Should I Talk to a Lawyer After a Truck Accident in Ohio?

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident, should you talk to a lawyer? Or, should you try to deal with your situation on your own? While we know that many people find hiring a lawyer to be stressful, the reality is that hiring an experienced Columbus truck accident lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take to relieve your stress and protect yourself and your loved ones long-term.

This article covers everything you need to know about hiring a lawyer after a truck accident in Ohio. First, we cover five of the most important reasons to talk to a lawyer after a truck accident (or after any other type of serious accident). Then, we discuss five important reasons not to try to deal with your situation on your own. Finally, we provide some insights into what you can (and should) expect when you hire a lawyer to represent you.

5 Important Reasons to Talk to a Lawyer After a Truck Accident

There are many important reasons to talk to a lawyer after you or a loved one has been involved in a serious truck accident. From conducting an investigation to taking discovery and preparing for trial (if necessary), truck accident cases can be extremely complicated—and hiring an experienced lawyer is critical for seeking the compensation you and your family deserve.

With this in mind, here are five of the most important reasons to hire a Columbus truck accident lawyer to represent you:

1. The Costs of the Truck Accident Could Be Much Greater Than You Think

The costs of a serious truck accident can add up very quickly. They can also add up for a very long time. From medical bills and other out-of-pocket expenses to your (or your loved one’s) loss of income (both now and in the future), the costs of the accident could be much greater than you think. This makes it critical to ensure that you assert your legal rights effectively.

2. You Need to Be Able to Prove Who (or What Company) is Responsible

But to recover any financial compensation for the accident, you need to be able to prove who (or what company) is responsible. This requires a prompt and thorough investigation, and it may also require obtaining additional evidence through the formal discovery process. Even if you think you know why the accident happened, if you can’t prove it, you won’t be able to file a successful claim.

3. You Need to Be Able to Prove Your Financial and Non-Financial Losses

In addition to proving why the accident happened, you also need to be able to prove your financial and non-financial losses. Along with the financial costs discussed above, truck accident victims and their families can also seek just compensation for their pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, emotional distress, psychological trauma, loss of consortium and companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life.

4. Recovering Just Compensation May Involve Negotiating a Settlement Agreement

Most successful truck accident claims settle. If you have the evidence you need (and you hire an experienced lawyer to represent you), there is a reasonable chance that your case will settle without going to trial. With that said, there are no guarantees. To secure a fair settlement offer, you will need a lawyer who is capable of negotiating effectively on your behalf.

5. Recovering Just Compensation May Also Involve Going to Court

While recovering just compensation might involve negotiating a settlement agreement, it also might not. If the at-fault party’s insurance company is unwilling to negotiate in good faith, you may need to take your case to court. In this case, it will be critical to have an experienced Columbus truck accident lawyer who understands the facts of your case—and who has the evidence he or she needs to effectively present your case at trial.

5 Important Reasons Not to Try to Handle Your Situation on Your Own

Just as there are several important reasons to hire an experienced Columbus truck accident lawyer to represent you, there are also several important reasons not to try to handle your case on your own. Here are just a handful of examples:

1. Gathering All of the Evidence You Need is Not Easy

Proving a truck accident claim can require various types of evidence. Gathering all of the evidence you need is not easy, and, practically speaking, it generally is not something that accident victims and their family members can handle on their own. Not only might you need forensic evidence from the scene of the accident, but you might also need the truck’s “black box” data, the truck driver’s driving log, the truck’s maintenance history, and various other forms of documentation.

2. You Do Not Want to Settle Your Claim Too Soon

When you have a truck accident claim, you do not want to settle your claim too soon. Why? Because once you settle, your claim is over. Even if you settle for less than you deserve, you can’t go back and ask for more. As a result, before you think about accepting a settlement, it is critical that you speak with a Columbus truck accident lawyer who can help you understand all of the losses you are entitled to recover.

3. There Are Many Potentially Costly Mistakes You Need to Avoid

Settling your truck accident claim too soon is just one of many potentially costly mistakes you need to avoid. Unfortunately, many people don’t learn about the mistakes they need to avoid until it is too late. Understanding what to do (and what not to do) when you have a truck accident claim requires the advice and representation of an experienced Columbus truck accident lawyer.

4. There Are Many Steps Involved in Fighting for the Compensation You and Your Family Deserve

From investigating the cause of the truck accident to calculating just compensation for your losses, and from dealing with the insurance companies to preparing for the possibility of trial, there are many steps involved in fighting for the compensation you and your family deserve. All of these steps require experience and a clear understanding of the law, and this means that they require skilled legal representation.

5. Hiring a Columbus Truck Accident Lawyer Costs Nothing Out-of-Pocket

Hiring a lawyer to represent you should not cost you anything out-of-pocket. At Malek & Malek Law Firm, we handle all truck accident cases on a contingency-fee basis. We will cover the costs of pursuing your claim while it is pending, and we will only recover these costs (and earn our legal fees) if we help you secure a settlement or win a verdict in court.

What You Should Know About Hiring a Columbus Truck Accident Lawyer

Along with understanding what it means to hire a lawyer on a contingency-fee basis, there are some other important facts you should know about hiring a Columbus truck accident lawyer as well. These include:

• Your Lawyer Will Have Your Best Interests in Mind – When you hire a lawyer to represent you, your lawyer has an ethical obligation to represent you with your best interests in mind. Your lawyer will provide advice based on what is best for you and your family, and your lawyer will fight to help you recover the maximum compensation that is available.
• Your Lawyer Will Need You to Remain Involved in Your Case – While your lawyer will fight for just compensation on your behalf, your lawyer will also need you to remain actively involved in your case. From understanding the financial and non-financial costs of the accident to discussing the possibility of settlement, your lawyer will need your input at various steps along the way.
• It Will Be Up to You (Not Your Lawyer) to Decide Whether to Settle – When you have a truck accident claim, it is up to you to decide when to settle. This is not your lawyer’s decision to make. It is your claim, and you get to decide when (and if) you are willing to accept a settlement and begin the process of moving on.
• Your Lawyer’s Role is to Represent You and Help You Make Informed Decisions – As your advocate, your lawyer’s role is to represent you and help you make informed decisions. With this in mind, you can expect to be able to get in touch when you need to, and you can expect to receive the information and insights you need to feel confident in your decision-making.
• Talking to a Lawyer is the First Step Toward Establishing Accountability – If you have a truck accident claim, talking to a lawyer is the first step toward establishing accountability. Your initial consultation is completely free, and again, you pay nothing unless you win.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation with an Experienced Columbus Truck Accident Lawyer

Do you need to talk to a lawyer about filing a claim for a truck accident in Ohio? If so, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. To schedule a free consultation at Malek & Malek Law Firm as soon as possible, call 888-444-7440 or tell us how we can reach you online now.