Truck accidents cause irreparable damage to the lives of victims and their families. As a result, they create complex legal cases. These cases require attorneys who have specialized knowledge of the trucking industry. That is why it is important for truck accident attorneys to continue learning well after they’ve completed law school and passed the bar. An indicator of a good law firm is investment in their entire team’s education. Even if the attorney on your truck wreck case continues their education, a lawyer is only as good as the team behind them. It is also crucial that as lawyers become more experienced in their practice, they become educators as well.
For instance, Nationally Recognized Truck Accident Attorney David W. Craig is an outspoken advocate for truck wreck lawyers continuing their legal education. So, when David was invited to speak at the 2026 Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA) Symposium, he invited his team, attorneys, and paralegals to attend with him.
What is The Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys?
The ATAA is a membership organization that is committed to assisting plaintiff lawyers and paralegals learn the necessary skills to handle truck accident cases. As part of the ATAA’s education commitment, they host their annual symposium. They bring in multiple experts in the truck industry and host a variety of sessions about the changes coming to truck accident litigation.
Missouri Truck Accident Attorney Chris Barry attended the 2026 symposium with the Craig, Kelley & Faultless team. We asked Chris to share some of the biggest takeaways from the sessions he attended and what they could mean for truck accident cases.
Key Takeaways from the Symposium
The symposium covered an assortment of topics about upcoming changes to truck accident litigation and the trucking industry. Below are significant insights from the sessions:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a practical litigation tool, not just a novelty.
One of the sessions covered practical ways for truck accident lawyers to implement AI into their practices. Lawyers were generally optimistic and positive about the possibility of using AI as a tool. There were attorneys who have already incorporated AI into their practices. They noticed AI is most effective when it’s used as a second set of eyes on large amounts of information.
For example, attorneys used AI to organize documents, identify inconsistencies, and build timelines. This is especially helpful in trucking cases because information and evidence are spread across various records and files.
- The Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II decision changes the way we should look at brokers.
Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II was a U.S. Supreme Court case that brought into question the responsibility of brokers to ensure they work with trucking companies with clean safety records. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled brokers are not exempt from also being held liable in the event of a truck accident.
For truck wreck attorneys, this means investigating the role of brokers in accidents much earlier on. Looking for a broker’s involvement from the start could lead to better recovery for clients.
- Electronic evidence is becoming more important every day.
Several sessions during the symposium emphasized that truck accident litigation now requires more than obtaining the police reports and the semi-truck driver’s statement. To get the complete story of how the accident happened, it is essential for lawyers to obtain electronic evidence, such as dash cam footage, dispatch records, and other electronic data.
- Good trucking litigation is increasingly about understanding the company’s systems, not just what the driver did.
Alongside the speakers there was also an informational session on how electronic logging devices (ELDs) work. The combination of these sessions revealed that if a company claims to enforce their safety policies, then their safety records should match the claims. If an attorney can discover a gap between what a company claims and what the actual safety records show, that gap becomes importance evidence.
- In addition to evaluating liability and damages, it is just as important to investigate all the insurance coverage that is potentially available at the beginning of a case.
One of the recurring themes was the importance of identifying all available insurance coverages for all potential defendants in a case. The insurance presentation emphasized identifying the entire insurance tower early, including excess coverage and potentially overlooked coverage associated with brokers, shippers, trailers, and owner-operators.
This translates into truck accident attorneys putting carriers on notice earlier and providing them with information about the value of your client’s case throughout the litigation process. Acting earlier can lead to insurance companies setting higher reserves. This can create situations where higher-level insurance carriers pressure lower-level carriers to make better offers, which can ultimately lead to better results for clients.
Changes Coming to Trucking Litigation
A notable change coming to trucking litigation is the increased importance of incorporating technology into legal practice, which is due to trucking litigation becoming increasingly data-driven and technical. As a result, lawyers on both sides may use AI to analyze much larger volumes of information. While it won’t be a replacement for an attorney, it will change what an effective lawyer can accomplish in the same amount of time.
Additionally, electronic evidence will become more important for truck wreck cases. There will be less emphasis on the driver’s log; instead, lawyers will be asking what all the independent systems say happened. Using data from ELDs, GPS, and telematics will allow attorneys to make stronger cases for their clients.
Finally, there has also been a significant change to the technology available for semi-trucks. Over the next decade, drivers can expect to see more autonomous semi-trucks on interstates.
What This Reveals About the Importance of Continued Learning
Attorneys who attend continued legal education opportunities expect there to only be conversations about the changes that have been made to the law. However, the symposium also prioritized discussions about practical changes attorneys are making to their practice. Lawyers openly discussed what worked and what didn’t, even discussing cases they had lost.
The most valuable lessons from the symposium came from the opportunity to openly collaborate with other truck accident attorneys. Ultimately, the chance to learn from other attorneys’ experiences is one of the main benefits of continued legal education experiences like the ATAA symposium.
Lastly, continuing to learn not only exposes truck accident attorneys to valuable information, but also creates a community with other lawyers who share a passion for helping truck wreck victims and making transportation safer.
Injured After a Truck Wreck? Craig, Kelley & Faultless Is Ready to Help
Craig, Kelley & Faultless is a personal injury law firm handling semi and other truck accident cases in Missouri, and throughout the nation. The firm has lawyers licensed in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. These experienced lawyers have dedicated their careers to helping victims and their loved ones involved in commercial vehicle wrecks through every aspect of their case. The firm also has a rapid response team that works with investigators, reconstructionist and mechanics who immediately collect evidence as soon as the firm is hired.
Our Missouri attorney Christopher M. Barry was included in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, reflecting his professional reputation and results. He is a member of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA), the premier truck personal injury lawyer’s group. Chris believes that the civil justice system, particularly the right to a jury trial, plays a critical role in holding negligent parties accountable. He represents injured individuals exclusively and is committed to helping clients navigate difficult circumstances with clear guidance, responsiveness, and strong advocacy. He is also licensed in Illinois and Indiana.
The Craig, Kelley & Faultless St. Louis office is located at 5585 Pershing Ave Suite 110, St. Louis, MO 63112, available by appointment only. Reach out for a free case consultation at (314) 367-2661or visit https://www.ckflaw.com/st-louis/.
David W. Craig and Scott A. Faultless sit on the Board of Regents of the ATAA, which requires Board Certification in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. David is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney, both written to help people navigate what comes next after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc. David is licensed to practice law in Indiana and has been admitted to handle trucking cases pro hac vice in many states, including Missouri.
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