When a truck accident upends your life, the attorney you choose can shape everything that follows—your settlement, your medical options, your ability to hold the right parties accountable.
Not every personal injury lawyer is equipped to handle the complexity and pressure of a serious truck accident case. The best truck accident lawyers know how to investigate thoroughly, act quickly, and stay focused on what matters most—getting you the outcome you actually need.
Here’s what to look for and what to avoid when you’re deciding who should represent you after a commercial truck accident.
1. Experience in Complex Commercial Truck Cases
Truck crashes are a different animal. The injuries are worse, the investigations are deeper, and the defense strategy from the trucking company starts the moment the crash happens. A lawyer who mostly handles rear-end car accidents or slip and falls may not be prepared for complicated issues such as:
- FMCSA compliance violations
- Electronic logging device (ELD) data recovery
- Commercial insurance carrier tactics
- Multiple layers of liability (driver, company, broker, shipper, etc.)
If the lawyer doesn’t have a strong track record of handling large truck cases specifically, they’re learning on your case and that’s not good enough.
Questions to ask:
- How many trucking cases have you handled in the past three years?
- Do you handle these cases in-house or refer them out?
- What steps do you take to investigate a truck accident case?
- Who exactly would be handling my case if I hire your firm?
- What kinds of experts or specialists do you typically bring in for truck crash cases?
2. Examples of Past Trucking Case Results
Real results show more than dollar signs. They show strategy, follow-through, and whether a lawyer can push back when a lowball offer lands on the table.
Look for case results that involve:
- Commercial vehicles (18-wheelers, box trucks, cement trucks, etc.)
- Disputed liability or multiple defendants
- High damages: spinal cord injuries, brain trauma, amputations, fatalities
If the firm doesn’t display results publicly, that’s not necessarily a red flag. But they should be willing to talk through past outcomes, including what made them successful, and what challenges they faced.
3. Watch for Unrealistic Payout Claims
Some lawyers drop numbers into the conversation early—especially during intake calls. They might say things like, “We’ve had cases like this settle for $300,000,” or mention average outcomes before they’ve seen a single medical record. That kind of talk may sound reassuring, but it’s not based on your case.
The truth is, no one can calculate value in a truck accident case without knowing how the injuries affect your daily life, what the evidence shows about fault, and how much insurance is actually available. A leg fracture that requires multiple surgeries and keeps you off the job for months might justify more compensation than a head injury that looks serious but resolves quickly.
What’s worth focusing on instead:
- Do they explain how they evaluate long-term medical costs?
- Are they prepared to bring in outside experts early?
- Will they move the case forward if the insurance company delays or denies?
- How do they determine when a case should settle—and when to litigate?
4. Do They Investigate Immediately—or Wait Until There’s a Settlement Offer?
The best truck accident lawyers treat investigation like a race against the clock. Black box data can be overwritten. Witnesses move. Dashcam footage gets lost. If they wait until a lawsuit is filed or an adjuster makes a first offer, key evidence may already be gone.
A serious truck crash case should trigger an immediate investigation using resources like:
- Crash scene photos and skid mark analysis
- ELD downloads and hours-of-service violations
- Maintenance logs
- Driver training and background records
- Cell phone usage logs
Ask how they preserve evidence and whether they send a spoliation letter right away. That’s a formal notice telling the trucking company to keep key records, like logbooks, dashcam footage, and black box data, so they aren’t deleted or lost.
5. Knows Florida Trucking Law Inside and Out
Florida isn’t a no-fault state when it comes to serious truck crashes. If your injuries meet the threshold for stepping outside the no-fault system, your attorney needs to know:
- Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule (as of March 2023)
- How to deal with PIP subrogation and Medicaid liens
- Statutes related to trucking, such as Florida Statutes § 316.302 (state-level trucking regulations)
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that apply nationwide
Out-of-state law firms or generalists who dabble in trucking law might miss the nuances here. Local experience matters—especially in county-specific court systems like those in Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade.
