What to Ask Before Hiring a Truck Accident Attorney

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David Craig: And I think that if you’re out there interviewing lawyers and law firms, you have to ask: what are they investing in their people? Because if you have one great lawyer, but the rest of the team isn’t up to par, what kind of results can you really expect?

You should ask whether they belong to the ATAA, whether they serve on the Board of Regents, whether they attend conferences, and whether they speak at them. But the next level is: do they invite their staff to attend? Because if lawyers aren’t bringing their team along, that tells you a lot.

I’m David Craig, a board-certified truck accident attorney who has dedicated over 40 years to helping victims of devastating semi-truck, large truck, and commercial motor vehicle wrecks. When the stakes are high, you need the right information to make the best decision. After tragedy strikes, many people don’t know where to begin or what questions to ask. My goal is to empower you with the knowledge and resources you need to understand your rights and protect your family.

On our Ask David episodes, we flip the script: instead of me asking the questions, I answer them. This is After the Crash.

Ashley Napier: Hi everybody, and welcome to the September edition of the After the Crash podcast—the Ask David version—where I get to ask David the questions!

I’d like to build on our August episode about ongoing education and focus on an organization you’re deeply involved with: the ATAA. Let’s start with the basics, David—what does ATAA stand for?

David Craig: Thanks, Ashley. Glad to be back for another episode of Ask David.

ATAA stands for the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. It was founded in 2016, and I’ve been a member since the beginning. It’s an organization dedicated exclusively to plaintiff lawyers and paralegals handling commercial motor vehicle cases.

Ashley Napier: Working here, I’ve been fortunate enough to attend several of their seminars over the years. For listeners who might not be familiar, what exactly is the ATAA, and why is membership so important?

David Craig: If you or your family have been involved in a truck accident, you want an attorney who belongs to the ATAA. It is a dedicated network of plaintiff lawyers committed to representing truck wreck victims. Members share insights, collaborate on litigation strategy, and support one another with expert referrals—such as identifying trusted specialists, evaluating opposing counsel, or understanding specific insurance carriers.

They host major educational seminars, including their annual national conference—which is coming up in Denver, Colorado—along with regional programs like the one in Charlotte, North Carolina, and regular webinars.

Perhaps most valuable is their centralized research library. If you have a case against a major carrier like Swift, for instance, the library offers driver manuals, safety policies, and background materials that help plaintiff attorneys build the strongest possible case. Truck accident law is entirely different from standard auto collision or general personal injury litigation; it requires distinct expertise and technical knowledge. I speak regularly at these events, but I’m also there as a student—I have never attended an ATAA conference without learning something new.

Ashley Napier: Absolutely. What sets them apart is their emphasis on the entire legal team. They explicitly encourage firms to bring their paralegals, and they host dedicated paralegal breakout sessions. We spend that time discussing how paralegals can better assist attorneys in preparing these complex cases. Preparing a commercial truck wreck case requires a completely different approach than a standard passenger vehicle claim.

David Craig: That’s right. Membership in the ATAA is restricted strictly to plaintiff attorneys and paralegals. Many practitioners—whether in estate planning, criminal defense, family law, or even general personal injury—simply don’t have experience handling truck cases.

ATAA gives practitioners the training they need through on-demand webinars, archives, and live seminars led by experienced trial lawyers. Scott Faultless and I have served on the Board of Regents since 2016, and serving on the board requires board certification in truck accident law.

Earning board certification requires extensive trial experience, extensive deposition and brief-writing credentials, peer review by judges and opposing counsel, and passing a rigorous written examination. ATAA is actively raising the standard of practice by encouraging lawyers to earn board certification and learn directly from certified practitioners.

Ashley Napier: It’s remarkably collaborative. Coming into the legal industry, you often expect every lawyer to be out for themselves. Seeing attorneys openly share strategies to help elevate other practices—especially younger lawyers—is truly refreshing.

