How To Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer In Pennsylvania

While riding a motorcycle can be an exhilarating and fun experience, there is always the risk that you could be involved in a motorcycle crash. In a motorcycle collision, both the rider and any passenger can suffer catastrophic injuries. While some car crashes are relatively minor and don’t involve injuries, most motorcycle accidents will leave people suffering from injuries and might involve fatalities.
If you are injured in a motorcycle collision caused by someone else, you are entitled to pursue compensation through a lawsuit. Retaining the right attorney to represent you is critical. A good motorcycle crash attorney can make a difference in your ability to recover full compensation for your losses. Here is what to look for when you are searching for a motorcycle injury accident lawyer to represent you in your case.

What To Consider When Looking For A Lawyer

All attorneys must attend law school after receiving their undergraduate degrees. Law school is arduous. Once a prospective attorney graduates, he or she must then take and pass the bar exam to demonstrate that he or she has the requisite legal knowledge required to be licensed. Prospective attorneys must also pass an in-depth background check to ensure that they have good moral character. Once a person completes all of these things, he or she can be admitted to the bar and receive a license to practice law. While anyone who is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania can appear in court and represent clients, some attorneys are better equipped to handle motorcycle accident cases than others. For example, someone with no experience handling personal injury cases might not be the best choice for your motorcycle accident claim. You also do not want to hire someone who will be learning on the job while representing you. Instead, the attorney you choose should be experienced, have up-to-date knowledge of the negligence laws, and have trial and litigation skills to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Before hiring an attorney, consider the following three things:

• Location – It’s best to hire an attorney located within the county or city where your case will be heard at trial because he or she will likely know the court procedures, judges, and local defense bar.
• Focus on personal injury cases – You want to hire an attorney who focuses on personal injury cases instead of other areas of practice such as family law or general practitioners.
• Experience and reputation – Your attorney should be experienced in handling personal injury and motorcycle accident claims and should have a good reputation in the community.

How To Find A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Even when you keep those three factors in mind, narrowing down your choice can seem difficult. More than 49,000 attorneys are licensed to practice in Pennsylvania alone. However, only a small percentage of attorneys in the state practice motorcycle law.

There are a few ways to help you narrow your search, including the following:

• Ask friends or relatives who have used a motorcycle accident lawyer for a referral.
• Ask for recommendations from other types of lawyers.
• Check with the bar association to ask for a referral.
• Search on Google and read reviews.
• Check a lawyer directory online.

Don’t rely on television or radio advertisements to choose a lawyer. Many attorneys and firms that heavily advertise tend to settle their cases quickly for much less than what they might be worse and have little trial experience.

Tips For Hiring A Motorcycle Crash Attorney

Here are some tips for hiring the right motorcycle accident lawyer.

1. Interview A Few Lawyers Before Making Your Choice

Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations. Once you have chosen a few attorneys to interview, schedule consultations with several. Bring the relevant documents with you to your appointment, including the police report, photographs from the accident scene, medical reports, and wage statements showing lost income.

2. Ask Relevant Questions

When you interview a prospective attorney, you should try to learn as much about him or her as possible.

Some of the types of questions you should ask include the following:

• When were you licensed?
• How long have you practiced personal injury law?
• What percentage of your cases involve motorcycle crashes?
• Who will handle my case?
• Have you taken cases to trial before? If so, what were the outcomes?

Most motorcycle accident claims will be resolved in settlements. However, you want to make sure your attorney has trial experience just in case your claim does not settle. An attorney’s reputation as a trial attorney can also help to encourage insurance companies to offer reasonable settlements as compared to lawyers who always settle all of their claims.

3. Ask About Fees

Most motorcycle accident attorneys offer a contingency fee. This means that you will not be responsible for paying the attorney’s legal fees until and unless the lawyer negotiates a settlement for you or wins a verdict at trial. Ask the attorney to give you a written copy of the contingency fee agreement to check its terms. Some lawyers will charge you for other litigation expenses such as expert witness fees while your case is pending while some advance those costs for you. Your lawyer will also charge a percentage of the total amount recovered in a settlement or verdict as his or her fee. Make sure you know how the fees and costs are structured to avoid surprises.

4. Check Your Level Of Comfort

When you file a motorcycle accident claim, you can expect to work with your lawyer for months. Having a good relationship with your attorney is an essential element of your case. Make sure that the attorney communicates with you in a way that you understand and asks you questions. If your meeting is constantly interrupted by staff or calls, that could be a sign that the lawyer might be too busy to handle your case. Make sure you like the attorney and that he or she listens to you.

Contact A Motorcycle Accident Attorney Near Me

If you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Pennsylvania, you should speak with the experienced lawyers at Raynes & Lawn. We have represented motorcycle accident victims for more than 50 years and understand the complexities that are often involved. Call us today for a free consultation at 1-800-535-1797.

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