Statistics reveal that San Bernardino has experienced a steady rise in traffic injuries and fatalities, increasing by 35% since 2010.
One of the contributing factors to this is the I-15 freeway. The I-15 experiences a lot of truck traffic. Due to its size, geographical location, and high traffic levels, it is one of the deadliest highways in the US.
Truck accidents are some of the most severe and often result in life-altering injuries. If you’ve been a victim of a truck accident, it’s critical that you hire the best truck accident attorney you can find.
A good truck accident attorney will be able to level the playing field, maximize your settlement, and ensure that you’re justly compensated for your injuries and losses.
But how do you know who is the best truck accident attorney to hire?
Here are 8 tips that will help you identify the best truck accident attorney in San Bernardino for your case.
1. Look for a Lawyer Who Specifically Handles Truck Accident Cases
To ensure the success of your settlement, you want to make sure you’re hiring an attorney who has a history of representing truck accident victims.
As we said above, truck accidents are typically more severe and cause more damage and injury than accidents only involving standard passenger vehicles.
They are also more complex than passenger vehicle accidents. Truck accidents often involve multiple areas of liability. Instead of one at-fault party, liability may be spread across various parties, including:
The driver
The trucking company
A parts manufacturer
A truck maintenance facility
The trucking industry is also subject to different rules and regulations than private vehicles. For instance, truck drivers are required to adhere to the Hours of Service regulations that stipulate how long drivers are allowed to be on the road between breaks.
Your attorney needs to not only be familiar with the trucking industry’s regulations, but they also need to be experienced at uncovering and proving regulation and safety breaches.
The easiest way to find out about a potential attorney’s case history is to ask them. During your initial consultation, enquire about their most recent truck accident cases.
2. Ask About Trial Experience
Legal dramas give the impression that every case ends up in the courtroom. This isn’t true. Taking a case to court triggers increased costs for both parties.
Because of this, the majority of vehicle accident cases settle out of court.
However, there is a chance that the insurance company doesn’t offer a fair settlement during negotiations, no matter how strong your case is. If this happens, you want to have a truck accident attorney on your side who has courtroom experience.
3. Pick a Firm That Has the Capacity to Handle Your Case
Because truck accident claims are usually complex, we’d also recommend you choose a firm that has the manpower and capacity to give your case the attention it deserves.
The outcome of a truck accident case can have a tremendous impact on your life going forward. The last thing you want is to hire a lawyer who’s overloaded and doesn’t have the time to prepare a comprehensive case.
Instead, look for a firm that has a robust team. For instance, here at Arrowhead Accident Attorneys, we furnish our clients with a team of dedicated professionals. Each of our San Bernardino attorneys works tirelessly, examining every detail of your case so as to maximize compensation.
4. Look for a Truck Accident Attorney in San Bernardino With a Strong Reputation
Another thing to look for in a truck accident attorney is a good reputation. One way to gauge an attorney’s reputation is by reading their online reviews.
You can also check to see whether a potential firm or attorney has received any awards.
At our San Bernardino law firm, we are proud of our reputation as an award-winning firm and as a trustworthy legal services provider for truck accident cases.
5. Find a Truck Accident Attorney With the Right Fee Structure
If you’ve been in a crash involving a truck, it’s essential that you settle for nothing less than the best truck accident attorney you can find.
Fortunately, having the best representation doesn’t need to financially cripple you. If you’re worried about meeting the costs involved, look for a truck accident attorney who operates on a contingency-fee structure.
Instead of billing you per hour or charging a retainer, the attorney instead takes their payment out of your settlement.
We operate under a no-win no-pay contingency fee structure. In the rare event that your case is unsuccessful, you won’t owe us for your legal representation.
6. Ask About Communication Frequency and Availability
Before you hire a potential truck accident attorney, make sure you clarify what communication frequency and level of availability you can expect. How often will you receive updates on your case? During what hours can you reach the firm?
We know how important it is that you get your questions or concerns addressed immediately. This is why our customer care representatives are available day and night, 24/7.
7. Choose a Truck Accident Attorney Who Can Refer You to the Right Medical Professionals
If you’ve been in a truck accident, it’s imperative that you receive the right medical attention. Not only will this help to facilitate your recovery, but it can also be pivotal for your case.
The best truck accident attorney will be able to refer you to the right medical professionals for your injuries, who can also act as expert witnesses.
8. Pick a Firm With a High Success Rate
One of the easiest ways to know whether you’re working with one of the best truck accident attorney firms is to ask about their success rate. A law firm’s success rate indicates what percentage of its past cases were successful.
Here at Arrowhead Accident Attorneys we have a 99% success rate.
Use These Tips to Find the Best Truck Accident Attorney for Your Case
Hiring legal help is absolutely critical if you’ve been in a truck accident. However, do not rush this step. Instead, take your time and identify the best truck accident attorney by following these tips.
If you’re looking for the best truck accident attorney in San Bernardino, you have come to the right place.
Arrowhead Accident Attorneys specializes in truck accident cases. Our team of trusted attorneys will give your case the detailed attention it needs so that you can get the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation.