Truck accidents, especially those involving commercial tractor-trailer trucks, often result in catastrophic damage – serious personal injury or death to those involved. Because the injuries are so serious, it is important to find a top Chicago truck accident attorney to represent your interests in the investigation and litigation surrounding the accident. The question becomes: how do you find the right lawyer?
One strategy is to hire an attorney before a tragedy occurs. Many people know someone they trust who is a lawyer – however, not all lawyers are the same. An attorney who handles divorce cases is not someone you want to handle your accident case. Be proactive in finding an attorney who focuses on accident cases. Do they have experience handling truck accident cases from both the plaintiff and the defense side? Go to the law firm’s website. Read the publications written by him. See the results of his case. See their qualifications.
In any serious accident, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible. In serious truck accidents, for example, the insurance company for the truck involved will often be contacted within minutes of the accident, and an investigator will be dispatched to the scene to collect evidence – take witness statements, photographs, etc. Every day you wait, hiring your own attorney delays any investigation on your part, and gives more time for evidence to disappear.
There is a lot of information on the internet about different law firms that handle accident cases. Be careful though. Often, the firms that spend the most money on their website and advertising are not the best firms – in fact, they often refer their cases to other attorneys. Read about the attorneys who will handle your case. Analyze their background, and look at their results. Go to the Chicago Bar Association website and look up attorneys; Also consider the Illinois State Bar Association.
This should go without saying: Always take the time to interview an attorney before you hire them. In case of a catastrophic injury, never hire a Chicago accident lawyer by speaking to him on the phone. You will need to sit down with the lawyer and ensure that you are comfortable with their demeanor and believe they are the best lawyer for your case.
It shouldn’t cost you a dime to find a Chicago truck accident attorney through the interview process. Most attorneys today offer free consultations because they want the opportunity to evaluate your case and you as a client, and often assure you that they are the best attorney for the case. Accident cases are often handled on a contingency fee basis – if you win an award or settlement, the attorney receives a percentage of the award or settlement; If you lose, the lawyer gets nothing.
Ultimately, the Chicago truck accident attorney you ultimately choose should be one who can handle the delicate issues of an accident with compassion and respect. A face-to-face interview can tell a lot more about the type of person a Chicago truck accident attorney is than any other method.
Know When to Call One Truck Accident Attorney
It can be difficult to know when a truck accident requires the assistance of an attorney who specializes in truck accidents. Most people are not happy with litigation and most people involved in an accident assume that insurance will handle things fairly and that their interests will be taken care of. This can be a huge miscalculation that will later cost the victim dearly.
Some injuries may take some time to manifest themselves and some quick healing injuries or simple surgeries are not that quick or that simple and the paperwork has already been filed and closed against future litigation. This could leave innocent victims in unnecessary pain or reduce their quality of life because a decision to protect their rights was not implemented early enough.
According to the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics, there are approximately 5,500 nonfatal accidents involving a semi-truck or bus each year. There are an additional 200 accidents in a year that are fatal. This means that for every eight semi trucks involved in accidents, one accident will be fatal.
Under most state laws, these drivers are held to a higher standard of care than the average car driver due to the size and weight of their semi trucks, which increases the potential damage they can cause in an accident, but it is less expensive for the driver. What is little comfort is other cars that may find themselves up against trucking companies from corporate lawyers who probably do not share this information as they move to protect the company at the other driver’s expense.
Let’s face it, there really is no such thing as an accident in a car accident because most “accidents” are caused by one of two factors, either driver error or vehicle malfunction. “Accidents” caused by negligence usually involve issues such as driver fatigue, an inexperienced driver, poor driver training, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Vehicle maintenance failures include brake failure or a rig that has not been properly maintained.
It is important to remember that most semi trucks are not independently owned but rather owned by corporations with big pockets and within hours of an accident, while other drivers are still fighting for their lives in the emergency room, Corporate lawyers are already building a case against the other driver to protect their bottom line—money.
This is why it is important to hire an attorney who specializes in these types of accidents to represent your best interests and protect you in the long run. Medical bills can add up quickly and the ongoing medical care needed for rehabilitation will not be covered by any deal struck by an unrepresented driver and trucking company attorney in the emergency room.
