Litigation Paralegal Carissa Swalls has been with Craig, Kelley & Faultless for over seven years working in litigation. Her 15 to 20-year tenure as a paralegal, as well as her time with our firm, has helped her build the experience necessary to handle the complexity that comes with cases involving semi-truck and other commercial motor vehicles accidents.
She has built her expertise in truck accident law through the opportunities provided by Craig, Kelley & Faultless, such as attending trucking law conferences and seminars where she has collaborated with other paralegals, attorneys, and truck safety advocates. While attending these events and working truck accident cases, Carissa has learned about truck safety rules and regulations; the standards that drivers, brokers, and shippers are held to; and how investigation and telematics can make or break these cases.
Most importantly, Carissa’s empathy and understanding for truck accident victims allows her to build personal connections with clients as they heal or grieve following a wreck. Carissa recently spoke with attorney David Craig on his podcast, After the Crash, to discuss the vitality of experienced paralegals and their importance when building a truck accident case.
The video episode is available now on YouTube. You can listen to it on Spotify, Amazon or other podcast-streaming services.
Key Takeaways from Episode 64: Your Attorney Should Have Experienced Paralegals on Their Legal Team
Over the years, David has taken the time to build his legal team. Paralegals are some of the most important members of this team, ensuring that the attorneys have all the information and tools they need to win a case at their disposal. Without paralegals like Carissa, truck accident cases may not result in the best possible outcome for clients.
Below are some key takeaways from this month’s episode of After the Crash.
- Paralegals hold the case together.
Paralegals are a vital part of any legal team. One of their priorities is to build the front-end of a case so that attorneys are prepared to do their part. They ensure investigations are thorough and every avenue has been explored.
Carissa helps prepare depositions and mediations. She is there every step of the way from the very beginning when the firm is hired up through mediation. If the case does settle, then she assists with the settlement. If the case does not settle at mediation, then she transfers the file to the trial division.
A truck accident attorney may send out a rapid response team as soon as the firm is hired, often before the paralegal has even received the case. This team consists of investigators, reconstructionists, and mechanics to collect all necessary evidence from a wreck. From there, the paralegal is assigned the case and coordinates with the rapid response team to look over all the evidence, determine who all may be liable for the accident, and other potential factors like getting security for the vehicles involved or filing a restraining order against a trucking company to prevent tampering with evidence.
Once the paralegal has had a chance to examine the materials at their disposal, they work with the attorney to decide what other experts need to be hired. This can include medical experts or vocational experts, who determine lost future earnings for victims. At this point, the legal team has expanded outside of the firm to include the specialists needed to prepare the case for trial.
When investigators, experts, clients, and attorneys are all involved in a case, paralegals help to coordinate everyone working together so that every piece of necessary information is available. They keep the legal team running like a well-oiled machine.
- Paralegals are a client’s lifeline.
Paralegals act as a go-between for clients. When clients want updates on their case, they typically communicate with the paralegal that has been handling it. They answer any questions clients may have and provide them with any information about their case they may need. But when dealing with semi-truck accidents, paralegals also provide support through difficult times.
After a truck accident, it is the paralegal and legal team’s job to handle everything so clients can take the time they need to heal and/or grieve. Accidents where semi-truck and other commercial motor vehicles—like semi tractor-trailers, flatbed trucks or dump trucks—are involved often result in catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.
Some clients may reach out to their paralegal seeking answers or comfort. Others may be worried about paying medical or day-to-day bills following these wrecks. This requires empathy from paralegals who are tasked with caring for clients and helping them along the way, regardless of how difficult it may be to get through to them after a catastrophe.
It is the paralegal’s responsibility to be available for their clients.
- A paralegal’s expertise is just as important as an attorney’s.
While hiring an experienced attorney is important, having a paralegal that is also experienced in that field of law is just as vital, especially when dealing with truck accident law.
Truck wreck cases typically deal with more complicated factors than a typical car accident. These cases often include corporate defendants that are several steps ahead before the attorney is hired. Trucking companies tend to have response teams that arrive at the scene before the victim even arrives at the hospital, doing everything they can to protect the company regardless of who is at-fault.
Cases involving truck wrecks also tend to be higher value, due to how catastrophic the injuries could be, and insurance companies may not want to pay the mass amount of money that treatment requires. That is why a truck accident attorney will seek higher value for clients; victims deserve to be taken care of physically and financially following such a tragedy.
Each of these components make it urgent for the attorney and their legal team to get all the pieces of the case put together as soon as possible. This requires paralegals who are familiar with the process, including sending out preservation letters, sending FOIA requests, looking for driver and truck history, knowing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, the CDL manual, and being familiar with industry standards.
In order for paralegals to be well-versed in truck accident law, their firms must be willing to invest in them and build their expertise. David sends the firm’s paralegals to trucking law conferences where they can learn more about the trucking industry and the investigation techniques used in truck cases. Organizations like the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys even include paralegal break out sessions at their conferences. Paralegals should also take the time to study and read up on the ever-changing laws and regulations that may pertain to their area of expertise.
At the end of the day, if the legal team doesn’t fully understand truck accident law, the case will suffer regardless of how good the attorney is.
After the Crash Podcast: A Legal Resource for Truck Wreck Victims
After the Crash is currently ranked No. 4 in personal injury podcasts. It is the highest-ranked podcast focusing on personal injury resulting from commercial vehicle and truck wrecks.
The podcast was launched nearly five years ago, in the fall of 2020, by attorney David W. Craig. It educates and empowers listeners in a digestible format. It is primarily aimed at the victims and the families of victims of semi or other large truck accidents.
It is David’s goal to equip listeners with the knowledge necessary to navigate this tough time in their lives. Anyone — truck wreck survivors, legal professionals, healthcare workers, and anyone in between — can tune into After the Crash for free.
A new episode is released monthly, featuring a guest with an important perspective. In each episode, David interviews individuals involved in commercial motor vehicle cases, or experts whose skills are crucial to understanding trucking cases.
Episodes are posted on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon and Apple Podcasts, and the Craig, Kelley & Faultless website.
Injured in a Truck Accident? Craig, Kelley & Faultless Can Help
Attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless are prepared and have the experience to help victims and their loved ones involved in commercial vehicle wrecks through every aspect of their case. Both attorneys David W. Craig and Scott A. Faultless are board-certified in truck accident law by the NBTA, accredited by the American Bar Association. The firm also has a rapid response team—including investigators, reconstructionists and mechanics—that is sent to the scene of a wreck to collect evidence as soon as the firm is hired.
Their team-centered approach puts client needs at the forefront, and several attorneys will work on your case to achieve the best possible outcome.
Reach out for a free case consultation today at (800) 746-0226 or online.
David W. Craig is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, accredited by the American Bar Association in Truck Accident Law. He sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David 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.
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