Motorcycle-related deaths rose from 5,044 in 2019 to 5,579 in 2020, which is an 11% increase. This highlights the continued need for personal injury attorneys who can help injured victims get compensation.
However, it’s not easy for everyone to get the best lawyer to give them the legal support they need. This short guide outlines how to find the best attorney to get you the compensation you deserve.
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What does a motorcycle lawyer do?
It can be stressful to handle medical bills and legal processes after a motorcycle accident. However, an excellent personal injury lawyer can address all your legal issues. Here are the specific ways a motorcycle accident lawyer can help their clients.
Explain your rights
You may not know what to do if this is the first time you were involved in a motorcycle accident. In fact, you might have many questions and you wouldn’t know where to get your answers. A personal injury lawyer can be your legal adviser after your accident. With their help, you will understand your legal rights and other crucial details of your case.
If you have an attorney, you will know the ins and outs of filing a personal injury claim in your state. They’ll also tell you whether you can get any compensation from the other driver’s
Collect evidence
When you work with a motorcycle accident attorney, they’ll determine who caused the accident and your injuries. This process includes collecting evidence from the accident scene and interviewing potential witnesses. They may also gather testimonies from medical experts to further strengthen your case.
Build your motorcycle accident case
Before you can file a motorcycle accident lawsuit, you must prove the following:
- You were hurt as a result of the accident
- The at-fault driver caused the accident and your injuries
- You suffered losses because of the accident
A lawyer will know what evidence you need to collect so that you can build a strong
Your lawyer might recommend waiting until you have reached your maximum medical improvement (MMI) before filing a claim. The MMI is the point at which the injured party has recovered as much as possible with medical treatment.
If you wait, you can calculate your expenses associated with the accident, including medical costs. When your lawyer has all the information they need, they will compile all the evidence to establish and file your claim.
Document damages
A motorcycle accident lawyer will assess all the types of damages you may claim from the
If you file a personal injury lawsuit, some of the damages that you may be able to recover are the following:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Non-economic damages associated with your accident, such as pain and suffering
- Any costs related to the accident
- Damages for wrongful death, if you had a family member who passed away because of the accident
Motorcycle accident lawyers will tell you about all the types of damages you may be able to recover. Moreover, at the initial consultation, they’ll also tell you about their fee structure.
Talk to insurers
A motorcycle accident lawyer can handle all communications with the
You can focus on your mental and physical recovery by allowing your attorney to take care of your paperwork.
They’ll make sure your case is filed within the statute of limitations, which is the deadline by which a lawsuit must be initiated. Once the time frame has expired, you can’t bring a case to court.
However, there are certain exceptions to this rule. Talk to an attorney to determine whether they apply to you and when you should file your personal injury claim.
The best motorcycle accident lawyers can make sure that you can take the necessary actions within specified time limits.
Different Ways To Find the Best Motorcycle Lawyer in Your Area
Finding an efficient lawyer who can help with your legal issues can be challenging. You should not expect to find one by simply reading advertisements. There won’t be enough information in them to help you make an informed decision. Fortunately, you have other options if you want the best motorcycle accident lawyer.
Community referrals
A good strategy when looking for a skilled personal injury lawyer is to talk to people in your community. Ask for referrals from people who have been in motorcycle accidents before. Talk to personal injury victims and ask who their attorneys were and what they think of them.
If you reach out to half a dozen people who have had the same legal problem, chances are you’ll get several good leads.
However, don’t pick a lawyer based only on someone else’s referral. Remember that people will respond differently to a lawyer’s personality and style.
Rather, you should meet with the lawyer first, discuss your case, and then make your decision. You want to make sure that you feel comfortable working with an attorney before you hire them.
Finding a lawyer with the expertise you need through a referral might take a lot of work. However, you shouldn’t give up. Call all recommended attorneys and explain your situation. You might find one who can help you, or the attorney might simply recommend someone else.
Lawyer directories
There are several lawyer directories online where you can find a personal injury attorney. Some of these directories provide a comprehensive profile for each lawyer, which can help you choose the right attorney.
The profiles will tell you about the lawyer’s education, experience, fees, and general philosophy of practicing law. Some directories, however, will only include information about lawyers who are in good standing with their bar association.
Online search
If you don’t want to sift through a list of lawyers, use the internet to look for a motorcycle accident attorney. An online search provides a way for you to connect to local lawyers.
Through a simple Google search, you can look up a car accident lawyer and see where their office is located. If the lawyer has a website, they’ll discuss their legal experience in handling motorcycle or truck accidents.
