Did you know that around 85,000 people are injured in motorcycle crashes each year? And that nearly 6,000 people are killed by motorcycle accidents annually? However, if you’ve been injured or lost loved ones to a motorcycle crash, you don’t have to face things alone. Hiring an attorney will help you navigate the legal process of filing a claim and ensure you get the full settlement you deserve.
As important as the decision to hire a lawyer is, which one you hire can be even more important. Since most people have little to no experience hiring lawyers, you are likely wondering how to choose the right attorney. Most lawyers offer a free initial consultation, during which they will learn about your situation and offer advice. This meeting is also your opportunity to decide if you’d like to hire that lawyer.
When you meet with a local motorcycle accident attorneys near me for the first time, ask these five questions to guide your decision on who will best serve your case.
What Are Your Professional Qualifications?
Obviously, you want the most qualified lawyer possible to represent you. Ask about their educational and professional background to gauge their qualifications and expertise. Find out what law school they graduated from and when. Ask if they are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and if they contribute to the legal community through speaking engagements and convention panels.
How Much Experience Do You Have as a Motorcycle Crash Attorney?
While there are nearly 150,000 personal injury attornies in the United States, not everyone focuses on motorcycle accidents. You want a lawyer who understands the specifics and nuances of laws governing motorcycle crashes, so ask how many of their cases involve motorcycles and what is their success rate for those cases. Ask how many of their recent cases have involved motorcycles and what were the outcomes of those cases.
What Resources Do You Have Available for My Case?
Lawsuits can take a lot of resources such as paralegals, investigators, expert witnesses, and accident reconstruction specialists. Find out what sort of support your potential lawyer has at their disposal to fully support your claim.
Will You Be Working on My Case?
It’s not always a given that the lawyer you meet with will be the one actually working on your case. A lawyer at a large firm may sign a client and then hand the case off to a more junior attorney and serve only in an advisory capacity. You want the right lawyer, so only engage an attorney you like if they’ll be involved in the day-to-day tasks of your claim.
If the lawyer will be handling your case personally, ask how many cases they’re working on at the time. A busy lawyer can be a good sign, but an overworked one won’t be your most effective advocate.
What Should I Expect From This Process?
The legal system and claims process can be complicated and opaque to outsiders. One of the most important roles your motorcycle accident attorney will play is that of guide. You want a lawyer who can clearly explain what to expect from the process, the options available to you, and the possible outcomes of each course of action. Ask their opinion regarding the strength of your case. You want to choose the lawyer that makes you feel confident and prepared.
While recovering from an accident is rarely easy, you can make the search for a lawyer easier by asking these five questions during your initial consultation. Meet with multiple attornies and gauge their answers to choose the one who makes you feel the most confident and comfortable that your interests are being represented as vigorously as possible.
