Any licensed lawyer can represent you in your motorcycle accident case, but it can be the difference between winning and losing when choosing which lawyer to choose.
– Try to find a motorcycle accident lawyer who has had prior experience in representing riders and who has had some success. Do not be afraid to ask potential lawyers whether they have tried cases or not.
– If you cannot find a motorcycle accident lawyer in your area who has had experience representing riders, a well established personal injury lawyer will be able to properly help guide you through the process.
– Speak with members in your community and groups to see if anyone you know can recommend to you a motorcycle accident lawyer. Often these recommendations will lead you to a quality lawyer who can represent you.
– Discuss with other motorcyclists that you are seeking representation and see if they have any recommendations they can make to you.
– And of course always make sure that you take the proper precautions when riding your motorcycle. Dangerous behavior and acts on a motorcycle will always hurt your case if you are injured and need to seek compensation.
Make sure to tell your motorcycle accident lawyer a truthful and accurate portrayal of the accident and have available any police reports, statements from other drivers, or any other information that is related to the accident. In order to have a successful case, you must be able to prove another party should be liable for your injuries. Typically, liability requires that the other party acted in a negligent, reckless, or purposeful manner and caused your injuries. All elements of negligence
You also must have patience with the process. Automobile and accident cases can take years to resolve and are often physically and emotionally tiring. Your motorcycle accident lawyer will provide you with the best representation and will want to resolve the case as quickly as possible.
There are a number of motorcycle accident lawyers and firms available and most can be found through advertisements, lawyers listings, or lawyer referral services. Advertising may not be the best way to pick a motorcycle accident lawyer, so make sure to seek recommendations from friends and relatives and to do research before bringing your case to a lawyer. The State Bar Association is a good source of information on local lawyers and can also provide information about ethical violations or other important information that will help aid your decision making.
This website can also be a very important tool in searching for an attorney. To do so, use the search box on top of all pages. You may also compare attorneys and ask free questions by clicking Find Attorneys on top of the page.
Make sure you have all relevant information ready for your motorcycle accident lawyer to review. Medical records, accidents reports, and any other information should be brought with you so the lawyer can best evaluate your case. Be willing to be open about the accident and make sure to tell all of the details, even if you feel a detail will hurt your case. When you meet with your lawyer, he or she is required to keep all information confidential, so communicate everything with them.
For motorcycle accidents, lawyers will typically work on a contingency fee basis, which means they will only collect fees if they are able to successfully receive an award or settlement for their client. Some firms may charge hourly fees, which can be very high and quickly balloon into very large amounts.
Litigation is a very expensive process, and lawyers will typically require up front fees to pay for the expense or will take the expenses out from any awards or settlements. Clients should keep in mind that litigation is a very long, expensive, and time consuming. Although awards and settlements may be large, clients should keep in mind that much of these awards will go towards paying attorney fees and expenses incurred for litigation.
Make sure to ask about the following areas with your lawyer. It is very important that you keep yourself informed about your case and how the motorcycle accident lawyer will handle your matter.
– Fees and expected expenses.
– Experience of the lawyer in handling these types of cases.
– What lawyers will be working on the case and who will be available to contact.
– The past results of similar lawsuits and the strategy the lawyer will use for your case.
– The expected value of the case and how long it should take.
Unfortunately for motorcycle riders, a certain stigma exists where many members of the public view them as thrill-seekers, dangerous, and unsafe members of society. When a person is injured on a motorcycle, it is important that they seek a motorcycle accident lawyer who understands the motorcycle rider and is not biased against them. Many personal injury lawyers will refuse motorcycle accident cases because they do not believe a jury will find sympathy for an injured rider.
Another problem motorcycle riders may find is that a jury may feel that a rider accepted that riding a motorcycle is a very risky activity. Because many juries feel this way, they will not look at the fault of other drivers as much as they would in car accident cases. Motorcycle injury awards are lower and as a result insurance companies are much less likely to agree to reasonable settlements or to even settle at all. It is important to select a motorcycle accident lawyer is is aware of these factors and can help you recover as much as possible.
The most common injuries suffered by motorcyclist are brain injuries and broken limbs. Traumatic brain injuries can be devastating injuries, however recent laws which require helmets to be worn by riders has reduced traumatic brain injuries to some degree. However, not all states have helmet laws and those without them have significantly more motorcycle brain injuries than states that do have them.
If you are in a state that has motorcycle helmet laws, it is extremely important that you wear a helmet, because any injured sustained while not wearing a helmet could have a significant impact on the success of a lawsuit. Motorcycle accident lawyers will have a very difficult time in putting your case forward if you do not comply with all state and local motorcycle safety laws.
