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How to Select a Lawyer for an Injury Case Involving a Large Truck

Written by: Kenneth L. Shigley

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Posted over 3 years ago. 1 helpful vote, 0 comments

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A Trucking Accident Attorney Should Have the Right Peer Review Ratings and Specialty Organization Memberships

Generally, the attorney should be member of his or her state trial lawyers organization (e.g., Georgia Trial Lawyers Association), the American Association for Justice (AAJ), AAJ’s Interstate Trucking Litigation Group, and the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America. It is a plus if an attorney has chaired continuing legal education seminars in the area of trucking litigation, who are Certified Civil Trial Advocates of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and who have participated in a meaningful way in local or state bar associations.

A Trucking Accident Attorney Should Have the Capacity to Fund Substantial Litigation

The cost of accident reconstruction experts, economists, vocational experts, video depositions of multiple defense witnesses and treating physicians, custom medical illustrations, and extensive travel around the country for depositions can be quite expensive. The key is whether the lawyer has access to funds, often through a large litigation funding line of credit, to fund properly preparing a case for trial.

Any Lawyer You Entrust with Handling a Catastrophic Injury Case Should Have Litigation Experience with Truck Accident Cases

Look at the lawyer's actual track record litigating truck accident cases and getting results at trial.

Choose Someone Who Has Repeatedly Lectured Other Lawyers in the Area of Trucking Litigation

Any lawyer might be given one chance to speak at a seminar, but since the presentations are graded by the audience. If the audience of lawyers feels the seminar is not worthwhile the speaker won't be invited back a second time. Has the lawyer been invited repeatedly to speak to other lawyers about trucking litigation around the country?

Can the Lawyer Hire the Best Experts and Get Them Involved in Your Case?

It takes a lot of networking over a long period of time to find out who are the best experts in a field, and to have the contacts to get them involved in a case at the right time.

Check out the Lawyer’s Web Site

The web site will tell you what type of cases the lawyer's firm handles. Do they have an extensive trucking site or is it more focused on car wrecks or general personal injury matters? Does the lawyer have a blog, and if so in what area of the law? Do they list papers written by the lawyers, and if so what are the topics?