According to the latest data, more than 5,000 large trucks are involved in a fatal crash each year. Moreover, roughly 118,000 large trucks are involved in accidents that lead to injuries.

If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident, then it’s critical to have the right legal team by your side. A qualified and experienced attorney can guide you through these important next steps, and improve your odds of obtaining a favorable outcome.

Not sure where to begin? Today, we’re sharing an in-depth guide on how to choose the best truck accident law firm in your local area. With these tips, you’ll be one step closer to recouping your losses and receiving the payout you deserve.

1. Ask For Personal Recommendations

Before you take your search too wide, start by casting a small net. Ask your friends and family members if they’ve used a personal injury attorney in the past, and how their experience went. Would they recommend the same team or would they steer you elsewhere?

First-hand accounts from people you know and trust are incredibly valuable. However, keep in mind that each case is different. While your details will obviously be unique, it does help to hear if a lawyer was timely, professional, and successful in navigating a situation similar to yours.

2. Expand Your Search

If you’re coming up short with your search for a truck accident lawyer, then don’t be afraid to ask around. Start by posting a question on social media, using a tool such as Facebook Recommendations.

This is a great way to reach a wider group of people, but still, keep your query relatively contained. Before long, you should have a list of at least a few firms that you can research in greater detail.

3. Check Online Reviews and Feedback

Did you know that 84% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from their inner circle? Once you have a shortlist of qualified candidates, then it’s time to hop online and learn more about each team.

Many firms will have separate, dedicated pages on their websites, designed solely to showcase reviews and testimonials from past clients. While you don’t have to read each one, this can be a great way to gauge general sentiments around a lawyer’s professionalism and quality of care.

As you scan these pages, look for key themes. Do multiple reviewers remark on the lawyer’s prompt response times and excellent communication? What are people saying about their work ethic or legal knowledge?

If you can’t find a page just for reviews, then check the social media sites for each firm. You can also access their Google My Business (GMB) profile by searching for them online. In addition to reviews, GMB profiles will also contain other important points of information, including the physical address of the firm, operating hours, and directions.

4. Ensure Specific Experience

Once you’ve decided on a few firms to investigate, you can begin looking into their practice areas more thoroughly. As you do, make sure that they have specific experience helping people who have been in a truck accident.

Keep in mind that not every personal injury lawyer will have worked in this space before. As a result, they might not be completely aware of the laws and regulations regarding truck injuries in your area. Without their qualified guidance, you could miss important deadlines, including your statute of limitations.

In addition, you may also miss required paperwork, or follow the wrong processes. Truck accident claims are different from other types of injury claims, so it’s imperative to partner with someone who is closely familiar with them. While they don’t have to exclusively specialize in this field, it should be one of their main areas of expertise.

If you have any questions about a firm’s experience or can’t find that information on their website, then don’t hesitate to contact them via email or telephone. When you do, ask about their track record. How often do they take on cases like yours, and what is their win rate?

5. Understand the Fee Structure

Before you agree to partner with any lawyer, make sure you fully understand how their fee structure will work. Ultimately, you want to receive compensation for your injury, and you want to make sure that you have enough money to pay for your medical treatments and any type of ongoing care you require.

When calculating that payout, keep in mind that your lawyer’s legal fees will be an expense. Most firms will operate on a contingency basis, which means that they will not require any type of payment unless your case is successful and you get paid. When this happens, they’ll simply deduct their fees from your total earnings.

Some firms, however, may charge an up-front fee or retainer to take your case. Make sure you understand how this fee works, as well as what to expect with future payments.

6. Ensure Local Presence

You should be able to meet with your lawyer in person any time that it’s required. As such, it’s important to find a law firm that is close in proximity to your residence or place of business.

For instance, if you live in The Peach State, then you’ll need to limit your search radius to commercial vehicle accident lawyers in Georgia. This can make the search process easier and more time-efficient, too!

7. Communicate Your Needs

If you’re looking into a lawyer after your accident, then it’s likely that you don’t want to settle the low payout that you’ve already been offered from your insurance company. While this compensation can be helpful to a degree, it’s often much less than you’d receive if you took your claim to court.

As such, you should partner with a truck accident injury lawyer who’s willing to fight for your cause and secure you the highest compensation possible. In your preliminary interviews, make sure this is the case. If a lawyer suggests that you settle early, then it could be a red flag that they aren’t willing to stand up for your needs.

8. Ask About Their Caseload

You don’t want to be just another number. Before hiring a lawyer, take the time to inquire about their current caseload. Are they packed full or do they have room in their schedule to take on your claim?

Working with a jam-packed firm can be just as detrimental as trying to navigate a legal claim all by yourself. The team you choose should have plenty of resources and time to dedicate specifically to your case. Otherwise, it could fail to receive the attention it deserves.

While a lawyer won’t be able to discuss any type of details about the cases they’re currently working on, they should be able to give you an honest assessment of their timeline. If they are unwilling to share these details, then look for a team that’s more transparent.

9. Ensure Trial Experience

If your personal injury lawyer is not able to settle your case, then it will need to go to court. Due to this possibility, it’s important to hire a legal team that has related trial experience.

A major component of this is the ability to prove liability. Keep in mind that if your case goes to court, then the defendant’s insurance representatives will have lawyers of their own. Chances are, they could try to prove that you were the one at fault for the accident, even if that is not the case.

Your lawyer should know exactly how to respond to these claims using evidence from the scene of the accident, witness accounts, and other data. In order to receive fair compensation, you’ll need to put together a solid case, and your lawyer will need to be at the helm of it all.

10. Perform a Compatibility Check

No, you’re not going to be hanging out with members of your truck accident law firm on a personal level. However, you should feel comfortable opening up to your lawyer and sharing details about your case. This is why it’s critical to choose a team that you can get along with from the very beginning.

Find a lawyer that makes you feel respected, validated, and heard. You should never feel as though your questions are a nuisance, or that you’re taking up too much of their valuable time. At the end of the day, your lawyer is your advocate and you should partner with one that understands that requirement.

Find the Best Truck Accident Law Firm Today

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, then you need the best legal representation by your side. With a qualified attorney at the helm of your case, you can focus on resting and healing, confident that all the administrative efforts are being expertly worked on your behalf.

The 10 factors above can help you choose the right truck accident law firm as soon as possible. As you do your due diligence, we’re here to keep you covered with the legal news and updates you need. Be sure to check back often for more informative guides!