If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident, you’re probably dealing with a lot of pain and difficult emotions—not to mention medical bills and other financial costs. Many accident victims choose to hire a Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyer their accident so they can get support from a professional and focus on recovery.
If you’re interested in working with a lawyer, you’ll want to first schedule a consultation so you can get to know each other and discuss details. (Most personal injury lawyers, like John Foy & Associates, will give you a free consultation.) And, it’s important to prepare for that meeting with key questions.
Below are the top five questions you should ask during your consultation to find the lawyer who is right for you and your situation.
1. What Is Your Background and Experience?
Good first questions to ask in your meeting involve the lawyer’s experience and education. Ask things like:
- Where they went to law school and when they graduated
- How long they have been practicing personal injury law
- The number of accident victims they represent each year
- How many lawsuits they settle and how many go to trial
- If they belong to any professional organizations or bar associations (a good sign that they are staying up-to-date on this area of law)
- Whether or not they routinely take cases like yours
These questions will give you a feel for how the lawyer handles cases and where they’ve come from. When an attorney has many years of trial experience, they are better equipped to reject low offers from the insurance company and fight for a fair settlement.
Plus, if the insurance adjusters know an attorney can competently take a case to trial, they’ll be more likely to offer more sooner.
2. Do You Focus Exclusively on Motorcycle Accident Cases?
You want a lawyer who really understands motorcycle accidents and how to handle their insurance claims. There’s nothing wrong with a lawyer focusing on different areas of personal injury law, but they should also have a good track record of handling motorcycle accident cases like yours.
3. What Is Your Assessment of My Case?
Come to the meeting with an outline of your accident and important details like injuries and other losses you’ve experienced from the accident. Then, ask the attorney what they think about your case. Questions could include:
- Based on what I’ve shown you, what settlement do you think I could realistically get?
- Do you think I’ll have to go to trial?
- How long do you think my case will take to complete?
- What factors could work for me or against me?
An attorney who is used to cases like yours will be able to look at the details and give you their professional assessment of your options. That includes an estimate of what your case is worth based on similar cases the lawyer has handled (and brought a desirable outcome from) in the past.
You should leave the meeting feeling confident that this attorney can handle your case—and has your best interests in mind.
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4. Will You Be Personally Handling My Case?
The lawyer meeting with you is not always the one assigned to your case, so make sure you ask for clarification. If they will not be handling your case, ask to speak to the person who will be.
Some law firms will have associate lawyers handle certain parts of a case. They might also assign the preparation of documents in your case to a paralegal. This is not necessarily bad, but you should get to know the lawyer who will be responsible for your case and ask the same questions of them before working with them.
Other related questions to ask the attorney on your case:
- Will I get progress reports of my case? What will they include and how often will I get them?
- Will anyone else be working on my case besides you?
- Are you going to be my daily contact? How do I get in touch with you, and how soon do you typically respond?
- Will you handle all negotiations and court appearances for my case?
It’s also a good idea to pay attention to the atmosphere of the office. If the person you meet with seems distracted or keeps getting interrupted during your consultation, it could be a sign they’re too busy to fully devote to your case and your needs.
5. How do You Charge for Your Services? What Are Your Total Fees?
This is very important to understand upfront. Although most motorcycle accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, there are some who will still work for an hourly rate—so always ask.
Working on contingency means the lawyer does not get paid until after your case is settled. If they win you a settlement or award, they get a percentage of what you are awarded. If they don’t win you anything in your case, they don’t get paid.
This means you will usually not have to pay anything upfront to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer. However, some attorneys will include additional fees for steps during the investigation and research process, so ask them about any and all fees and retainers they charge.
You might also ask for examples of how much money you would take home after all fees and costs have been accounted for. A trusted lawyer will be upfront and happy to explain this to you.
Schedule a Free Meeting With a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
At John Foy & Associates, we’re proud to have more than two decades of experience working on motorcycle accident cases. Starting as a small local law office, we’ve grown to one of the largest and most respected law firms in Georgia. We don’t get paid unless we win you money, and the initial consultation is always FREE.
To schedule a meeting with one of our trusted attorneys today, call us or fill out the form on this page. We look forward to speaking with you.
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