Choosing the Best Waco Truck Crash Lawyer

With more than 140,000 residents, Waco has a sizable population and a major interstate, I-35, running through its city limits. As a result, Waco sees a lot of traffic, both from people living there and people traveling through the city. Consequently, the drivers within Waco city limits are at risk of being involved in a major car crash—particularly with large trucks or company vehicles. 

Motor vehicle collisions involving large commercial trucks are very dangerous, as fully-loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. Because of their size, impacts with a big rig can cause far more damaging personal injuries than a normal car crash. If you’ve been seriously injured in a commercial vehicle crash, you’ll want to find the best truck crash lawyer to represent you.

What does a truck crash lawyer do?

In order to choose the best Waco truck crash lawyer, you need to know what they do. Of course, all cases are unique and require specific actions tailored to their needs and timelines. Generally, though, you should expect your lawyer to do the following if you bring them a case.

Examine the evidence

One of the first actions a lawyer will take is to gather and analyze the evidence available. Reviewing evidence includes looking at pictures or videos of the vehicles involved in the crash, investigating the scene of the crash, reviewing police reports, and interviewing witnesses. In addition, an experienced lawyer will retrieve and review any data in the company vehicle’s computer system. Information like speed, braking and other important data can often be found in the “black box” of a company vehicle. The best commercial vehicle lawyers will gather all possible evidence and analyze it to build their case. 

Determine liability

After the lawyer has gathered and examined all the available evidence, they will determine liability, or legal responsibility, for the crash. In commercial vehicle cases, several parties may potentially be held liable, including:

• The truck driver
• The owner of the vehicle
• The person or company employing the driver
• The vehicle manufacturer

An experienced lawyer has the knowledge and skill to properly identify which party is responsible based on the evidence at hand. 

Assert knowledge of regulations and laws

The best commercial vehicle injury lawyers have specialized knowledge of the state and federal laws that govern company vehicles and the trucking industry. They will use that knowledge to uncover violations made by the driver, company, or manufacturer. Proving that the liable party violated the law can help the injured party get the compensation they deserve. 

Identify damages

Your lawyer will also identify and develop evidence of your injuries and damages. It’s important to note that damages are not usually limited to physical injuries. Generally, a client might receive compensation for three types of damages:

• Economic damages: compensation for exact monetary losses, such as medical bills, damages property, and lost wages.
• Noneconomic damages: compensation for non-monetary losses, such as pain and suffering or mental anguish.
• Punitive damages: compensation awarded to punish an offender.

An experienced trucking lawyer has the knowledge and skill to identify what type of compensation clients are entitled to. They can also help an injured person advocate for damages that a company might dispute. 

File a lawsuit if necessary

While many personal injury cases are settled without the need for litigation, a significant number of commercial vehicle injury cases require that a lawsuit be filed to ensure full and fair compensation. It is important that anyone injured as a result of a commercial motor vehicle crash select a lawyer that is ready to represent them both in and out of the courtroom. Often, insurance and trucking companies seek to minimize their responsibility to “make whole” people they have injured. In that case, a skilled and experienced trucking lawyer can file a lawsuit so a judge and jury can hold the company accountable.

Why should I hire a truck crash lawyer?

The first reason you should seriously consider hiring a lawyer with experience in trucking cases is that they most often work on a contingency basis. Contingency fees are only paid if a client receives compensation. Essentially, you pay nothing upfront, and the lawyer takes a percentage of what they recovered for you.

Another reason you should hire a trucking lawyer is that they dedicate their lives to getting fair compensation for their clients. They use their knowledge and experience to handle the negotiation and the legal process so that you can focus on your recovery. In addition, truck crash lawyers can handle the well-funded, aggressive insurance and trucking companies that have lawyers, money, and other resources you don’t have. 

These large companies often put profits over people and need to be held accountable when they cause damage. A truck crash lawyer will fight for their clients to get what they deserve because they care about the people, not the profit. 

Choosing the Best Waco Truck Crash Lawyer: What Should I Look for?

Choosing a commercial motor vehicle crash lawyer is no simple task. There are many excellent attorneys ready to represent you, and it may feel overwhelming to make a choice. Here are some qualities to look for in the best Waco truck accident lawyer.

Experienced in commercial motor vehicle injury cases

The best Waco truck crash lawyer is one that’s experienced specifically in handling truck accidents. If they’ve handled other trucking cases, they know the applicable laws, how to build a case, and how to deal with the parties at fault. An experienced attorney will also have more confidence, which will help you feel more at ease.

Willing to take time to develop your case

Another important trait to look for in a lawyer is patience. The best lawyers will be willing to invest a lot of time and energy into developing your case. They will pay attention to the details and gather the evidence needed to maximize your chance to get the full and fair compensation you deserve. 

Has trial experience

As mentioned earlier, a lawyer should be prepared to go to trial if necessary. This is particularly true for trucking cases. With that in mind, you’ll want to hire a truck crash lawyer that has experience in the courtroom. 

Comfortable and compatible

Another factor to keep in mind is your own comfort level with the attorney. Since your attorney is representing your best interest, you should feel comfortable and compatible with them. Generally, the best lawyers will be helpful, compassionate, and understanding. You should be able to totally trust that they’re on your side.

Good communication skills

In addition to being comfortable with your lawyer, you should be able to communicate with them easily. These types of cases can take a considerable amount of time, and clients shouldn’t be left in the dark about what’s happening with their case. A good lawyer is able and willing to answer questions and provide updates regularly.  

Good reviews

One surefire way to find the best Waco truck crash lawyer is good is to read reviews. Most law firms regularly post client reviews or testimonials on their websites. If a lawyer has lots of good reviews on the website, it’s a good sign that their clients are happy with their work. In addition, you can also check third-party sources, such as Google, for unbiased reviews.

The Carlson Law Firm Can Help

If you’ve been injured in a truck crash and are looking for a personal injury lawyer to help, you’ve come to the right place. Our truck crash lawyers are compassionate and ready to help you. They have the knowledge and experience to make sure you get what you’re owed. We care, and we can help.