What Lawyers Look for in a Truck Accident

Have you or any of your loved ones recently been in a trucking accident? If so, do you consider yourself responsible for causing the crash, or are you the victim of someone else's negligence? If the accident wasn't your fault, what you need is a reliable law firm to represent you in court. You will be needing an attorney for your truck accident claim. But before you seek an attorney, you might want to know what lawyers look for in a truck accident.

As it goes, not every law firm will take on your case. Truck accident lawyers can reject their potential clients for several reasons. Here's what they'll want to know about your case before they decide whether to help you or turn you down.

What Do Lawyers Look for in a Truck Accident?

Have You Gone to Great Lengths to Build Your Case?

One of the first things your potential truck accident lawyer will need to see is which data you've managed to collect about your case. The more information you present your attorney with initially, the higher the chances they'll accept to represent you. That's because building a case takes lots of time and resources, both of which your lawyer might not have. But if your case seems pretty much ready when you first visit your attorney, they'll be more likely to take it on.

For that reason, it might be safer to do everything you can to collect all the necessary data. Find the information regarding the truck driver and the details about the accident. Try to collect as much evidence as you can on your own and notify your insurance company, because your truck accident lawyer will want to see that, too. If you've had any post-accident medical expenses to take care of, be sure to prepare the bills.

You might have also missed going to work due to the injuries you've suffered in the accident. In that case, prepare a proof of all the wages you haven't received in the post-accident period. More importantly, you should also be able to get compensated for your pain and suffering. With that in mind, collect all the evidence of the hardship you've gone through since the accident.

Is Your Statute of Limitations About to Expire?

Another factor that no truck attorney will miss to check is how close you are to your statute of limitations. In Missouri, truck accident victims have up to five years to report the accident. If your five-year statute of limitations hasn't expired, you can file a lawsuit against the liable party. Otherwise, no lawyer will want to take on your case as the judge will instantly dismiss it.

The same thing goes for being too close to your statute of limitations. Determining negligence in truck accidents is no easy task, and your law firm knows it. So, if your case seems too complex and there's not enough time to tackle it, your lawyer might turn you down. To increase the chances of a law firm representing you, you should report the accident as soon as possible.

Will Your Case Be Affordable and Your Financial Compensation Evident Enough or Even Possible?

Undoubtedly, your potential law firm will want to know just how expensive your case should be. Does it require an independent investigation, witness statements, and expert testimony? If so, the total expenses for your case might be too much for your firm to cover. To avoid biting off more than they can chew, your truck accident lawyer might turn you down.

They'll also want to know how likely you are to win the case. And even if the situation goes in your favor, will there be anyone to recover the damages from? For instance, the truck driver responsible for the accident might have passed. Their truck company may also not be willing to negotiate with you, and your insurance company might not be able to pay you, either. If that's the case, your potential law firm will likely decide to turn you down.

Final Remarks

There seems to be nothing worse than a law firm refusing to represent you even when winning the case is evident. Your truck accident attorney in St Louis MO can turn you down if you're too close to your statute of limitations or if there isn't anyone who could compensate you. To avoid that, remember to report the accident as soon as possible and gather all the evidence beforehand.

If you have any questions about your potential case, contact Powell Law Firm for a free and confidential consultation.