More than 130,000 people are injured in bicycle crashes that occur on U.S. roads every year. If you’ve been injured in an accident, it may be time to hire a lawyer.
If you have a bicycle accident case on your hands, then you need to carefully consider who you hire to help with it. The right lawyer can help handle the legal ins and outs of your case while helping ensure you get the settlement you need.
Here are 7 things that you should know about choosing a bicycle accident law firm.
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You Need to Check for Licensing
When considering a bicycle accident lawyer, be sure that they are licensed and fully accredited. It’s important that a lawyer is legitimate and legally able to provide services.
It’s a good idea to contact the state bar to verify that the lawyer you’re thinking about hiring is legitimate and properly licensed. Also, find out if there has been any disciplinary action taken against them.
You may want to contact a lawyer directly if you have any additional questions about their credentials. They’ll be happy to provide details about their licensing and credentials if they’re legitimate.
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Determine a Lawyer’s Reputation
Keep in mind that reputation matters when choosing a law firm to work with. Hire a bicycle accident attorney that others have had great experiences with in the past.
If you know anyone who has had a similar accident as you, check to see if they can refer you to any specific lawyers who could serve your needs. Referrals can give you a good place to start when looking for a reliable bicycle accident law firm.
In addition to this, consider reading reviews on bicycle lawyers online. If you see many positive reviews for a particular personal injury lawyer, then it could mean that they’re worth hiring. If they did a great job for others in the past, they’ll probably do a great job fighting for your interests as well.
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Look for Specific Experience
You should also find out about a lawyer’s experience. Be sure that the law firm specializes in bike accidents and car accidents and that they have experience with cases that are similar to yours.
The lawyer you choose should have a great track record and should know about all the details that matter with these types of cases. Ask how long they have been practicing and what their specialty areas are.
Don’t hire a generalized lawyer or one who doesn’t seem to have proven experience in bike accident cases. They may not have the knowledge that will be necessary to handle your case successfully.
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Ask About the Pricing Structure
When hiring a lawyer, learn how their pricing structure works. Ask a lawyer how they charge you for their services and make sure you understand all the details.
Find out if there are any hidden fees or costs that you should know about and ask about anything that you don’t understand. You should look for a lawyer who works on a contingency fee structure. These lawyers will only charge a percentage, and if they aren’t successful, you may not have to pay them at all.
Also, look for an established law firm that has adequate resources at its disposal. They should be able to handle all of the costs of a case, such as witness fees. Ensure they don’t charge you upfront and that there aren’t out-of-pocket costs that you’ll need to handle on your own.
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Success Rates Matter
Not only should you find out whether a lawyer specializes in bike accidents or not, but you should also find out whether they have been successful in previous cases. Find out whether the lawyer has a history of successful outcomes and learn what you can about the settlements that they have helped clients get in the past.
Ask questions about a lawyer’s success rates and have them explain why they’re the best person to handle your case. Speaking with the lawyer at length and asking about how successful they have been will help you verify that you’re making the best choice.
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Prioritize Great Communication
When hiring a lawyer to handle your bike accident case, make sure that they’ll be communicative. You need to hire an attorney who has great communication skills and will keep you updated throughout the case.
To get an idea of a lawyer’s communication style and to determine how well the lawyer communicates with you, sit down with them during a consultation. Talk to them at length and get an idea of how they’ll handle the case and how they prefer to communicate. Get a sense of whether they’ll put in effort to keep you in the loop.
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Ask About the Details
When hiring a lawyer after a bike wreck, ask about the specifics regarding how they’ll handle your case. You should find out what the lawyer thinks about your case and how they plan to proceed with it.
When speaking with the lawyer, ask them about their predictions for the case and how good your chances are. Find out how they see your case progressing and what they expect to happen.
You should also find out specifically who will be handling your case. Determine whether the lawyer you’re speaking with will handle the case or if another person will be taking over once you hire the law firm.
In many cases, the lawyer will have someone working under them who will handle your case rather than handling it themselves. If this is how your case will be handled, you should know about it beforehand.
Hiring a Bicycle Accident Law Firm
If you need to hire a bicycle accident law firm, be sure to contrast and compare your various options. Before hiring a bike accident law firm, learn about its reputation, experience, success rate, and pricing structure. This way, you’ll have the best chance of getting a fair settlement.
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