There are some sites that’ll ask you a few questions about your case and, based on your answers, will recommend lawyers. After you provide your contact information on the website, an attorney will directly get in touch with you.
Getting help online is pretty straightforward. However, you can’t trust all websites and attorney directories. Before making a decision, make sure that the lawyer you find is qualified. You can also check your state bar association to ensure that the attorney you find is in good standing.
Moreover, you can look for other essential information about the attorney online, such as where they went to school and their contact information. This way, you can reach out to them and book an initial consultation.
Lawyer referral
Lawyer referral services can be a good source of accurate information. Through this service, clients can find attorneys specializing in various practice areas, including personal injury law.
However, there is a wide variation in the quality of these services. Some providers carefully screen lawyers and list only those with special qualifications. Meanwhile, others will list any attorney who maintains liability
Therefore, before you select a lawyer referral service, ask about their screening process and what qualifications they look for when including an attorney in the list.
Tips for Choosing a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
When you’re looking for a lawyer, you’ll find many options in your area. However, you may feel overwhelmed when you see all the advertisements offering legal services. Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind when talking to motorcycle accident attorneys.
Ask for reviews and references
Before deciding on a lawyer, make sure that they have a solid professional reputation. Look for references and reviews from previous clients, which you can find on their website, Google My Business, or Better Business Bureau (BBB) listings.
A personal injury lawyer with a strong professional reputation will want to maintain that reputation. They will work hard to fight for your rights and will always keep your interests in mind.
Inquire about motorcycle accident experience
Simply because an attorney practices personal injury doesn’t mean that they know about motorcycle accidents. For example, don’t assume that a car accident lawyer can help you if you are a motorcycle accident victim.
Rather, get a lawyer who specializes in motorcycle accidents, and ask them how many cases they’ve settled in the past year. This way, you’ll know that the lawyer will understand the nuances of your case, which will help you secure the best possible outcome for your claim.
Assess work ethic and style
During your meetings with the lawyer, you can gauge how their personality reflects their work. Some attorneys can be serious, direct, and stern, while others are more laid back.
Though a successful lawyer can have these personality traits, you may work better with one than the other. Choosing an attorney you like working with will improve the lawyer-client relationship.
Besides making sure that you get along with your attorney, you also want to ensure that the lawyer has the following characteristics:
- Professional: Your personal injury claim is serious to you and, therefore, your lawyer should also take it seriously. Lawyers show that they take you and your case seriously by treating you respectfully and professionally.
- Attentive: Remember that minor details can make or break a motorcycle accident case. If a lawyer fails to pay attention to the details, they may overlook crucial evidence that could help your case.
- Compassionate: Lawyers should be able to show compassion as they help you navigate your legal struggles. If the accident’s impact was severe, you’ll definitely be stressed out and upset. A compassionate attorney can help you get compensation without stressing you out even more.
- Committed: You should ensure that your lawyer can devote full attention to your case. If a lawyer works on several cases other than yours, they may not be able to give it their best effort.
Consider communication schedule
Motorcycle accident cases can take months to settle. If a settlement can’t be reached, it’ll go to court, where it’ll take even longer to get a resolution. Therefore, talk to the attorney about their schedule and how you’ll get updates about your case.
Tell them if you expect updates about the progress of your case every couple of weeks. You want to be able to easily contact your lawyer if you have questions. Therefore, it’s best to make sure that the law firm facilitates communication between you and the lawyer.
Evaluate their track record
Before choosing a lawyer, ask how they fared in their previous motorcycle cases. In fact, check their work history. Doing so will help you determine how many cases they won and how many they lost.
You want to work with someone who has managed to get reasonable settlements in most of their motorcycle accident cases.
When asking about their history, inquire about the lawyer’s courtroom track record. Some attorneys specialize in out-of-court settlements. However, if your case can’t be settled, you want to have a good litigator who can win your case in court.
Look at courtroom experience
When choosing an attorney, pick someone who is not apprehensive about going to court. As briefly mentioned earlier, extensive courtroom experience for a lawyer is very important if your case can’t be settled.
The attorney might settle and accept a lowball offer if you end up with someone who has no courtroom experience. Avoid these types of lawyers since they don’t have your best interests in mind.
If you want to know more about how to look for motorcycle accident lawyers, visit The Personal Injury Center. Our website serves as a comprehensive legal resource for personal injury victims.
Questions To Ask a Motorcycle Attorney
The quality of legal representation can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. This means that you want to have the best personal injury lawyer by your side if you want to get compensation. Read below to find out what questions you should ask a motorcycle accident lawyer.
Is your practice limited to motorcycle accident crashes?
