Many people like riding bikes but few of them know that their fun can at any time turn into a disaster when they are involved in an accident. Anytime you are involved in a bike accident you risk suffering minor or severe injuries. Because you are never sure of when you can have an accident while riding your bike, it is always important to have a bike accident lawyer in case this happens. Here are some useful tips for hiring a bike accident lawyer:
Interrogate the Lawyer to Know Whether He/She is Experienced
Compensation is a serious aspect in any legal case. Having an experienced lawyer who understands all the legal aspects of compensation can help you win the case. An experienced lawyer is knowledgeable and suitable. Such a lawyer must be so dedicated for them to have been in practice for a long time. Prompt the attorney to know if they have a high staying power, tenacity, and skills. It is crucial that you ask the lawyer how long he/she has been a personal injury lawyer who represents cyclists that have critical personal injuries and inquire about his/her experience of having represented families that have lost their loved ones in wrongful deaths caused by negligence and carelessness of others. Ask your lawyer whether he/she allows his/her clients some time to heal while he/she handles the case on the client’s behalf. Seek to know how many losses, wins, and settlements the lawyer has had with bike accidents during all the years they have specialized in this type of accident.
Does the Lawyer Have Good Communication Skills?
You must ask your attorney the appropriate questions for you to get to know whether they are specialists in bike accidents. Do not be timid as you ask questions but instead be bold and critically analyze the responses the attorney gives. This way you can gauge whether he/she is a good communicator or a poor communicator. Ask the lawyer how long they have practiced law, and the percentage of the cases the lawyer has handled that particularly involved bike injury. You can ask the lawyer what type of evidence he/she would require to successfully represent you if you are involved in a bike accident. You can also ask the lawyer to give you practical examples of the types of bike cases the lawyer has handled before. The depth at which the lawyer explains all these aspects to you can help you determine whether he/she is experienced or not. Strive to know whether your lawyer is influential and convincing as compensation matters are all about how the lawyer can convince the involved parties that you were right and they were negligent.
What is His/Her Representation Fee?
While lawyers are passionate about helping people, these people also do it for business. Ask your to-be bike attorney how much fees they charge for representing you. You can also inquire about any other expenses you might incur while pursuing your bike accident. Ask the lawyer about the contingency fee he/she charges as this can help you rest assured that you can only pay the lawyer when you are sure of getting compensation or after you have won the compensation. Remember to ask the lawyer for a copy of a written contingency fee that he/she charges. Also, note that different law firms have different charges for representation. You can gather information on the fees several firms charge and ultimately settle for the firm whose fees you are comfortable with. Please remember that at times the amount of fee you are charged depends on the quality of service you are offered. Do not go for cheapness rather consider the quality of the services.
Ask the Lawyer to Predict What Can Happen With Your Case
Such a question can prompt the lawyer to give a personalized response that is unique to your situation. This way you can know whether your case is legal and whether you need to pursue it or not. Let the lawyer tell you how much compensation you are worth for involvement in the type of bike accident in question. Understand whether your case shall involve bicycle manufacturers and such aspects as product faults and defects. Understand the role of motorists for predisposing you to risks and maybe the role of municipal managers for failing to revamp the streets with lighting or for failing to repair damaged roads and how these can affect your case. Ask your lawyer about when the safety device-producing companies like those that manufacture helmets can be involved in your case. Understand the role and impact of such aspects as pedals, tires, wheels, and spokes on your case.
What Size of Firm Does Your Lawyer Work For
Many law firms offer bike accident legal and representation services. However not all law firms are equal in size and their services and fees also differ. A big law firm has highly experienced attorneys and choosing such a firm can be costlier than choosing a small firm. Anyway, a big form means better services and more lawyers and thus explains the high amount of fee such firms can charge. To such a firm, if the money you shall pay the firm is not very attractive, the lawyers might drop your case and concentrate on representing clients that have better terms of payment. On the other hand, a small law firm can be striving to build its name and have a good reputation. For such a firm, while you may not have a lot of money to offer, it can offer you quality services to make itself known and to increase the number of cases it addresses to place the firm at a higher rank in the future.
Hiring a bike accident lawyer can be an intimidating process especially if you have never dealt with a personal injury attorney before. However, with the right questions, you can gauge your lawyer for knowledge, skills, experience, and expertise. You will not want to gamble with such a sensitive issue as compensation whether or not you have suffered serious injuries. Ensure your lawyer is a good communicator, specializes in bike accidents, and has a good and clear record of having represented many clients in your position in the past. The size of the law firm influences the amount of representation fee you pay and thus is considering. You can test the lawyer by presenting your actual case as it can give a clue on how the case shall end. Lastly, ensure the lawyer does not charge you for interrogating them.
