The US Census Bureau reported that the trucking business hit $233 billion dollars in revenues for 2008. With a business of this size, you can imagine the power the trucking business and their insurance companies have over little consumers who get in their way.
At up to 40 tons of steel and fuel, an accident with one or more of these beasts can cause huge injury and even death to other drivers and passengers. An estimated 400,000 serious injuries involve a semi or commercial truck every year. And an estimated 5,400 persons die in these accidents annually.
Getting fair compensation for injuries, disabilities, deformities or even death may require a lawsuit following an accident. A recent Jury Verdict Research Study that looked at truck accidents nationwide from 1996 to 2005, found that the truck accident victim prevailed and received damages in 60 percent of truck accident lawsuits. The average compensation award of these verdicts was nearly $90,000.
But with all the come-ons for free legal help, how does one choose a contingency fee attorney and what does a family look for?
“Be prepared to interview your prospective attorney right after the accident,” says 26-year personal injury attorney, Ken Hardison of Raleigh, North Carolina. “You’ll want to know if they’ve pursued commercial truck claims in the past. Big rig truck wrecks are different. There’s valuable evidence that needs to be collected and preserved soon after the accident. Trucking companies have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters working for them. They may not have you and your family’s best interest at heart”.
“The more a person knows about the value of their case, the more likely they are to find an honest attorney and get the highest compensation from the truck company and their insurance,” says Hardison. He recommends victims in a truck wreck , “Get the facts before settling. Don’t sign anything an insurance adjuster pushes in your face before getting legal advice. And for gosh sakes get the free report, 7 Mistakes to Avoid After A Truck Accident. ”
One of the most confusing areas for consumers, explains Hardison, is that attorneys may choose to represent victims in a contingency fee arrangement. In a contingency fee arrangement, the victim pays nothing to the attorney unless money is collected. This allows a larger, more-experienced law firm to represent personal injury claims arising from a truck wreck. The good news is they get paid only if the victims wins. At Hardison & Cochran PLLC, they employee 10 attorneys and 38 staff, most of whom work on this pay-for-performance basis and whom embrace the idea that “the advice and the call are both free”.
That’s why it’s vital for the plaintiff (or victim) to establish an attorney-client relationship in writing as early as possible, says Hardison. Without this final agreement, consumers can waste valuable time after the accident and make mistakes (or lose information) that could cost the victim later in a settlement or verdict.
Knowing what is a ‘good case’ is confusing to consumers looking for an attorney. This causes delay and frustrating restarts, according to Ben Cochran, partner at Hardison & Cochran. “Many people know they have to document their injuries, but how they go about this can be hampered without good legal advice. Victims can wait days or even months only to hear a law firm has decided they cannot or will not pursue legal representation—even after details of the case have been provided. It’s frustrating and potentially damaging to their truck accident claim.”
For truck accidents in rural areas, Hardison recommends that truck accident victims and their families look for co-operative national law groups, such as the National Truck Injury Hotline. By phoning 1-800-373-0202, consumers can obtain a free case review, often obtain consultation without cost and even receive instant suggestions on preserving their claim --such as the report, 7 Mistakes to Avoid After A Truck Accident.
Hardison suggests another tool to selecting a lawyer after an accident with a commercial truck: “Right from the start, search for a truck accident attorney electronically on the web. Look for a system that allows a real attorney to review your case details and to see if your case is a good match with their law firm. It can save weeks of frustration in shopping for a lawyer. Don’t hand the insurance company tens or thousands of dollars because you didn’t shop for a 19-wheeler accident attorney using the right tools. You might get hurt—again. ”