Today, many attorneys in the country handle multiple areas of the law, including motorcycle accidents. However, the ability to properly assess the value of a personal injury claim requires years of experience.
You want to have a lawyer who has in-depth knowledge of motorcycle accidents and experience in handling cases similar to yours. This way, they’ll know how to advise you regardless of the unique circumstances of your case.
If you are in a motorcycle crash, you need an attorney who understands motorcycles and their risks. This advantage means that your lawyer knows what to look for when studying the accident. It will also help them assess the validity and strength of your claim.
Do you offer a free consultation?
You want an answer to this question before moving on to other queries about your case. However, keep in mind that if the law firm charges an initial consultation fee, it’s not indicative of their integrity.
However, a free case evaluation will let you save money and raise crucial questions without paying anything. Some personal injury attorneys make most of their income from positive case outcomes. Therefore, they generally don’t charge an initial consultation fee.
Who is handling my case?
Some law firms let partners handle the initial consultation. At other times, a lawyer will be there, but will simply be the face of the people who will actually handle the case.
You can ask who will handle your case so that you can build a rapport with them. It will also help you understand their role in the company.
How long will my personal injury case take to settle?
This question can be challenging to answer since the time it takes to settle a case depends on various factors. However, asking your lawyer for an estimate is still a smart idea.
All motorcycle accident cases are different, and they rely on different variables. Nevertheless, your personal injury attorney should be able to provide a rough timeline. The best motorcycle accident attorneys will also work hard to settle the case as close to that time frame as possible.
An attorney may give you a vague answer or say, “There is no way to know.” Although these answers are not red flags, they might mean that the lawyer is inexperienced and may not have handled cases similar to yours.
What fees will you charge?
Generally, personal injury lawyers are paid on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t have to pay anything upfront. Rather, the attorney will get a percentage of the settlement or verdict.
You must take the time to read and understand the fee agreement before you sign it.
Lawyers can choose to include in the agreement that they can recover their expenses regardless of the case’s outcome. This means that even if you lose your case, you’ll still have to pay the lawyer for the following:
- The cost of depositions
- Court fees
- Payments to medical professionals and other experts who testified at trial
That said, you shouldn’t overlook the advantages of paying on a contingency fee basis. Most people injured in a motorcycle accident don’t have the funds to pay for a lawsuit. Therefore, this arrangement provides everyone with access to experienced lawyers so that they can pursue their claims.
What am I expected to do?
Remember that no two cases are alike. Your motorcycle injury attorney must have a specific strategy for your unique case. You might not have to be involved should your claim be cut and dry or if you settle. However, a settlement is not always guaranteed.
You have the option to be present for all components of the legal process. However, you may also spend time getting medical records so that you can give them to your lawyer to further strengthen your case.
Talk to your attorney and clarify what they want you to do. Ensure that you and your lawyer have a solid plan for each part of the case.
Pro Tip
Performing regular maintenance on your motorcycle can help lower your risk of getting in an accident. Before going on the road, check your brakes, engine, and tires.
Get the Proper Compensation You Deserve With the Help of a Motorcycle Lawyer
A motorcycle lawyer not only provides you with legal advice, but they will also help build a strong personal injury claim. With their help, you will have a good chance of getting the compensation you deserve after a motorcycle crash.
Fortunately, there are many ways to find a motorcycle accident lawyer. You can look online and check lawyer directories. You can also reach out to those in your community who were previously injured in motorcycle accidents. They might be able to recommend experienced lawyers who helped them recover sufficient compensation.
If you need more information regarding motorcycle accident lawyers, visit The Personal Injury Center. Our blogs are filled with informative posts that offer help to personal injury victims. Visit our site to learn how a motorcycle crash lawyer can help you and your loved ones.
You need a motorcycle accident lawyer to help recover damages from a motorcycle crash. Visit The Personal Injury Center and discover how to get the compensation you deserve.
FAQs on Finding the Best Motorcycle Lawyer Near You
What is the American Bar Association (ABA)?
The American Bar Association (ABA) is a group of legal professionals that serve as national representatives of lawyers. Their aim is to promote professional excellence, justice, and respect for the law.
What do I do after a motorcycle accident?
You need immediate medical attention if you were in a motorcycle accident. If you don’t have serious injuries, record what you can from the scene. Talk to the police and take statements from witnesses. Inform your lawyer if you want to take legal action so that you can get copies of relevant reports.
Do I need to hire the first motorcycle accident lawyer I come across?
You don’t have to hire the first attorney to meet. You can consult with several lawyers and stick to the one you think can help you best.
