According to the National Safety Council, there are approximately 79,000 motorcycle accidents annually, resulting in more than 5,000 fatalities. Unfortunately, the injuries sustained by riders are almost always serious, and they can often be life-altering.
Due to the severity of these accidents, getting legal representation to recover damages is imperative. The challenge is knowing how to find the best motorcycle injury lawyer. You want someone with knowledge and experience who will have your back. This article will guide you through the appropriate steps to take when you’re looking to hire an injury lawyer.
Verify Location
This process isn’t exclusive to retail businesses. You should also consider a lawyer’s location. Specifically, you should seek representation from an attorney licensed to practice in your state. It’s also advisable to hire an attorney based in your city or county.
Evaluate Experience
Experience matters in the legal profession, and there are a couple of areas you should evaluate. The first is the type of attorney. You may find yourself reaching out to general practitioners who work in a variety of fields, including family law, estate planning, or corporate matters.
While these attorneys might have a general idea of how to handle a personal injury case, they are likely not the best fit because it’s not a matter they handle every day. Instead, we recommend seeking out a personal injury lawyer that has vast experience in motorcycle cases.
Check on Their Reputation
One of the best places to monitor an attorney’s reputation is by looking at their reviews and testimonials. Specifically, look for testimonials from clients with similar situations to yours to see how the attorney might handle your case.
Ask Friends and Relatives for Recommendations
Word of mouth can be a great way to get referrals, and as a motorcycle rider, you probably have a network of other bikers in your social circle. Some may have experienced something similar to what you’ve gone through. If that’s the case, the people you know can be a great starting point in finding a motorcycle injury lawyer.
When you check with others, make sure to ask them about how their case was settled, if the lawyers communicated promptly and courteously, and if they would use that law firm again.
Check the Internet
Search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing will have pages and pages of motorcycle injury lawyers. You might see some ads at the top of the page, followed by a map of local law firms and then search results.
It can be overwhelming to scan through all the options because a general Google search for “motorcycle injury lawyers” yields thousands of results. If you take out the quotation marks, you could get millions of links, each with pages of information.
We recommend viewing the results you see on the first couple of pages of the search engines. Check to see where the firm is located, what its legal focus is, and if the tone of the website resonates with what you’re looking for. Then you can pick up the phone or fill out an online form to schedule a time to discuss your case with a live person.
Interview Multiple Lawyers
You might narrow your selection down to two or three attorneys. Make a final comparison to see which one seems like the best fit for your situation. It’s also a good idea to book consultations with the finalists.
During these discussions, you’ll get a general feel for what it might be to work with the law firm. You’ll likely get a general estimate of what your case could be worth and an overall impression of how favorable your outcome might be.
Make sure you ask questions during your consultation. Examples of questions to ask include:
1. How long have you been an attorney?
2. How long has your firm been in business?
3. Why did you decide to start practicing law?
4. Who will handle my case? Will it be you, someone else on the team, or a combination?
5. How often do you settle versus going to trial? There’s no single correct answer here, so you can ask follow-up questions to determine what their strategy is and why.
6. Do you charge upfront fees? Most motorcycle injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you don’t pay anything out of pocket. Instead, you’ll pay your attorneys a percentage of your settlement. However, make sure you understand how the fee structure works by asking for a copy of their fee agreement.
Law Tigers Is Here to Help Motorcycle Accident Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, getting qualified legal representation is a vital step on the road to recovery. At Law Tigers, we are a team of motorcycle riders dedicated to serving as advocates for the biker community.
We’ve recovered more than $800 million for our riders, and there is no fee unless we win. Contact us for a free case evaluation.
