Bicycle accidents in Massachusetts can leave cyclists with serious injuries. Unlike the occupants of motor vehicles, cyclists have little to protect them from the physical forces released in a collision with a car or truck. Even if you wear a helmet and other protective gear, you can still suffer devastating injuries in an accident. If you have suffered injuries in a bicycle accident because of someone else’s negligence, it is important to know what to look for in a bike accident lawyer.
After a collision, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed for a variety of reasons: your medical bills, your concerns for your health, the impact of your injury on your day-to-day life, and more. Finding a bike accident lawyer can feeling overwhelming as well. To narrow down your search and make the process a little easier, keep the following things in mind as you interview different attorneys:
When you retain an attorney, you will want to choose someone who is experienced in dealing with insurance companies. While insurance companies should help their insureds with their injuries sustained in bicycle accidents, they frequently try to minimize the amounts that they pay. This can make dealing with insurance companies very frustrating. Ask any attorneys you interview about their experience negotiating with insurance companies, and choose a bike accident lawyer who has significant experience.
When you search for a lawyer, you should look for one who concentrates his or her practice on personal injury cases. You would not want to hire someone who primarily practices in a different legal area, such as family law or business law, for instance. You will also want to find a law firm with attorneys who have experience with handling bicycle accident claims. A lawyer who has previous experience handling bicycle accidents should know the different types of factors that could have contributed to your accident and the tactics that insurance companies typically use in bicycle collision claims.
Whenever you consult with a bicycle accident attorney, you should ask about their past case results. While a successful record in the past does not guarantee the results you might receive in your case, it can indicate the skill of an attorney. Ask attorneys the number of bicycle accident claims they have handled. You will also want to ask about the number of cases they have litigated through trial and how many they have settled. Ask about past settlements and verdicts they have won in the past. Asking these types of things is important. While a majority of cases settle, you do not want to hire a lawyer who has never tried a case. Some attorneys are afraid to go to trial and might be willing to accept far less than their clients deserve for their losses. You also do not want an attorney to learn on the job while handling your claim if your case does end up going to trial.
You will want to make sure that the law firm you choose has the financial resources available to take your case to trial if necessary. Since most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, you will want to hire a lawyer with the financial means to represent you throughout your case when he or she has not been paid. Your attorney should have the resources needed to thoroughly investigate your case and to work with experts when necessary.
When you retain a lawyer to handle your bicycle accident case, you can expect to work with the attorney and his or her staff for months. This makes it important that you get along well with the people at the firm. Pay attention to the communication styles of the staff and the lawyer. Consider whether you are listened to and how your questions are answered. Your attorney should also be able to explain the law and the legal process in terms that you can understand. If you do not understand something, you should not hesitate to ask for clarification.
Being injured in a bicycle accident with a motor vehicle can be overwhelming. When you choose the right bicycle accident attorney, the process can be smoother and easier to understand. The experienced bicycle accident attorneys at Ellis & Associates are available to help you recover the compensation you deserve. When we are hired, we pursue full compensation for our clients from the start. We will never sit on your case and will continue working to recover damages for your accident. We are here for you. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation by calling us at 508-791-7333.
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