David Craig: The defense bar rarely collaborates to that degree. On the plaintiff’s side, our priority is the victims whose lives have been upended; we care deeply about achieving justice for them.

Recognizing that paralegals handle a substantial portion of the substantive case preparation, ATAA also established a board certification program specifically for paralegals. Very few firms invest in advanced continuing education for their support staff, but ATAA created an avenue for paralegals to demonstrate their mastery through an examination.

Two of our paralegals are board-certified in truck accident law, which I’m extraordinarily proud of. A lawyer cannot handle every component of a complex case alone; it requires a coordinated team effort. That is why we bring our paralegals and rapid-response investigators to these conferences—knowledge is power, and our clients directly benefit from that shared expertise.

Ashley Napier: The energy coming out of those seminars is incredible. We sit down as a team to evaluate new discovery strategies, discuss ways to support our rapid-response unit, and implement better systems. Because trucking regulations, case law, and technology evolve constantly, attending keeps our skills sharp.

David Craig: Exactly. When I started practicing 40 years ago, commercial trucks had none of the electronic systems they carry today. Now we deal with telematics, inward- and outward-facing dashcams, electronic control modules (ECMs), and emerging autonomous vehicle technology.

At ATAA, we share practical strategies for overcoming real litigation hurdles—such as obtaining proprietary digital data stored out of state, drafting targeted third-party subpoenas, and navigating recent legal precedents. For example, Michael Leizerman’s firm recently secured a landmark, unanimous Supreme Court decision addressing freight broker liability, which will be a major topic at this year’s Denver conference.

Other sessions will cover corporate representative depositions under Rule 30(b)(6), cross-examining truck drivers, and inspecting crash equipment. In Denver, I will be presenting on the pressures placed on commercial drivers by brokers, shippers, and motor carriers, and how those practices compromise highway safety. Earlier this year in North Carolina, I lectured on visibility issues. Drivers often claim poor visibility due to weather or glare, but under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and commercial driver manuals, reduced visibility is an explanation—not a legal excuse. Drivers are required to slow down significantly or pull off the roadway entirely when conditions become hazardous.

Ashley Napier: For those interested in attending, registration is still open, and David speaks on day one! Ongoing education is vital, and our firm is proud to participate.

David Craig: I’d be willing to bet our firm brings more team members than almost any other firm in the country.

Ashley Napier: Easily. We have over ten team members attending this year, which reflects our dedication to the practice and your commitment to investing in our staff.

David Craig: If you are vetting a law firm for a catastrophic injury case, evaluate how they invest in their team. A great lead attorney cannot compensate for an unprepared supporting staff. That is why I wrote It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney.

When choosing counsel, ask: Are they members of the ATAA? Are they board-certified? Do they lecture and attend national programs? And crucially, do they bring their staff? If a firm does not invest in training its paralegals and investigators, they may lack the resources or commitment necessary to handle complex trucking litigation.

Scott Faultless and I recently spent weeks preparing for trial—working seven days a week, 12 to 15 hours a day. While trial counsel is completely focused on the courtroom, our dedicated team ensures every other client’s case continues moving forward without interruption.

Ashley Napier: Everything ran smoothly while you were in trial prep, and we’re ready for a busy conclusion to the year.

David Craig: We definitely covered a lot of ground today—and if we spoke a bit faster than usual, it’s courtesy of the eclairs from Kim’s Cakery on the south side of Indianapolis. Highly recommended!

Ashley Napier: That wraps up our September Ask David edition of After the Crash. If there are topics you’d like us to cover next month—whether regulatory changes, AI in trucking, or non-party discovery—leave a comment and let us know. Thank you for watching!

David Craig: Thanks for listening to another episode of After the Crash. If you or a loved one has been involved in a semi-truck wreck, visit ckflaw.com or call 1-800-ASK-DAVID. For more information on navigating commercial vehicle collisions and choosing the right legal representation, you can find my books—Semitruck Wreck: A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney—on Amazon or as free downloads on our website.