Best Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Las Vegas
Compare Top Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Lawyer Name | Nevada Bar Association Status | Year Admitted to Nevada Bar | Law School Attended | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|
George T. Bochanis | Active | 1982 | Pepperdine University School of Law | |
Bryan A. Boyack | Active | 2006 | Pepperdine University School of Law | |
Steven M. Burris | Active | 1978 | University of Southern California, Gould School of Law | |
Keith E. Galliher, Jr. | Active | 1974 | Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law | |
Joseph Gutierrez | Active | 2004 | Pepperdine University School of Law | |
Jay A. Kenyon | Active | 1997 | University of Iowa College of Law | |
Jonathan T. Remmel | Active | 2003 | University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law | |
Jacob S. Smith | Active | 2006 | Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School | |
Lawrence J. Smith | Active | 1997 | Baylor Law School | |
David A. Tanner | Active | 2002 | Baylor Law School |
Other Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Nevada
To obtain compensation for the injuries you sustain in a motorcycle crash, you must file a claim against the at-fault party. Proving this claim is not always easy, so connecting with a skilled attorney is important. That’s why we created this list of the best motorcycle accident lawyers in Las Vegas who can guide you during your claim.
Nevada Statute of Limitations
Every state has a statute of limitations that limit the amount of time injured motorcyclists have to file an accident claim and seek compensation. In Nevada, the statute of limitations for personal injury in motorcycle accident lawsuits is two years. If you fail to file a claim for monetary damages within two years of the injury date, you might not be able to recover any compensation. The statute of limitations for property damage from an accident is three years.
This two-year statute of limitations also applies when a government officer or employee has caused your motorcycle accident.
Nevada Laws for Motorcycle Drivers
Motorcyclists in Nevada are subject to the same rules of the road as car and truck drivers. In addition, motorcyclists of all ages must wear a helmet and eye protection unless the motorcycle has a windshield or screen. Motorcycles are entitled to occupy a single lane of traffic and cannot ride two or more abreast in a single lane.
Identifying Fault for a Motorcycle Crash
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule in motorcycle accident cases. This means that each participant in a motorcycle crash has a percentage of fault for the crash assigned to them, from 0% up to 100%. As long as you are not 51% or more responsible for causing the crash, you can recover some compensation.
If you are responsible in any way for the crash or the other person’s injuries, the recovery award will be reduced in proportion to your fault. And if you are primarily responsible for the crash, you cannot recover compensation.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
After you retain an attorney, they will investigate the circumstances of your accident and gather evidence to prove your claim. They may also speak to witnesses and depose them if necessary. If you have not yet filed an insurance claim, your attorney can also help you with this step.
Your lawyer will act as your representative when in communications with insurance companies and in court and can present your case to a judge or jury if you cannot obtain an adequate settlement.
How to Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas, Nevada
Even with a list of the best motorcycle accident lawyers in Las Vegas at your disposal, finding the best attorney to handle your case requires you to evaluate several potential attorneys before deciding which one to hire. Ultimately, the best motorcycle accident lawyer in Las Vegas is the one who has the right combination of experience, personality and affordable rates.
Take advantage of the free consultation many motorcycle accident lawyers offer to find out:
How Long Have They Represented Injured Motorcyclists?
Motorcycle accidents are often complicated, and it takes a lawyer with experience handling these cases to appreciate their complexities. The more experience an attorney has in representing injured bikers, the more confidently they can move your case toward a resolution, surmounting legal and other obstacles and ensuring you are pursuing all the damages you are entitled to by law.
What Can I Expect From This Attorney?
Attorneys and clients can avoid a lot of friction by communicating what the attorney intends to do and how often the client can expect to hear from them. Make sure you know whether the attorney with whom you are speaking intends to take your motorcycle accident case to trial if needed or if they are only going to file an insurance claim for you.
You also want to know how you can ask questions of your attorney throughout your case and what sort of communication you can expect to receive in return.
What Are Their Fees?
All attorneys charge fees for their services, but not all do so in the same way. Motorcycle accident lawyers usually work for a contingency fee rather than charging you an hourly rate.
A contingency fee means that a percentage of any settlement or verdict the attorney obtains for you will go to that attorney to pay for their time and effort. If the attorney does not obtain compensation for you, then you do not owe attorney’s fees. Usually, the contingency fee arrangement gives the attorney about 30% or so of any recovery they obtain for you.
Do You Trust This Attorney With Your Case?
You cannot ask a lawyer whether you should trust them, but you can listen to your gut throughout the consultation. You cannot keep track of what your attorney is doing from day to day, so you need to feel confident that this attorney is working diligently on your behalf and moving your case forward as swiftly as possible. If you do not feel comfortable with a particular attorney, do not hire them. Instead, consult with another.
Methodology
To determine this list of the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Las Vegas of 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we consider factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education and employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards and honors
Forbes Advisory collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Remember that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds but does not evaluate their personalities or knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially tricky legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I recover compensation following a motorcycle accident in Nevada if I was partially at fault?
Yes. Under Nevada’s modified comparative negligence rules, you can file a claim and receive compensation as long as you are not found to be the one primarily responsible for the crash. Any recovery you do receive is reduced in proportion to your responsibility for the crash.
How long does it take for a Nevada motorcycle claim to settle?
In Nevada, insurance companies have 80 working days within which to settle claims filed following a motorcycle crash. Once your claim has been settled, your settlement check might take four to six additional weeks to arrive.
Settling a lawsuit that has been filed in court is a more complicated matter. A motorcycle accident lawsuit may proceed to trial and result in a verdict, or it may settle before the court date. In either case, it can be several months before a resolution is reached.
How do motorcycle accident claims differ from car accident cases?
The laws that pertain to Nevada motorcycle accidents also pertain to car accident claims. However, the injuries sustained in a motorcycle wreck are often much greater than the injuries and damages seen in car crash cases. The risk of severe and long-term injuries increases in motorcycle accidents, leading to a longer recovery time and requiring more compensation than an injured motorist might need.