Hiring an Attorney after a Motorcycle Accident:
After an accident or motorcycle crash, you may be asking:
“How do I find an attorney?
“Which one should I call?” “Does it make a difference?”
"Do I simply pull the telephone book; or, do I rely on television commercials, billboards, magazine ads, the internet, or ask friends or relatives?"
Finding a “good” lawyer shouldn’t be done haphazardly. Who you call may cost you the difference of thousands of dollars and may greatly affect your outcome or recovery. The hiring of lawyer should not be based upon advertisements alone!
Before addressing some “key factors” in what to look for when hiring an attorney, let’s consider a quick example:
Mr. Unlucky, a 45 year old, is riding home from work one day. Just two blocks from his Tampa jobsite. Ms. Cage runs a red light and T-bones Mr. Unlucky, causing him a severe heel crush injury, including a fractured shoulder, broken collar bone and many other injuries. After surgery, his medical bills total more than $100,000.00; and, the injuries completely disabled him from work. Unfortunately, Ms. Cage carried bodily injury liability insurance of only $100,000.00; and, Mr. Unlucky himself had underinsured motorist coverage of $25,000.00. In this scenario, Mr. Unlucky may end up with nothing. Will the lawyer charge a reduced fee; or, will he charge the most allowed by law? Will his lawyer seek and obtain other assets for a greater recovery; and, will he or she also take the time and effort to reduce his past medical bills? If you hire an attorney who charges a lesser fee, reduces medical bills and looks for assets beyond insurance coverage, your possible recovery may be much more significant!
Generally, when hiring an attorney, consider the attorney’s: 1) Availability; 2) Experience; 3) Reputation; and 4) Trust. These are some of the most useful factors to consider:
Factors to Consider:
AVAILABILITY: Will the attorney handle your case; or, will they have a non-lawyer, case administrator, case manager or paralegal doing the work? Will the attorney go the extra mile if necessary, such as requiring and taking asset and income statements; or, personally reduce your medical bills, to net you the greatest recovery possible?
EXPERIENCE: Does the attorney have the past experience of handling thousands of cases to answer most if not all of your questions at the initial consultation? Does the attorney have the personal experience of being a true biker, knowing only those things a biker a biker knows, to representing you and protecting your rights?
Does the attorney have the litigation experience within the county, to knowing how cases in town are handled or tried?
REPUTATION: Does the attorney have the reputation of handling cases in a timely fashion? Does he represent bikers at biker’s rates, not charging the maximum allowed by law? Does he or she have a good reputation with people who will be involved in your case, such as with insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, judges, judicial assistants, court clerks and deputy bailiffs, who cares for his or her clients, who has received high approval ratings from local judges and lawyers?
TRUST:Does the attorney give straight answers? Does he or she have credibility with the opponent, the Court and the jury? Overall, you want an attorney who you are proud of, someone you have no hesitancy to refer to your closest family member or friend, should they ever have the misfortune of being involved in a crash!!!
When To Hire An Attorney:
Someone recently called asking whether her health insurance company could enforce a $50,000 lien on her injury settlement? Had she obtained legal representation early after the accident, the lien may have been completely avoided.
After a crash, seek legal representation as soon as possible. The longer you wait, your situation may get worse, especially over time. You wouldn't try to do a root canal without a professional. Insurance claims require professional handling as well. An experienced personal injury attorney decides whether additional investigation is needed, advises the best way to avoid liens from attaching to your settlement monies, and advises much more. Don't follow the advice of the insurance company adjuster, not even from your own insurance company. Your attorney works for YOU, knows the details of your case and gives advice specific to you, to maximize your recovery. Trying to navigate this complicated area alone can cost you thousands of dollars and much more. Hire a professional & obtain professional results.
PUTTING THESE TIPS TO USE IN MR. UNLUCKY'S CASE
In Mr. Unlucky's case, he needs a lawyer who will meet with him at the hospital in Tampa. He needs a lawyer who is familiar with the nature of motorcycle accidents and not just the Hillsborough County Court system, but well-versed in it. He needs someone who has a solid reputation in the Tampa Bay area for representing personal injury claims. He needs someone who can help him recover lost wages, collect disability, reduce his medical bills, and aggressively pursue his claim, getting the full compensation he deserves to make him whole again. He needs someone who can act quickly as Mr. Unlucky still has a family to support. He needs someone who will oversee the entire process from start to finish, ensuring no details were overlooked in the process. He also needs a lawyer who won't collect money unless he does.
No one wants to become "Mr. Unlucky," but should you ever find yourself in this position, give us a call 1-866-HOGLAW1 or 1-800-254-5155. We can help get you back on your feet again. Free consultations, No fees or costs if no recovery.
In the meantime, ride safe and please remember to... WATCH OUT FOR MOTORCYCLES!!! ®
Brad Souders has been a rider for most of his life, preferring long rides across county and state lines. He is also a licensed attorney, having twenty years experience in the areas of civil trial, personal injury & wrongful death, with an office in Tampa. Brad represents bikers throughout the state of Florida; and, he may be reached for a free initial consultation by calling 1-866-HOGLAW1 or 1-800-254-5155 or by emailing bsouders@tampabay.rr.com.
We offer FREE IMMEDIATE CONSULTATIONS 24/7.
Home, hospital or weekend appointments are available upon request.
Remember, we do not get paid unless we win!
We represent all bikers at discount biker rates. Don't pay the maximum attorneys fees allowed by law charged by other law firms.
Call us toll free at: 1-866-HOGLAW1 or 1-800-254-5155 or Call Brad directly at (813) 220-7767 today. .