experience, history of success handling cases like yours, and whether you feel comfortable trusting them and their team to handle your case. The experienced truck accident lawyers of Lovell, Lovell, Isern & Farabough offer free initial consultations for semi-truck and commercial vehicle accident victims, so contact us online today for more information about how we can help.