Being involved in a motor vehicle accident is never easy. But as motorcyclists, you are already at a disadvantage when it comes to getting justice.
In fact, it is not uncommon for insurance companies to stigmatize motorcyclists as risky drivers, and make it even more difficult for bikers to obtain the injury settlements they need to get through such a difficult time in their lives.
Whether you’re looking for a Georgia motorcycle accident lawyer, a personal injury attorney in Delaware, or just some legal advice about how to proceed, you’ll need to be sure you’re selecting the right one for you.
Lawyers often have poor reputations themselves. But as motorcyclists will understand, the good ones always outnumber the bad. Below, we describe further some of the most important aspects of choosing the right motorcycle accident lawyer for you and your family.
Communication Is Key
After everything you’ve been through, you shouldn’t have to fight tooth and nail to get your lawyer on the phone. If you’ve selected an attorney and then never hear from them, despite your repeated attempts to get in touch, you may have chosen the wrong motorcycle accident lawyer.
Your lawyer should be able to return your calls, text messages, and emails promptly, or at least within twenty-four business hours. Then, you need to be able to ask them questions and actually get answers. A lawyer rattling off the same useless information isn’t going to get you anywhere.
Know Your Worth
The purpose of any personal injury claim is for the injury victim to be made whole under the law. This essentially means the victim should be compensated for every single loss they have endured at the hands of the liable party.
Economic, or financially based damages are designed to compensate victims for all of the ways their life has been affected financially by the accident. Maybe you have considerable medical expenses, were unable to earn a living while you recuperated, lost your job, and had other financial losses you experienced. Not to mention the costs of repairing or replacing your motorcycle.
But since the goal is for you to be made whole, you also have the right to be compensated for ways your life has been impacted that have nothing to do with money. Your diminished quality of life, damaged relationships, pain and suffering, and other, non-economic losses related to the accident should also be carefully considered by your lawyer.
If your lawyer hasn’t had a conversation with you about how much your claim could be worth, and explained their reasoning in a way you understand, you may need to start looking for a new one.
Don’t Be Afraid to Battle It Out in Court
You don’t want a lawyer who immediately wants you to settle with the insurance company. Depending on where you live, you’ll be dealing with either your own auto insurer or that of the liable party. Your lawyer will get their fee based on what you win in most cases.
You would think that would mean they would fight harder for your case, but the wrong lawyer is looking to make a quick buck. And by settling your claim with the insurer, they can close your case and move on to the next one.
But the truth is you could be entitled to far more than the insurance company is willing to settle for quickly. You need a motorcycle accident lawyer who isn’t afraid to bring your case to court if it’s what’s in your best interests. Anything less is a waste of your time.
