TYPES OF MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER FEES

If there has been a motorcycle accident involving you or a loved one, you could be forgiven for being confused about the different types of motorcycle accident lawyer fees. Especially when you have other concerns that are occupying your thoughts, it can be difficult to process and understand. At Russ Brown Motorcycle Accident Attorneys, we get this question more often than any other. The handling of your motorcycle accident case involves fees beyond the charges for the lawyer. All of these things also cost money:

• Court filing fees

• Summonses and subpoenas

• Medical records

• Police reports

• Expert witness fees

• Court reporter fees

Some motorcycle accident attorneys will insist on a ‘retainer’ before they get started. This is an initial fund which helps the lawyer cover out-of-pocket expenses they may incur. Lawyers of this kind may require that their clients pay up front for all out-of-pocket expenses while handling their cases. Other motorcycle accident lawyer fees are collected on a percentage basis, with no retainer. This is common practice and is commonly called a ‘contingency’. When a lawyer is retained on a pure contingency basis (that is, 100%), any costs such as an expert witness fee will be deducted from the settlement. You won’t pay a penny up front. On a contingent fee basis, all costs, from the lawyer’s fees to out-of-pocket expenses, will be deducted from the settlement. The percentage of the settlement that you receive, and the percentage the lawyer receives, will be agreed to prior.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Fees and Costs

Russ Brown Motorcycle Accident Attorneys handle only motorcycle accident claims. We’re all riders ourselves, so we have a special insight into cases. We also have an additional interest in securing the maximum settlement for our clients. Because we recognize how difficult and costly recovering from an accident can be, we want to make our fee structure straightforward and no pressure. You pay nothing until your case is settled.

Someone injured in a motorcycle accident may have additional questions, though. How much will I get from my settlement? Will my compensation for my injuries cover my medical expenses? These legitimate questions can weigh heavy on any client at the beginning of an accident case. The settlement amount will depend on many factors. The client’s injuries, property damage, insurance coverage, liability, and the assets of the other party. The settlement’s duration could also vary. It depends on the attitude of your insurance company, and the complexity of your case. In California, there needs to be a written fee agreement between lawyer and client when filing a lawsuit (your compensation claim is classified as a civil lawsuit). This agreement details the attorney’s fees, payment of costs, and any other requisite factors in adequately representing the client. Any client should read and understand the terms of the fee agreement before signing it.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Motorcycle Personal Injury Lawyer

When you hire a lawyer to represent you in your claim you obviously should prioritize recruiting the very best motorcycle accident attorney you can. Of course, unless you too are a personal injury lawyer you might not know how to go about ascertaining that. Don’t worry, though. At Russ Brown Motorcycle Accident Attorneys, we have over 40 years of experience working exclusively on motorcycle accident cases. We know how to find a lawyer you can rely on to fight hard for you, and win a settlement. A strong attorney can make the difference between five and six or even seven figures in your compensation deal. Many firms will offer free consultations in order to offer prospective clients a chance to have their cases evaluated. It’s mutually beneficial: the attorneys get to enquire about the claim, and the potential client gets to enquire about the qualifications and experience of the attorneys. Try and go to at least two  free consultations to interview a few attorneys before you decide on one to handle your claim. Recommendations from loved ones are well and good, but you want to be sure that you get a good impression from an individual before you trust them with what could well be your future financial solvency. These are questions you can ask to help you reach the right conclusion about your legal representation.

Q: Do you exclusively focus on motorcycle personal injury claims?

There are hundreds of thousands of lawyers across the state of California. Many of them are highly successful personal injury lawyers, even working in other areas of the law on the side. Being a jack-of-all-trades is a fine thing to advertise. That said, for the ability to incisively investigate and assess the value of a personal injury claim, you must have the instincts and knowledge that only comes with years of experience and the backing of a firm dedicated to similar cases, from intake to trial. After a motorcycle injury, you don’t want a real estate lawyer who can cut you a great deal on your claim. You want a specialist who’s already won five cases like yours this year alone. Retaining the services of an attorney with years of experience handling motorcycle accident cases means your lawyer will be in their element investigating the accident and the strength of your claim.

Q: How many cases like yours has the attorney successfully taken to trial?

Not many people know that 97% of civil cases related to motor vehicle accidents don’t reach trial. Some attorneys and law firms prefer to quickly settle cases, as preparing a case for trial can be time-consuming and expensive, and the outcome is not guaranteed. Settlements can be favorable for accident victims. However, sometimes an attorney’s reputation for settling and avoiding trials causes insurance claims adjusters to ‘low-ball’ the settlement. When an experienced motorcycle personal injury lawyer with a great trial record gets a stingy settlement offer, they have a better bargaining position. The insurance adjuster will be rightly reluctant to allow the case to go to trial where the lawyer will likely win big.

Q: What is the lawyer’s record of settlements or verdicts in motorcycle personal injury claims?

Past prowess is not necessarily a guarantee of future performance in similar situations. That said, it can be an indication of your attorney’s negotiating abilities and willingness to go to trial when needed. Check the dates of prior verdicts and settlements. Some attorneys will be thrilled to share their courtroom successes with a new client. The information is important so that you can see your potential attorney knows their way around a courtroom as well as pre-trial negotiations.

Q: What professional organizations does the lawyer belong to that are related to personal injury?

It’s a good sign to find a personal injury lawyer that’s active in their state bar association or national associations dedicated to trial advocacy and personal injury law. You can be confident that they are invested in remaining up-to-date on effective trial strategies, laws, and techniques for resolving claims successfully.

Q: Who will be responsible for your case?

Don’t assume that the person you’re having the consultation with will be working on your case exclusively. Some firms assign associates or paralegals to handle certain aspects of a personal injury case, such as document preparation. Ultimately, this doesn’t have to be a downside, so long as the attorney that you thought would handle your case still retains ultimate responsibility for it.

Q: What’s the attorney’s current caseload?

Ask the attorney you’re considering when work will begin on your case. Does the office have too many files lying around? Are there calls coming in for the attorney and staff members interrupting your meeting to ask questions? While it’s good to know that a firm is doing good business, ultimately you want an attorney that isn’t too busy to give your claim the attention it requires.

Q: Is the attorney prepared to put you in contact with a past client with a similar case to yours?