Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me

Motorcycles have represented the free spirit mindset ever since Canned Heat released its class song back in the late 1960s. Even today, Geico leveraged the free-spirited power of a motorcycle in its “Going Up the Country” commercial. On the other hand, motorcycles can also be a dangerous means to demonstrate your free spirit.

If you suffered injuries that were caused by a motorcycle accident, you might be eligible for compensation because of the negligence of the driver of the other vehicle. Even if negligence did not play a role in the crash, you still need to file a claim with your insurance company, which may be less than willing to pay out what you’re owed. Hiring an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help you get the compensation that you deserve and the means to move on with your life.

If you or someone you know has experienced such an accident, you can complete a free, no-risk case evaluation to get more information for your next steps.

Why Are Motorcycle Accidents Different from Auto Accidents?

Motorcycle accidents often cause more serious injuries than the accidents that involve automobiles. The lack of a protective vehicle body—as well as the absence of a safety airbag—makes motorcycle riders more vulnerable to severe injuries. Because of the severity of motorcycle accident injuries, settlements tend to be higher than they are for auto accident victims.

Crashes that involve motorcycles also present different legal issues than those faced by automobile drivers and passengers. Certain factors, such as protective gear, can influence a civil lawsuit filed by a motorcycle accident lawyer. Proving negligence is also a different legal matter compared to proving negligence in a car accident case.

Consult with one of the personal injury attorneys at Morgan & Morgan to determine the best course of legal action for your motorcycle accident cases.

What Are the Most Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents?

The same factors that caused auto accidents also come into play for motorcycle riders. Distraction is a frequent cause of motorcycle accidents, from texting and driving to reaching for a bag of food that is sitting on the front passenger seat. Dangerous road conditions play a role in causing motorcycle crashes, especially wet and icy pavements.

Here are the four most common types of crashes that involve motorbikes:

Single Motorcycle

This is where poor road conditions come into play. Motorcycles are much more likely to sideswipe because of wet road conditions. Riders that get involved in solo accidents might have a strong enough case against a public works agency that failed to maintain safe roads and highways.

Left Turn

Distraction is the most frequent reason for this potentially deadly type of crash. A left turn accident unfolds when the rider of a motorbike moves into a left turn lane and an oncoming vehicle enters the same lane at the same time. If the rider does not complete the left turn fast enough, the oncoming vehicle can produce serious, even life-threatening injuries.

Rear End

Getting hit from behind can send a rider several feet forward onto the pavement. As with rear-end auto accidents, the driver of the vehicle that rear-ended a motorcycle rider is typically found at fault for causing the crash.

Under the Influence

All drivers have to watch out for drivers that operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. However, motorcyclists face potentially much more serious injuries because of the lack of protection. The personal injury lawyers at Morgan & Morgan fight hard for the just compensation our clients deserve because of a drunk driving accident.

Factors to Consider Before Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The process of finding the best attorney to handle your case requires you to consider several factors before making a decision.

Location

Answering the question, “How to find the best motorcycle accident lawyer near me” is important because location matters. You want your legal counsel to be licensed to practice law in the state where you live. However, it might not be feasible to hire an attorney near you. Let’s say you live in St. Charles Missouri and you took your motorcycle for a spin across the Mississippi River into Illinois. A car rear-ended you at a stoplight in Fairview Heights. You do not want to contact the best motorcycle accident lawyer in St. Charles, Missouri. Instead, you need a lawyer who is familiar with Illinois personal injury statutes.

Speciality

Many law firms and attorneys that operate their practices handle a number of different types of legal cases. For example, a law firm might have a team of attorneys that litigate employment, criminal defense, and personal injury cases. When it comes to your motorcycle accident case, you want to work with a state-licensed lawyer who specializes in handling motor vehicle accident cases. Ask every attorney on your shortlist how much of their time they devote to handling motor vehicle accident cases.

Experience

An experienced lawyer who has for years compiled a record of helping clients win just compensation for motorcycle accident cases is a good choice to handle your case. Even if a lawyer has more than 10 years of experience, that does not mean the 10 years of experience have led to favorable outcomes for most clients.

Client Reviews

Client reviews can give you insight into the reputation of the attorneys on your shortlist. Yelp and Google are two popular sites where legal clients leave reviews. You want to consider a legal counsel that has amassed dozens of positive reviews. You should also check out the Better Business Bureau (BBB) page of every attorney on your shortlist of candidates. The BBB assigns a rating based on client feedback, with an A+ rating representing the highest honor a personal injury lawyer can receive from the consumer advocacy organization.

How to Find a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Near Me

Now that we know what defines a successful personal injury lawyer, how do you find one that makes the most sense for your unique case?

Here are a few referral suggestions:

•       Friends
•       Family members
•       Co-workers
•       Attorneys
•       State bar association
•       Lawyer directories

Word of mouth advertising remains the most effective way to find the best motorcycle accident attorney. Asking trusted friends, family members, and professional peers can shorten the search process. Just make sure to verify the legal credentials of any lawyer that is referred to you. Even better, ask an attorney for a referral. The lawyer does not have to practice personal injury law; the attorney just needs to know a qualified motorcycle crash lawyer.

Contact a Law Firm That Gets Results

Working with a motorcycle accident lawyer makes sense for several reasons. You receive help gathering and organizing evidence. Your attorney reviews the police report, which is the most important legal document for personal injury cases. Since your case and/or claim will have a filing deadline, your legal counsel can ensure that you submit your paperwork on time.

An experienced law firm such as Morgan & Morgan fights hard to get the most favorable results for our clients. For example, our Daytona, Florida car accident lawyers recently won $2.5 million for a client when the initial offer to settle was just $500,000. We never settle a case that we feel justifies litigation.

Learn more about the results-driven team of motorcycle accident attorneys at Morgan & Morgan by contacting us today.