Texas has one of the highest fatality rates in the nation for trucking accidents. That means that if you are a Houston-based trucker, you might be at a higher risk than elsewhere.
A truck accident can happen for any number of reasons. Your company may have failed to maintain the equipment or failed to provide you with the necessary safety features. They may be working you ragged, having you drive long hours–or in poor conditions.
If an accident happens, your next step is to find a truck accident lawyer. The question is, how do you find the right one?
Read on as we discuss 3 things to keep in mind when hiring truck accident lawyers.
#1: Determine If They Have a Specialty in Truck Accidents
Becoming a lawyer is not as simple as passing the Bar and opening a firm. Houston lawyers have a wide variety of specialties to choose from. They can pursue family law, personal injury law, or even corporate law.
All of these disciplines are unique. It takes years to understand the complexities of family law–or any law area, for that matter. A family law lawyer might be out of their depth tackling truck accidents.
Right out of the gate, determine if your legal counsel is, specifically, a truck accident attorney. Truck accident attorneys know the intricacies of moving violations and the like. They know how judges handle these cases, and how to obtain the most favorable result.
#2: Examine Credentials, Past Experience, and Outcomes
Hiring a lawyer is a lot like hiring any other employee. You want to see their past experience before trusting them.
Take the time to investigate a potential lawyer’s past. Look at their official credentials and what experience they have. Verify that these credentials are up-to-date and authentic.
Importantly, see how their previous cases have gone. Have they won cases for their clients, or failed? If they have a long string of successes, that’s a good sign for you.
#3: Meet Them in Person
At the end of the day, you are going to be spending many long hours with your lawyer. You’ll be discussing the particulars of your case as they evolve and handling increasing challenges. So, one thing will be quite important: whether or not you get along with them.
Meet them in person at their office. Get a feel for how comfortable you are in their presence. If something is off, it might be your gut telling you to move on.
Take note of how considerate they are of your time and your thoughts. See if they prioritize you, or if they treat you like just another client. This in-person meeting can tell you a lot about how the professional relationship will play out going forward.
Hire a Truck Accident Attorney Today
A truck accident is often far more complicated than a simple fender bender. You must have a truck accident lawyer on your side as you weather legal proceedings. Make sure to keep the above tips in mind before you settle on a lawyer to represent you.
Cox Pradia provides personalized legal assistance just for you. Contact us with a complete case summary and we will be there to help.