Have you been involved in a motorcycle accident? People in your situation typically have some common questions or concerns before approaching the problem through the legal system. It’s understandable that you might be worried about what’s going on. But remember – as long as you were not at fault and you play your cards right, your chances of success are pretty good.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Represent Me?
A surprisingly large number of people seem to believe that they can win a case like this without professional representation. The reality is often quite far from that. Pretty much no cases have been won by people representing themselves, with some rare exceptions. Choosing to represent yourself and foregoing legal assistance is pretty much the best way to guarantee that you’re going to fail before the case has even started. You must take the time to compare the different Michigan motorcycle accident attorneys available to you as quickly as possible.
How Soon After the Incident Should I Initiate the Lawsuit?
You should not delay legal proceedings at all. As soon as you’ve gathered all facts and know which lawyer you’re going to work with, you should start the lawsuit. Waiting can only decrease your chances of success, even for an otherwise solid case. You might also miss some crucial court deadlines, and there will be no exceptions made for you in that case. Your lawyer will let you know all about the various deadlines that you have to observe, so your first step should be to get in touch with them.
Should I Discuss Any Details with the Other Party Outside of Court?
It’s not rare to get approached by the people you’re suing with an offer for settlement. While this offer may or may not be good, you’re in no position to make that distinction yourself. Your lawyer is the only one who can tell you for sure if you should accept any propositions like that. Because of this, you should redirect any such communication attempts to your lawyer straight away, and not engage with them at all. Don’t even give them the courtesy of making small talk – you never know what intentions they might have by contacting you.
How Should I Prepare for the Lawsuit?
There are some things you can do to prepare, apart from the obvious one of hiring an attorney. You should gather as many facts as you can about the case – ideally, in an organized manner that makes them easy to browse and sort through. Take notes of everything, even stuff that seems irrelevant right now. You never know what might actually come into play at some point. The same goes for names, addresses, phone numbers, and anything else potentially relevant to the lawsuit.
Your lawyer will likely have some comments at various points of the legal proceedings. Make sure to listen to what they have to say, and always follow their advice. Sometimes it might seem counterintuitive but remember that they know what they are doing better than you, and that’s the reason you’ve hired them in the first place – so make it count!