When you ride a motorcycle, you are completely exposed. If you have an accident, you’re likely to incur more serious injuries. In fact, motorcyclists are 29 times more likely to die in an accident than car passengers. If you are in a motorcycle accident, you need to make sure that you have the right team of medical and legal professionals on your side.
Forbes Advisor has carefully vetted the best motorcycle accident lawyers across the country to help you find the legal help you need. We also provide tips on how to select the right attorney for your case.
Top Motorcycle Accident Lawyers By City
- Austin, TX
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Los Angeles, CA
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Jose, CA
How to Choose the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
You’ll find a lot of options in your town for all sorts of personal injury attorneys. Ads are everywhere, and you may get overwhelmed by the number of options. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when looking for the best motorcycle accident attorney for your needs.
Get a Referral
Start within your network. If you ride, you likely know others who ride and have been in an accident. See who they used and whether or not they’d recommend them. This is an easy way to find someone that you trust, knowing that they helped a friend or family member in a similar situation.
Ask About Motorcycle Accident Experience
Personal injury attorneys come in a variety of flavors, so don’t assume that an auto accident attorney has the experience that you need as the victim in a motorcycle accident. Get someone who deals with motorcycle accidents every day. Specifically ask how many motorcycle cases they’ve handled in the past year. This way, you know that they understand the nuances and intricacies of motorcycle accidents. This knowledge helps you get the best possible settlement for your case.
Review Their Track Record
Find out how the lawyer has fared in their motorcycle cases. You want to know how many cases have led to settlements and how many have been lost. Obviously, you’re looking for someone who gets reasonable settlement amounts in most of their cases. When inquiring about their history, also inquire about their courtroom track record. Some attorneys may focus on out-of-court settlements but if your case doesn’t settle, you’ll need a good litigator to take your case to court.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
On a contingency fee basis, our motorcycle accident lawyers represent clients. In other words, unless we win your case, there is no fee to you. You won’t be responsible for any payment if our attorney is unable to win your case. Additionally, you won’t have to pay anything up front or from your own pocket. In this manner, you won’t have to worry about money keeping you from getting the best legal counsel available. In addition to your medical bills, repair costs, and other expenses resulting from the motorcycle accident, it will allow you to stop worrying about how you are going to pay for legal fees. Our fees will be subtracted from the settlement or verdict after the case
The initial consultation is absolutely free, so you risk nothing by speaking with our motorcycle accident lawyer about your case.
Ensure They Work on Contingency Fees
Most personal injury lawyers accept cases on a contingency fee basis, which means they will only get paid if you receive compensation. This implies that hiring an attorney to represent you shouldn’t require any out-of-pocket expenses. The typical industry fee is between 33% and 40%, or even higher if the matter is tried. You are dealing with someone who adheres to industry standards as long as it is within this range. You should receive an explanation of the fee schedule from your attorney along with a signed fee agreement. Note that in addition to the contingency fee, you might have to pay for additional expenses out of your own pocket.
What Does a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Do?
A personal injury attorney who specializes in motorcycle accidents can assist you in filing a lawsuit to recover damages after a motorcycle accident, including:
Future and present medical expenses
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Diminished income or diminished ability to earn
Anguish and suffering
Emotional and mental suffering
Modified standard of living
In the worst situation, a motorcycle accident attorney can support the families of the victims in suing at-fault drivers for wrongful death.
How a motorcycle accident attorney can support your claim is as follows:
Investigate the Motorcycle Accident
Any kind of accident requires a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the collision and determine who is responsible for it. To ensure that your motorcycle accident claim is adequately supported, we will identify the responsible party through the use of expert witnesses, accident reconstructionists, and private investigators.
Negotiate With the Insurance Company
We’ll start negotiating with the insurance company as soon as we ascertain the potential value of your motorcycle accident case. Depending on the complexity of the case and the extent of your catastrophic injuries, the settlement process may take several weeks or months at times.
States have different requirements for motorbike insurance. The minimum coverage requirements in the majority of states are $10,000 in property damage, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in bodily injury per person. It goes without saying that if you sustained any common motorcycle accident injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, broken bones, road rash, or even death, the minimum coverage for injuries is unlikely to pay for the cost of your medical care.
Represent Your Claim in Court
There are situations when a settlement cannot be reached out of court. Our skilled motorcycle accident lawyers are ready to litigate your case if this occurs. The parties will keep negotiating until the trial starts.
Although many personal injury attorneys would rather reach a settlement outside of court, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is always prepared to go to trial in order to secure justice for you.
Ask About Their Communication Schedule
Cases involving motorcycle accidents may take a long time to resolve or appear in court. Find out the attorney’s communication schedule. Every few weeks, you should anticipate hearing from your lawyer regarding the status of your case. If you have any questions, you should also be able to get in touch with the lawyer quickly. Verify that their workspace is designed to encourage communication.
How Much is a Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
If a lawyer makes a settlement promise too early in the process, you should be wary of them because every case is unique and compensation will depend on several factors. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, an accomplished motorcycle attorney will know how to look into your claim in great detail and present a demand based on the maximum amount you are entitled to. Your motorcycle accident attorney will then keep you informed throughout the negotiation process and won’t take a settlement offer without your approval.
Having said that, the settlement you obtain for your case will be determined by the severity of your injuries, the expense of your hospital stays, surgeries, and any additional or continuing medical care. It will also depend on how much time you have to miss from work due to the accident and/or how it will impact your future employment prospects. The amount of pain and suffering you have experienced and will continue to experience as a result of the crash will also be taken into account in your compensation. The available insurance coverage will also have an impact on the amount of compensation you receive.
How Do I Know I Have a Case?
The first thing you should do is get in touch with a personal injury attorney at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to find out if you have a case involving a motorcycle accident. After hearing your story and reviewing the relevant documentation, we will discuss your legal options with you. There is no cost for the consultation. There is no harm in consulting with a lawyer to determine whether you have a case, even if you are not sure. In fact, speaking with a motorcycle accident lawyer can provide you the knowledge you need to safeguard your legal rights and make well-informed choices regarding your injury claim.
Why You Need a Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If you don’t have legal representation, the insurance company will probably offer to fix your bike and cover your medical expenses. But a case is much more complex than just the medical expenses. Your motorcycle accident attorney will see to it that the negotiations take into account lost wages as well as pain and suffering. Ultimately, hiring a lawyer means that you will have a strong advocate fighting for the largest award possible, supported by legal knowledge to successfully navigate the claims process.
Why Should I Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Motorcycle accidents by their very nature frequently result in serious injuries, which can lead to a complicated personal injury claim that is challenging to manage on your own. These injuries frequently result in high medical costs, lost wages or the inability to work, and both physical and mental suffering. Even though the insurance company might offer you a settlement, it’s unlikely that it will fully compensate you for your losses. Individuals who have legal representation usually get paid much more than those who don’t.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 5,579 motorcycle riders in the US were killed in traffic accidents in 2020. Motorcyclists are more likely to suffer severe injuries or even pass away due to the size and weight of other cars on the road. Compared to a car driver or passenger, they have a 29-fold higher chance of dying in a collision and a 4-fold higher risk of getting hurt.
Usually, an injury victim’s current expenses will be the only ones included in the settlement offer from the insurance company; future expenses or pain and suffering may not be covered.
Interview Several Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Speak with at least three motorcycle accident attorneys before deciding on one; this will help you determine which one you feel most comfortable with. Speak with several lawyers; there should be no harm in doing so as consultations are free. Become acquainted with their personalities. Being treated more like a case number than a valued client is the last thing you want to experience.