In the aftermath of a truck accident, there are many important decisions for accident victims and their families to make. One of the most important of these decisions is whether to file an accident claim in order to seek financial compensation for damages. If you have decided that you are interested in filing a trucking accident claim in Hobbs, New Mexico, you may now be wondering if hiring a truck accident lawyer in Hobbs is the right choice for you.
Should I Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer? Questions to Consider...You may be asking, Should I hire a lawyer for help with my New Mexico truck accident lawsuit? It is more than understandable that you may be afraid of incurring legal debt in the aftermath of your accident. If you are on the fence and unsure of your options, consider the following questions:
Have you or a loved one suffered life-altering injuries as a result of the accident?
18-wheelers weigh around 80,000 pounds on average. A vehicle of that size does serious damage, especially when the other vehicles involved in the accident are small passenger vehicles. Even when these collisions do not result in fatality, the injuries suffered are severe, including broken bones, head trauma, spinal fracture, and permanent loss of mobility.
Some of these injuries cause complications that result in a lower quality of life and inability to earn future wages. You will need a lawyer who can get you compensation, not just for the present damages, but for all future complications.
Were multiple parties involved in the accident?
Questions of liability become more complicated when there are multiple parties involved in an accident. An experienced Hobbs personal injury attorney can help to sort through the witness testimonies and consult with the other parties’ insurance companies in order to clearly establish where fault for the collision lies.
Was the accident caused by the trucker’s negligence?
If your injuries were caused by the negligence, carelessness, or wrongful act of a truck driver, they should be held financially liable for the result of their actions. However, establishing liability can be difficult, especially if you have no legal experience.
Look for truck accident lawyers in Hobbs with extensive knowledge of 18-wheeler accident law; they will be able to clearly establish fault in your accident claim.
Do you plan on claiming non-economic damages?
Damages sustained in an 18-wheeler collision can be economic (medical bills, funeral bills, loss of wages) or non-economic (pain and suffering, emotional trauma, grief, loss of quality of life); accident victims deserve compensation for both. However, it can be much more difficult to establish non-economic damages in settlement negotiations, so it is important to hire an attorney who has experience fighting for these types of claims.
What is your potential attorney’s fee structure?
Many truck accident victims would feel more comfortable hiring a Hobbs personal injury attorney but do not believe they can afford quality legal representation. However, it is important to know that many reputable accident attorneys (like the attorneys at Carabin Shaw) offer contingent fee contracts.
Under a contingent fee contract, your lawyer’s fees are contingent upon the amount of your financial settlement. If they don’t win your settlement, they haven’t earned their legal fees.
One of the founding partners at Carabin Shaw, attorneyJames Shaw has nearly three decades of experience representing trucking accident victims and their families. His specialty practice areas include 18-wheeler accident and personal injury law.
If you or a loved one were injured in a trucking accident, contact the offices of Hobbs attorney James Shaw to learn more about your options. Call toll-free today at 1-800-555-0101 to schedule your no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation.