During motorcycle collisions, motorcyclists usually receive the brunt of the injuries regardless of who’s at fault. Because motorcycles are less visible than cars and trucks, they are significantly more likely to get into accidents than other types of vehicles. Car drivers may cause serious motorcycle accident injuries on roads by not checking their blind spots when switching lanes or not paying full attention at intersections and crossroads. A high-speed motorcycle collision can often be serious, or even fatal, to the motorcyclist while only causing minor damage to the motorist’s vehicle.
If you or a loved one was recently hit in a motorcycle accident by a car or a commercial vehicle driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Depending on the situation, the driver at fault’s insurance or your motorcycle insurance may be liable for paying for your medical bills, loss of employment and other damages.
It’s a good idea to hire a motorcycle accident attorney to ensure you get the maximum compensation after being injured in a motorcycle accident.
Keep reading for tips on finding the best motorcycle accident lawyer for your situation.
Tips for finding a motorcycle accident lawyer
Since most personal injury attorneys charge on a contingency fee basis — meaning they receive a percentage of the total settlement, verdict or jury award, rather than an hourly fee — you don’t need to worry too much about lawyer’s fees when deciding what firm to hire. Unlike for criminal or divorce cases, (where lawyers are often banned from charging on a contingency basis), for motorcycle accident cases, the quality of the lawyer you hire is not determined by the amount of money you can pay upfront.
Look into their firm’s performance history
See if the attorney’s law firm publishes its performance rates on its website. A firm with a high success rate in cases similar to yours can mean a higher chance of success for you as well, as your motorcycle crash lawyer will already be experienced in the relevant case law.
When checking case win rates, make sure you know what your lawyer’s win rate is. Look for both their in-court battles and out-of-court settlement success. If your lawyer has a high effectiveness rate when settling cases but often loses in court, this may become a problem if your case has to go before a judge. Some law firms may publicly advertise their settlement rates but avoid talking about their win rates in court, so pay attention to both of these things.
Get recommendations from friends and family
If any of your family or friends have been in a high-speed motorcycle crash or know someone who has, see whether they can recommend any motorcycle accident lawyers. Ask questions about their accident and case, including how their legal representation handled everything, from gathering evidence to litigation and billing.
If you receive a recommendation from a friend or family member, you can set up an appointment with the law firm in question to see if they’d be a good fit for your case.
When considering a recommended attorney, ask them the same questions you would have if you’d found them on your own. Just because they won a case for a family member or friend does not guarantee they will win yours.
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