Did you know that there are more than 168,000 truck accidents a year, 32% of which result in an injury and 3% of which result in a death? Due to their heavy weight and size, trucks usually cause a lot of damage when they are involved in an accident. Most large semi trucks are commercial vehicles and are governed by federal and state laws. When there is an accident, an attorney will need to look into whether or not the trucking company and driver were adhering to laws and if there was negligence involved on the part of the driver or the company.
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a truck, you deserve compensation for your losses including medical bills, time taken off work, and pain and suffering. The best way to ensure you get fair compensation is to work with truck accident lawyers in NJ. Here are four things to look for to help you make a solid choice.
- Look for Experience
When you are researching truck accident lawyers in NJ, find out how many years the attorney has been practicing and what their area of expertise is. Most personal injury attorneys will handle a variety of cases including car accidents, medical malpractice incidents, and slip-and-falls in addition to truck accidents. During a consultation, you can ask the lawyer what percentage of their cases involve trucks to get a better idea of their experience in this area.
- Look for 5-Star Reviews
You can find out a lot about an attorney’s customer service skills and professionalism by reading online reviews. Check out Google, Yelp, and Facebook to read reviews and see what past clients thought of them. Try to choose an attorney who has a majority of five-star reviews.
- A Supportive Team
Though your attorney will be your main contact during your case, he or she will also need the help of a team, including paralegals, runners, other attorneys, and administrative staff. When doing research, try to find out more about the firm’s team and who you can expect to work on your case. You can also ask questions about the support team during your consultation.
- Good Communication Skills
Truck accident claims can take six months or more to settle. This means you’ll need to have good lines of communication with your attorney so you can get updates on the status of your claim and know when you need to take any action to move your case forward. You can find out how strong a lawyer’s communication skills are by reading online reviews and asking them plenty of questions during your consultation.
Choosing Truck Accident Lawyers in NJ
If you’ve been in a truck accident, you only have a limited amount of time to file a claim. The best course of action whether you think you’ve been badly injured or not is to reach out to one of the truck accident lawyers in NJ as soon after the accident as possible. Your attorney can review your case and let you know if they think you should move forward with a claim.