A collision with a large truck or commercial vehicle has significant potential to cause serious injury. You may want to hire an attorney to help you with a personal injury lawsuit against the driver or trucking company. However, you may feel bewildered or intimidated by the prospect and not know what sort of questions you should ask.
It is important to ask questions that will inform you whether this is the right professional to handle your case. Here are some ideas to help get you started.
- How Much Will It Cost to Hire You?
Instead of charging an hourly rate, most personal injury attorneys charge a percentage of the damages that you ultimately receive. The exact percentage can vary, but it is usually 25% to 40%. Also, personal injury attorneys typically bill on a contingency basis. This means that if you do not recover any damages, you do not need to pay the attorney anything at all.
- When Do I Need to File My Lawsuit?
A civil action like a personal injury lawsuit is subject to a statute of limitations. This means that you only have a certain amount of time after your accident in which to file. The statute of limitations varies by jurisdiction, but is usually at least one year, and sometimes can be two or three.
- What Damages Are Available?
You can almost always claim damages for expenses related to medical treatment for the accident, as well as lost wages for the time you took off from work during your recovery. You may be able to claim non economic or general damages for things like pain and suffering or emotional distress. If your injury affects intimacy with your significant other, you may also be able to claim loss of consortium.
- Who Are the Parties Responsible for the Accident?
The driver of the truck is usually one of the responsible parties; however, there may be others. For example, the trucking company may be responsible if it acted negligently or failed to enforce proper safety procedures before letting the driver set out on the road.
- What Is Your History of Handling Truck Accident Cases?
Before you hire a personal injury attorney to assist you with your truck accident case, you want to know how many truck accidents he or she has handled and whether the outcomes were favorable, e.g., a settlement or a win in the courtroom.
A skilled trucking accident lawyer, like a trucking accident lawyer in Memphis, TN, will know how your accident has affected your life and how important it is for you to recover fair compensation. Contact an office to arrange a consultation.
Thanks to Patterson Bray, for their insight into questions you should ask a truck accident attorney before letting them take on your case.