A commercial truck collision may leave records in several places. The driver may know some facts and the motor carrier may hold others. A vehicle or camera system may store data that neither party has reviewed yet. Finding out what exists is an early part of investigating the claim.
Looking for the records
A dispatch message might explain why the driver took a particular route. A maintenance file could help answer a question about the truck's condition. Driving logs, camera footage and stored vehicle data are other possible sources. Counsel has to find out which of those records exist for this truck and this trip. There is no assurance that a system recorded everything, or that a recording will still be there months later.
Ask how the lawyer plans to identify the records and request that the holders preserve them. An expert may need to inspect the vehicles before repairs alter the available evidence. A request for records must reach the person or business that actually has them.
Who was involved?
The driver's employer, vehicle owner and other businesses may have different roles. A maintenance company or cargo-loading business, for example, may warrant investigation if the facts point to its work. Being connected to the shipment does not automatically make every business legally responsible for the collision.
The lawyer needs to connect the evidence to the claims being considered. Trucking regulations may be relevant, but identifying a rule is only part of evaluating whether its violation supports a claim under the facts and applicable law.
Where certification fits
Look for Personal Injury Trial Law certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Its application includes a review of the lawyer's lead-counsel trial record. Truck collisions fall within a broader injury practice, however, so you still need to ask about trucking experience.
Ask about the attorney's commercial-vehicle cases, experience with electronic evidence and use of qualified experts. Find out who would direct the investigation and handle disputed evidence if the case went to court. Those details tell you more about the proposed representation than the credential alone.
Questions from prospective clients
What if repairs are already planned?
Give the lawyer that information as soon as you have it. The truck's condition before repairs may need to be documented. Counsel can look into access to the vehicle and what an inspection would require.
Why would the lawyer hire an expert?
There may be a question that calls for technical knowledge, such as whether a vehicle defect contributed to the collision. Ask the lawyer what the proposed expert is being asked to examine and why.
Does a certified attorney guarantee a successful claim?
No. Certification concerns the attorney's qualifications. It cannot supply missing evidence about the crash or resolve a dispute over insurance coverage.
Explore the TBLS Personal Injury Knowledge Hub and requirements for Personal Injury Trial Law Board Certification.
Check the current TBLS standards
For current standards and attorney certification searches, visit the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
ABOUT THE ATTORNEY
Aaron A. Herbert
Founding Attorney
Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law
Aaron founded The Law Firm of Aaron A. Herbert in 2010 to focus on developing each client's case and seeking its maximum value. For over a decade, he has represented people seriously injured in major accidents and industrial catastrophes, pursuing trial verdicts and settlements while working to reduce the stress of litigation.
Education
- Texas A&M University · B.S., Criminal Justice, 1999
- University of Oklahoma College of Law · J.D., 2002; graduated in the top of his class
Trial experience & approach
Aaron earned numerous jury verdicts at boutique personal injury litigation firms. According to his biography, he spent a year as the top-earning litigation attorney at a firm that frequently appeared in verdict searches as having one of the highest numbers of trial wins in Texas. At another Dallas personal injury firm, he moved from managing pre-litigation attorney to managing litigation attorney over seven years as the firm grew into one of Dallas's largest personal injury firms.
His biography describes a reputation as one of America's most aggressive trial lawyers, with noteworthy recoveries from judges and juries and substantial pretrial settlements. Most of those settlements included confidentiality agreements requested by the defense. Aaron has said the recoveries were justified by the injuries and losses involved, which no amount of money could make someone choose to experience.
His approach combines passion, preparation, persistence and courtroom imagination. He believes a well-supported, engaged and motivated team working cooperatively helps deliver strong representation, with the goal of achieving the best possible result for every client.
Dallas roots, military service & publication
Born and raised in Dallas, Aaron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school and later received an Honorable Discharge. He completed his university and law degrees after his military service and became a lifelong Sooners football fan in law school.
Publication: “Litigating Dog Bite Cases,” Texas Dog Law Seminar, Dallas, 2009.
Professional affiliations & recognition
Professional affiliations and recognition listed in Aaron’s biography:
- State Bar of Texas
- American Bar Association
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now American Association for Justice)
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
- Dallas Bar Association
- Tarrant County Bar Association
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Trial experience & approach
Aaron earned numerous jury verdicts at boutique personal injury litigation firms. According to his biography, he spent a year as the top-earning litigation attorney at a firm that frequently appeared in verdict searches as having one of the highest numbers of trial wins in Texas. At another Dallas personal injury firm, he moved from managing pre-litigation attorney to managing litigation attorney over seven years as the firm grew into one of Dallas's largest personal injury firms.
His biography describes a reputation as one of America's most aggressive trial lawyers, with noteworthy recoveries from judges and juries and substantial pretrial settlements. Most of those settlements included confidentiality agreements requested by the defense. Aaron has said the recoveries were justified by the injuries and losses involved, which no amount of money could make someone choose to experience.
His approach combines passion, preparation, persistence and courtroom imagination. He believes a well-supported, engaged and motivated team working cooperatively helps deliver strong representation, with the goal of achieving the best possible result for every client.
Dallas roots, military service & publication
Born and raised in Dallas, Aaron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school and later received an Honorable Discharge. He completed his university and law degrees after his military service and became a lifelong Sooners football fan in law school.
Publication: “Litigating Dog Bite Cases,” Texas Dog Law Seminar, Dallas, 2009.
Professional affiliations & recognition
Professional affiliations and recognition listed in Aaron’s biography:
- State Bar of Texas
- American Bar Association
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now American Association for Justice)
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
- Dallas Bar Association
- Tarrant County Bar Association
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers