In 2008, a woman was hospitalized and later killed when some debris struck her windshield and caused a severe head injury. The debris was a 34 pound metal plate. No one knew where the debris came from and no one claimed responsibility.

Eventually, the family retained an attorney, who utilized a team of specialists and investigators to track down the debris and the companies responsible for the accident. There were three companies involved and all three either settled or were found liable in court.

This illustration demonstrates why an experienced personal injury attorney should be retained. First, a less experienced attorney or a person trying to resolve this case on their own may not have discovered all the parties responsible for the accident, and therefore may only have had a partial recovery for less compensation. Second, because multiple parties were involved, a skilled lawyer understands how to examine the various insurance policies and help you maximize the compensation from each party who contributed to the accident. And finally, an experienced attorney has the network of professionals and experts to perform the proper investigation and assist with medical testimony and other trial issues that can make or break a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Therefore, if you have been injured or lost a family member in an accident, such as the freak trucking accident outlined above, you should consult an experienced attorney ASAP. The sooner you retain a lawyer, the sooner an investigation can take place. The closer the proximity in time to the accident, the better it will be for you because witnesses and evidence will be more readily available.