If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, you may be eligible for compensation. You could theoretically recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and related losses if the driver, trucking company, or someone else was responsible for the collision. You may do so by identifying the liable party and filing a claim or lawsuit.
However, your focus should be on your recovery in the aftermath of a truck wreck. Pursuing compensation alone can distract you from tending to your health.
Luckily, you don’t need to pursue compensation by yourself. A Boca Raton truck accident lawyer can help you fight for what you may deserve. To find the right truck accident attorney to meet your needs, we suggest asking these seven questions during your initial consultation.
1. Have They Handled Truck Accident Cases Like Yours in the Past?
The personal injury lawyer you hire should have experience representing clients like you before. Although they can’t break confidentiality rules, a truck accident lawyer should be able to discuss their past track record with you.
You may also ask about how long the attorney has been practicing and whether they have any other qualifications you should know.
2. How Will They Keep You Up-To-Date About The Status Of Your Truck Accident Case?
When meeting with a personal injury attorney for an initial consultation, ask about how they will keep in touch with you about your case’s status. Although it’s considerate to remember that your lawyer will have other clients and may, thus, not always be immediately available, you should feel comfortable that they’ll be responsive when you contact them for updates.
3. Can They Provide Testimonials From Past Clients Whose Truck Accident Cases They’ve Handled?
During your initial consultation with a lawyer, keep in mind that their law firm wants your business. Many attorneys you meet with will claim to offer strong representation. You want to be certain the lawyer you choose can genuinely deliver on the promises they make of favorable outcomes.
To that end, ask if they can provide testimonials from clients like you who they’ve successfully represented in the past. Most lawyers will claim to be qualified for the job. The right attorney for your case will be able to provide reviews from other clients, confirming they deliver reliable service.
4. What Is Your Truck Accident Case Worth?
An auto accident lawyer can’t promise your case is worth a specific sum when they initially meet with you. Many factors can influence your final settlement.
What an accident attorney can do is review the details of your case and help you better understand the types of damages that may be available to you. Typically, they will pursue some of the basic damages common to most injury cases:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
However, your case may include a wide range of damages that can only be determined with a thorough investigation of your case.
What’s most important to remember is that an insurance company or liable party is unlikely to hold your hand throughout this process. Your lawyer has the knowledge and experience to fight for the types of financial compensation that you otherwise might not even realize you may claim.
5. What Can You Do to Help Your Truck Accident Attorney Successfully Represent You?
One of the benefits of hiring a truck accident lawyer to pursue fair compensation on your behalf is that doing so relieves you of a significant burden. When an attorney is handling your case, you can shift your focus to other priorities, such as recovering from your injuries.
That said, you may want to know whether there’s anything you can do as the case proceeds to help your attorney provide you with the strongest legal representation possible. You can help your attorney by:
- Gathering any documentation of your losses, such as medical bills, and providing your lawyer with copies (although they can often gather such documentation on your behalf)
- Refraining from openly discussing your case with others, such as posting about the case on social media
- Keeping a journal of your progress, which could be used as evidence in your case
You might want to still be an active participant in your case to some degree. Asking your truck accident lawyer what you can do to help empowers you to take ownership of your legal matters.
6. Do They Have Trial Experience in Truck Accident Cases?
A lawyer will often attempt to negotiate an out-of-court settlement with an insurance company first before going to trial. In fact, most cases do settle out of court. However, sometimes, insurance companies refuse to offer fair settlements.
Filing a personal injury lawsuit and seeking damages in a trial may be your only option if the insurers won’t negotiate in good faith. Knowing this, confirm that your lawyer has experience representing truck accident victims in a trial setting.
7. How Much Does It Cost to Hire the Truck Accident Lawyer?
You need to account for practical realities when hiring a truck accident attorney. Although you don’t want to settle for low-quality service, you also don’t want to spend more than you can justify when enlisting legal help.
Confirm you can afford a lawyer’s services before hiring them. Fortunately, many truck accident attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. Instead of charging upfront fees, their attorney’s fees are a preapproved percentage of the compensation they recover for a client. This agreement ensures a client pays nothing for their legal services if the lawyer doesn’t win the case.
Consider looking for a truck accident law firm that enters into contingency fee agreements with new clients. Hiring such a firm allows you to get legal help without taking an unreasonable financial risk.
Contact Ged Lawyers About Your Truck Accident Case
Ged Lawyers has been serving injured people throughout the area since 1995. Our legal team understands that a truck wreck can be a devastating experience, leaving you with injuries that may have long-term impacts on your health, comfort, earning potential, and more. The right lawyer can help you restore a sense of optimism by fighting for the compensation you deserve.
But don’t wait. Florida Statutes § 95.11 only gives you two years to start your case.
Call today for your free consultation.
