Choosing the Right Truck Accident Injury Lawyer in Riverside County

California ranks in the top three states with the most deaths resulting from truck accidents, with 398 deaths in a single year. Riverside County had 33 deaths and 494 injuries within a year’s span. These accidents can devastate the lives of those involved, making hiring the right attorney crucial in ensuring the victims get the compensation they deserve. 

Knowing what to look for in a truck accident injury lawyer can mean the difference between picking up the pieces and moving forward or facing years of financial and personal struggles. Here’s how to find the right lawyer for your case.

A Truck Accident Lawyer Needs Experience

Not all personal injury lawyers specialize in auto accidents or truck accidents in particular. Instead, many attorneys will represent clients for a wide range of personal injury claims. Then, some attorneys only represent clients who were injured in motor vehicle accidents.

For this reason, you need to ensure you select a trucking accident injury lawyer. These lawyers focus on accidents that involve large commercial vehicles like semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and tractor-trailers. They have the experience necessary to handle truck accidents, as well as understand the complex processes in comparison to smaller passenger vehicle accidents. 

Unsafe lane changes, speeding, and sharp turning are some of the most common mistakes at-fault truck drivers make. However, trucking companies can also be found liable for causing accidents.

An experienced truck accident lawyer will have handled cases where employers exhibit fault by extending shifts of driving hours on the road or failing to comply with federal regulations for rest periods.  

Case Outcome History 

No lawyer can or should promise or guarantee the outcome of a truck accident case. However, you can ask the attorney about their firm’s track record of case outcomes, and based on that experience, get an estimate of your case’s value.

Settlement and Trial

Similar to car accident cases, truck accident claims could end with a settlement agreement or may go to trial. While most claims get settled, no guarantee will happen with your personal injury claim. Some firms specialize in negotiating settlements, which is beneficial. However, you will need to ensure that your attorney also has litigation and trial experience in case a settlement cannot be made. 

Trucking Industry Knowledge 

There are federal and state regulations that govern the operation of commercial vehicles on the road. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides resources to research a particular carrier’s safety performance track record through its USDOT number or Motor Carrier (MC) Number. Experienced truck accident attorneys are familiar with federal and state regulations. 

In addition, they understand that potentially liable parties extend far beyond the vehicle’s driver. Unlike passenger vehicle accidents, many other parties could get named in your claim.

These include the trucking company, the trucking manufacturer, the company responsible for servicing and maintaining the truck, the warehouse company that loaded the truck, the cargo owner, or even the cargo manufacturer. With so many parties who could have contributed to the crash, your legal team must identify all who are at fault. 

Professional Reputation

Choose a law firm that has a strong reputation within the legal community. If they regularly represent clients injured in truck accidents, they will have a reputation for handling such cases. You want a firm that aggressively fights for clients’ rights. 

Additionally, protect yourself by researching the lawyer. The State Bar of California has an attorney search service. You can look up the lawyer’s professional record. Determine if they are legally able to practice or have a history of disciplinary actions.

Network of Resources 

The more resources your attorney can access, the better they can argue your case. Long-practicing truck attorneys build a solid and far-reaching network of resources, including:

• Tenured doctors
• Accident reconstruction experts
• Traffic engineering experts
• Forensics
• Medical experts
• Mechanical experts

The damages tend to be significantly higher, and insurance companies fight harder to avoid hefty payouts. Therefore, you will need as much evidence as possible to prove that your claim is valid and that the compensation you are demanding is fair. 

Fee Structure 

Do not hire the most expensive truck accident attorney, assuming he or she is the most qualified based on their rates. Conversely, do not hire a lawyer just based on their “affordable” rates. 

When considering cost, look into other factors like how they bill. For example, an attorney who works on a contingency fee structure will only collect legal fees if your case is won. Therefore, you will not be billed if the case is not successful. This benefits many clients because it will not put them into debt.

Pay attention to these details because they can drastically change the amount you ultimately owe:

• Fees not included in the contingency fee 
• Percentage of the contingency fee 
• Contingency fee calculation before or after fees 
• Fee percentage changes when the case goes from settlement to trial

Former Client Experience 

You could start looking for attorney referrals from friends and family. Personal references are great because those close to you will be candid and honest. Another great resource is online for reviews. Avvo, Yelp, and Google reviews are good websites to start. Additionally, you can refer to the California State Bar site to confirm if an attorney has had any disciplinary actions taken against them.

However, be judicious about how you approach these reviews from strangers. Keep in mind that people are significantly more likely to leave a review when they are unhappy. They may also blame a lawyer when the outcome isn’t exactly what they wanted. Read the subtext and underlying message about the quality of the lawyer.

Communication Style

What is your preferred communication style? You should have a comfortable rapport with your attorney. Truck cases can take months or even years to resolve.

You will work closely with your lawyer and their team during that time. Therefore, you should feel comfortable communicating with them in person, over the phone, by email, or by text.

Hire a Truck Accident Injury Lawyer

A truck accident injury lawyer knows that the damages and injuries are significantly greater in truck accidents. Therefore, you need someone with the experience and resources to represent you effectively. 

Request a free consultation with DK Law to discuss your case. During our meeting, you will have a better understanding of our communication style, experience, and knowledge of truck accident cases.