How to Select A Reliable Truck Accident Attorney
Have you ever had a fatal accident that left a lasting mark on your career? If this is the case, you should contact an experienced injury lawyer to represent your case in court and help you recover your much-deserved compensation money from the offender. Accidents can happen anywhere, anytime. We never know when we might meet with an accident. But if you have been the victim of an accident that resulted from the negligent driving of heavy vehicles such as container carriers or trucks, then you need a specialized legal representative to present your case.
A truck accident lawyer would be an ideal choice in situations where the accident occurred as a result of careless driving of trucks and other heavy transport vehicles. You may ask – what’s the difference? Is a general injury lawyer not sufficient to represent my case? Why would I need only one truck accident attorney for my case? Well, it is different and the difference lies in understanding the various legalities involved in transport and regulatory authority norms. Only someone having sufficient knowledge, both written and practical, in this field, can steer such a matter to success.
Take a look at some of these guidelines to help you choose a reliable truck accident attorney:
1. Always ask for accreditation – An accredited truck accident lawyer stands a better chance of winning against all odds because of his immense competence in the concerned field. In addition to having a good reputation, they can indirectly influence jurors, and therefore better represent your case in the house of law.
2. Choose Wisely – The American Association of Justice registers all certified legal practitioners in the country. While hiring a suitable accident lawyer, you should ensure that the professional is registered with the organization. If asking for its registration number offends your decorum, you can visit the website of the association and find out for yourself.
You must remember one thing, truck accidents are not minor accidents, they come under major vehicular offenses and should be dealt with properly as per the latest circulars of the judiciary. Only a certified legal practitioner having complete knowledge of the latest amendments can serve your purpose well.
3. However, the most important thing is to clear the payment terms with your truck accident attorney right at the outset. Finalize the payment terms, duration, and mode of payment with your lawyer before proceeding. Also, talk clearly with your legal representative about whether you really have any chance of winning the case and approximately for how many days the legal hearing can continue.
4. Finally, be honest about the accident. Inform your personal truck accident attorney about every detail of the accident. This will help your lawyer better understand the situation.
What to Consider Before Hiring A Truck Accident Attorney
The vast majority of crash-related deaths each year are caused by large commercial trucks in the US. The number of trucks involved in fatal accidents has increased by 10 percent over the past few decades. If you have been seriously injured by the negligence of a truck driver, you should consider hiring a skilled attorney who will help you obtain fair compensation and medical expenses. Before you go ahead, here are some tips that will be beneficial:
1. Before hiring anyone, make sure that he/she has expertise in this field. You cannot hire a criminal attorney to fight a truck accident case for you. Only a specialized lawyer can help you in the successful disposal of the case.
2. Your lawyer will first ascertain what exactly was the cause of the accident. In general, truck accidents are caused by faulty brakes, overloading, or other issues related to the truck driver, such as drunk or doped driving.
3. One of the biggest difficulties surrounding a truck accident is determining who is at fault. It is a complex process and it often takes a long time to reveal the truth. A skilled truck accident lawyer will use his team to critically investigate the entire case and prepare evidence to support your claim.
4. Your insurance company may try to provide proof that you are at fault and if they can successfully prove it, then there is no chance for you to get medical compensation from them. Hiring a skilled lawyer will help you get rid of such problems without any hassle.
5. Location becomes another important issue that often comes up with truck accidents. Typically these types of heavy vehicles travel long distances and it is not surprising that several states may become involved in litigation. Only a skilled lawyer can easily navigate through the various state-specific legal issues and find out which is the best place to file a lawsuit.
6. A truck accident can result in serious injuries that may take months or years to heal. The work of a skilled lawyer is not limited to the courts only, they will be with you during this devastating time. They’ll make sure you have access to the right medical treatment and benefits while you recover. A good truck accident attorney firm will consult with its in-house physicians, economists, and vocational rehab counselors to determine the severity of your injuries, estimate the time for recovery, and calculate ancillary costs.
Chicago has plenty of options to choose from when you are looking for a truck accident attorney, but not many are equally efficient. Visit srflaw.com to find experienced and skilled lawyers who will help you and your family recover the maximum amount of compensation with a successful settlement.
