Motorcycle Accident Attorney

With over 800,000 registered motorcycles, California has more motorcycles than any other state. Therefore, with more motorcycles on the road, there is also a greater chance of injuries. Some of the top causes of motorcycle collisions are speeding, right-of-way violations, and turning incorrectly.

If you have been dealing with a motorcycle accident, you need proper legal representation to fight for your rights and get you compensation for your injuries. Continue reading to learn more about what you need to look for when you want to hire a motorcycle accident attorney.

Experience Handling Motorcycle Accidents

The first thing you need to look for in your motorcycle accident attorney is their experience in the area. Many personal injury law firms may have experience with car accidents. As a result, you should understand that there are different factors to consider for motorcycle accidents when compared to car accidents.

The chance of fatalities in a motorcycle accident is about 30 times more than in a car. Also, motorcycle accidents have an 80% injury or death rate. Your motorcycle accident attorney will understand this best because they will have the right experience. Some important background and knowledge that the best motorcycle attorney will have include:

• Working with other motorcycle accident victims
• Understanding doctors’ reports of injuries and recommended treatment
• The recovery time for motorcycle accident injuries and how it affects wellbeing
• How to talk to insurance companies that deal with motorcycle injury claims

A motorcycle injury can be more severe and permanent. This is why you need someone with experience dealing with and negotiating a higher compensation for motorcycle accidents. Without the right experience, you can end up with a much lower settlement for your personal injury case.

Experience Negotiating with Insurance

Another aspect you need to consider when looking for a motorcycle accident attorney is how much experience they have negotiating with insurance companies. Your lawyer’s first responsibility is to deal with insurance adjusters who are trying to get the lowest settlement. These large insurance companies can be aggressive and use many different tactics to push down the settlement as low as they can get.

You need a motorcycle accident lawyer who is smart, aggressive, and ready to negotiate. Also, they should have the expertise and the confidence to go against large companies and their legal staff. If the insurance company does not agree to a fair settlement, it should have the confidence to go to trial.  

Open Communication

How do you find out about your lawyer’s experience? You need to ask the right questions, and they need to be able to honestly address them. Your motorcycle accident lawyer should be receptive to open communication at any time. You should ask questions about:

• Their prior experience
• Success rate
• Potential estimate of the settlement
• How they bill
• The likelihood your case will win

You want someone who will answer all your questions without feeling pressured or agitated. Whether you have 10 or 100 questions, your lawyer should be ready to handle all of them with grace and professionalism. 

They should be upfront with you and not try to “sell” you a better outcome. If your case does not have merit, they should be clear and upfront about it. You want a lawyer who is honest about your chances so you can manage your expectations.

Availability of the Motorcycle Accident Attorney

A motorcycle accident and injuries are stressful and difficult to deal with. You don’t want a busy and uncommunicative lawyer on top of that. It can add to your stress levels, which can take a huge toll on your health.

A busy lawyer is a good thing, but you also don’t want them to be so swamped that they are not committed to your case. No matter how small or big your case, they should be 100% available and committed to it. If not, you may be better off going to another lawyer who has the availability that you need.

Online Reviews

You want to make sure to do your due diligence. Learn as much about the law firm and the lawyers you are considering. If a law firm doesn’t have any reviews online, you may want to ask why that is.

Testimonials from previous clients are very helpful. You need to review them and understand what other people are saying about them.  If you are checking out reviews of the new restaurant you want to try, doing your research on your motorcycle accident attorney is absolutely essential.

If you see a bad review, ask questions about it. It may just be a misunderstanding, but you want to make sure you bring it up and get a response.

Legal Fees

Finally, you want to understand their legal fee structure. Many law firms ask for an upfront retainer and charge a flat fee or a contingency fee based on the amount of your settlement. Ask your motorcycle accident attorney for all the options available to you.

Some law firms charge on an hourly basis. If you are comfortable, you can even ask if they have paralegals or students working for a lower rate to reduce some of the burdens of the legal fees.

With open communication, you can let your lawyer know what your budget is. You should feel comfortable enough with your lawyer to have a frank discussion about billing.

Your lawyer should be upfront about the rates, and you should be comfortable that there won’t be any hidden fees in the future. Your lawyer will confirm that in the contract that you’ll sign, so make sure you go over it clearly with your lawyer.

Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Attorney Near Me

Now you know everything there is to know about finding the best motorcycle accident attorney. Finding the right attorney is about finding the right fit. You want a motorcycle accident attorney that makes you feel comfortable, is readily available, and is committed to your case.

This is where we come in. We have the top motorcycle accident attorneys in Southern California ready to work with you on your case with diligence, care, and commitment. Contact us for your free consultation and get the compensation you deserve.