6. Look at How They Handle Insurance Companies
A truck crash almost always involves commercial insurance carriers—and those companies are aggressive. They usually have legal teams on-site within hours. Their goal: minimize exposure, shift blame, and reduce payout.
A good truck accident lawyer in Florida will:
- Anticipate their tactics before they happen
- Deal directly with carrier legal teams (not just adjusters)
- Avoid giving recorded statements unless strategically necessary
- Be ready to sue—because truck carriers settle more reasonably once they see you’re willing to litigate
If a firm’s website focuses heavily on “quick settlements” or boasts about “avoiding court,” take a closer look. Truck cases don’t settle well without pressure.
7. Evaluate Their Resources—Not Just Their Staff
Large-scale truck cases usually require:
- Reconstruction experts
- Medical experts for future care costs
- Vocational experts for lost earning capacity
- Economists for long-term financial impact
- Trucking safety experts who understand logbooks, braking systems, and compliance failures
Ask: Do they have these resources in-house or on-call? If they wait to bring in experts until the case progresses, key evidence might already be gone or worse, misrepresented by the insurer.
8. They Should Speak With You—Not Just At You
Too many firms drown potential clients in legal jargon, scripted videos, or thin blog posts that say the same things everyone else says. That may get search rankings—but it doesn’t help you feel confident.
The right lawyer will:
- Break things down clearly without sounding condescending
- Tell you what to expect over the next 30, 60, 90+ days
- Set realistic expectations and timelines
- Take time to listen—not just talk
You should leave that first conversation feeling more in control—not more confused.
9. Watch for Red Flags in the First Call or Meeting
You don’t have to be versed in personal injury law to sense a poor fit. Watch out for:
- Rushed or distracted intake coordinators
- Pressure to sign an agreement before they’ve even reviewed your case
- Overemphasis on their reviews instead of their actual strategy
- No mention of how they’ll prove liability or preserve evidence
You’re interviewing them—not the other way around.
10. How Do They Get Paid and Are You Locked In?
Most Florida truck accident lawyers work on contingency, meaning you don’t pay unless they recover for you. But even that model has fine print.
Ask about:
- Their standard contingency fee (33.3% is common pre-suit; could be up to 40% once a suit is filed)
- Whether you’re on the hook for case costs if they lose
- Whether you can switch attorneys if you’re unhappy later
The best firms explain everything clearly and let you move forward at your pace.
Why Truck Cases Deserve More Than a Billboard Lawyer
Big-name lawyers with flashy ads may not handle your case personally. Your file might get passed to a junior associate—or worse, farmed out to another firm entirely.
In truck cases, strategy execution is everything. You need a lawyer who:
- Personally reviews your crash evidence
- Makes decisions about experts and deadlines
- Has court experience—not just settlement experience
- Knows what it takes to push for policy limits or punitive damages if warranted
If you can’t get a straight answer about who will actually be working your case, you already have one.
Choosing Wrong Can Cost You
A weak case strategy leaves room for:
- Key evidence lost or deleted before it can be used
- The trucking company trying to pin the crash on you
- Overlooked insurance policies that could’ve increased your payout
- Serious injuries downplayed or undervalued in settlement talks
The cost isn’t just emotional—it’s financial, and it affects your future quality of life. The right lawyer isn’t the one with the flashiest website or the most billboards. It’s the one who knows how to build truck cases that win—and who treats you like a real person from day one.
Choose the Lawyer Who’s Already Thinking Ahead
Most people don’t get a second chance to handle a truck accident case the right way. The lawyer you hire should be thinking beyond the next phone call—preserving key evidence, lining up the right experts, and preparing to push back hard when the insurance company stalls or denies.
Look for someone who focuses on what the case demands—not on telling you what sounds reassuring. The right lawyer will be asking detailed questions, spotting legal risks early, and building leverage before the other side gains an advantage.
The Florida truck accident lawyers of Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel have handled complex truck accident cases across Florida with the depth, urgency, and strategy these claims demand. If you’re ready to move forward with the right team, we’re here to help. Call (561) 655-2028 for a free consultation.
