There are indeed times where it’s important to be spontaneous and there are indeed certain topics that do not require you to think ahead. Dealing with the legal matters that arise in the wake of a truck accident, however, does not fit into this category.
If you happen to be involved in an accident, there are certain questions you should ask your attorney. Although you might be worried about having the answers to their questions or having a good case, it is important to remember that they work for you and ask a few questions of your own. Getting the right answers to the questions ensures that you get a competent attorney for the job. In addition, these questions not only protect you and your assets but also protect your attorney.
Experience and Jurisdiction
This goes without saying, but, the more years of experience the attorney has under his belt, the better your chances of protecting yourself and your assets. Having an attorney with a lot of experience could also increase your confidence and ease whatever worries you may have.
It is also important to take the city and jurisdiction into consideration. For instance, truck accident lawyers in Detroit Michigan will probably have more experience with dealing with automobile accidents than lawyers from other jurisdictions. According to the 2016 National truck accident statistics, there has been a 27% increase in the number of fatal truck accidents in Michigan. In 2017, there were 13,416 accidents involving trucks, 96 of which, were fatal crashes.
It is noteworthy, however, to know if the client’s and attorney’s jurisdictions don’t match, the case could get more difficult.
Legal Fee
A truck accident lawsuit can quickly get very expensive, however, you can ensure that you get compensated if you are harmed in an accident. It is imperative to know how much your attorney is going to charge for your case before making your choice because lawyers often have different rates for different types of cases.
Also, you can ask if a “contingency fee arrangement” is available. This arrangement allows you to hold off payments until you win the case. Oftentimes, this option is offered by lawyers with very high win rates, a perk that will imbue you with even more confidence.
Win Rates
Similar to asking about the attorney’s experience, in order to rest easy and get the best possible outcome from the case, your attorney needs to have an impressive win rate. Hence, knowing the outcome of their past cases will come in handy. After all, experience will matter only if there are a lot more wins than losses.
To get the truth, you should do your research on the lawyer, ask various people (maybe even past clients), and find out how their past cases have gone.
Legal Opinion
Ever heard the phrase “choose your battles wisely”? Well, that applies here. Before you proceed with the case, you should seek legal counsel and find out if the truck accident lawsuit is worth the trouble. This will go a long way to save you a lot of time and trouble, or it will give you the courage to double down and go all in.
