What is a Board-Certified Truck Accident Attorney?

Colorado Lawyer Tom Metier Explains This Rare Achievement

Video Transcript:

Tom Metier:

This isn't an automobile accident. This requires specialty in truck accident law.

Rob Rosenthal:

Do you know what it means if a lawyer is a board-certified truck accident attorney, and how can that benefit you if you're badly hurt? We're gonna find out right now, because that's what we're going to ask the lawyer on this episode. Hi again, everybody. I'm Rob Rosenthal with AskTheLawyers.com, and my guest is attorney Tom Metier, who is himself board certified in truck accident law, but from what I understand, only a handful of attorneys to have that designation. Tom, good to see again. Thank you for helping us out.

Tom Metier:

Hey, it's good to see you, Rob. Nice to talk with you. 

Rob Rosenthal:

So let's just start at the beginning. What does that mean to be a board-certified attorney in truck accident law?

Tom Metier:

Well, what it means is that the National Board of Trial Advocacy has certified you, that you've passed tests, that you've done other things that entitled the public to know that you actually know what you're doing in truck accident law.

Rob Rosenthal:

And how many attorneys have this designation? 

Tom Metier:

There are approximately 50 in the entire United States.

Rob Rosenthal:

And this is not just something that you go online and you click, "Yes, I want the certification," and it happens. This is a process. Take us through that process a little bit.

Tom Metier:

Well, the process is that you must demonstrate through filling out a lot of paperwork, through interviews, recommendations from other attorneys, recommendations from judges, taking an extensive all-day test on the federal regulations that govern trucking. You have to demonstrate your trial expertise and a history of years of experience in this area and specialization. In addition, you must write a long, complicated paper that proves that you as a trial attorney know how to think about the issues involved in trucking accident cases.

Rob Rosenthal:

And so what is the benefit then, Tom, to somebody who... I said, If you're badly injured in a truck accident, unfortunately, usually that is serious injuries when there's a large truck involved, what is the benefit to them, then, having a lawyer who has a certification?

Tom Metier:

Well, you know, if you yourself have been hurt or love's been hurt in a trucking accident, that is an accident in which a large truck was involved, it's very important that you get representation that understands what the rules and regulations are and what the attitudes are for trial purposes, and for settlement purposes, about these large trucks and what they can do to a family. You know, one of these trucks can weigh 80,000 pounds fully loaded, and what it will do to somebody that's hit in a passenger car or a pick-up truck, this isn't the place for amateurs to be involved. One other thing that's very important is this isn't an automobile accident, this requires specialty in truck accident law.

Rob Rosenthal:

And that was gonna be one of my questions. What is the main difference then between a accident with two passenger vehicles as opposed to a truck and a passenger vehicle. What's different about it?

Tom Metier:

Well, first of all, there's an entirely different set of rules, regulations and laws as to how that truck driver and the trucking company are to behave and what the standards are that they must meet. Completely different than drivers with just their drivers' licenses and everyday transportation.

Rob Rosenthal:

And so it would seem to me then this may not be the type of area that just any personal injury attorney could jump into this trucking arena. Do you agree?

Tom Metier:

I do agree, Rob, in fact, one of the things that always saddens me and saddens my brothers and sisters who were also board certified, is that we see personal injury lawyers think that these are just another traffic accident and end up settling these cases for far less than they're worth.

Rob Rosenthal:

And does it require a certain type of resources for the law firm to take on these cases, are they much more expensive and involved than a regular, say, two-passenger vehicle accident?

Tom Metier:

Yes. They can be quite a bit more expensive. One of the reasons is, of course, there's a lot of discovery that's specialized against the trucking company and the driver, different than in just a common car crash, but also a different set of experts that must be engaged, and oftentimes, sadly, the injuries are quite terrible and extensive and as a result, there are just bigger cases and bigger trials.

Rob Rosenthal:

So since you are one of the few Tom who has this certification, do you find yourself assisting other attorneys around the country being brought in to help them with their cases.

Tom Metier:

Very often, Rob, it's a big part of my practice, that attorneys around the country will recognize that they have a trucking accident case, they'll learn that there's a little bit more to it than they thought, and then they wanna have someone who has extensive knowledge and trial practice in that case with them, and so often we are brought into cases to try them or just have the case referred to us.

Rob Rosenthal:

It would seem like if someone is or they themselves or have a loved one who's seriously injured in a truck accident, there's a lot of things they should look for when it comes to choosing the right attorney to help them, and I'm guessing having the certification helps: a lot of that has already been done for them.

Tom Metier:

Yes, because you've got a National Board of independent experts who've said "These truck accident lawyers are board certified, they know what they're doing." And you also wanna look at trial experience and what the results have been. Are they a person who cares about you and your family if you're hurt? And those are all things that are looked at in this board certification process.

Rob Rosenthal:

Lots of really good information, Tom, thank you so much for making some time to answer our questions. I do appreciate it.

Tom Metier:

Thank you, Rob, you have a great day.

Rob Rosenthal:

That's gonna do it for this episode of Ask the Lawyer. My guest has been attorney Tom Metier, who is a board-certified truck accident attorney. Remember, if you wanna ask Tom questions about your situation, it's easy to do, go to AskTheLawyers.com, there's a button in the upper right hand part of the screen that says Ask a Lawyer, you click there and it'll walk you right through the process. Doesn't cost you anything to get some questions answered. Thanks for watching. I'm Rob Rosenthal with Ask the Lawyers.

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