Electric scooters and their variants have been around for a while now. But it is only in the past 10 or so years that they have exploded in popularity. And with this rise in popularity has come an increase in electric scooter accidents and injuries.
According to the Journal of the American Medicine Association, over 3,000 people injured in scooter accidents required hospital care.
If you have been involved in a scooter accident, you are likely dealing with painful injuries, as well as financial losses. The good news is that you can seek compensation for these losses from the party that harmed you.
Electric Scooter Accident
Scooter accidents can cause serious injuries. This is because scooter riders simply do not have the same protection that riders in cars have. So when an accident does occur, scooter occupants are injured more often than riders in cars and at slower speeds.
For example, if a vehicle hits another vehicle while going 15 mph, it may only cause minor property damage and leave no injuries. However, the same car going at the same speed could cause a fatality if it hits a scooter.
If the scooter rider survives, they can still face all manner of serious injuries, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Whiplash
- Road rash
- Lacerations
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones
- Amputations
Scooter riders may also face serious emotional injuries as well. These psychological injuries may include:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression
Depending on the severity of these injuries, a victim of a scooter accident could find themselves bedridden, disabled, or otherwise unable to live life as they once had.
Liability for Electric Scooter Accident
When a party is found liable for an electric scooter accident, they can be held to pay damages. Generally, the blame for personal injury attaches when:
- A party owes someone a duty of care
- That party violates that duty of care
- The violation of the duty of care causes an injury
- The injury results in compensable damages
For electric scooter crashes, certain parties tend to be held liable for damages. These parties can include:
- Car and truck drivers
- Other scooter drivers
- Scooter and scooter parts manufacturers, designers, and retailers
- Property owners
When car, truck, and scooter drivers are liable, it is usually because of negligent or reckless driving. For example, distracted driving, driving while drunk, and speeding are all common behaviors that lead to accidents with electric scooters.
Common Liability Scenarios
Regarding scooter parts and equipment, the designers, manufacturers, and retailers must always provide parts and products that are not unreasonably dangerous. Yet defectively dangerous parts sometimes make it into the marketplace and cause accidents.
For example, suppose that the company that makes scooter wheels produces a batch of structurally weak wheels. It can be held liable if an accident occurs because of the wheels.
Property owners might also face liability for a scooter accident. Under the theory of premises liability, property owners are responsible for injuries and property damage that occurs as a result of a hazard on their property.
For instance, the owner of a parking lot must maintain the lot in a reasonably safe condition for patrons. If an electric scooter rider crashes in the lot because of an unreasonably dangerous condition, the property owner can be held liable.
Damages
Damages are the forms of compensation you can receive in a personal injury lawsuit. They encompass both economic and non-economic losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical care and treatment costs
- Lost wages or salary
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
When a fatality occurs, damages may also include funeral and burial expenses, plus costs related to end-of-life care. And if the liable party engaged in egregious behavior, such as driving while drunk, you may also be entitled to punitive damages.
Why You Should Hire an Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer
Electric scooters are supposed to be fun or at least convenient. But if you have been in an accident while riding one, you will have to fight to get the compensation you need to cover your losses. Even if you or the person who caused your injury has insurance, you still need to put up a battle for fair compensation.
Difficult Insurance Companies
An electric scooter accident lawyer can take on the insurance companies for you. From filing the claim to suing them in court, you can rely on an experienced personal injury attorney to handle everything. Luckily, most scooter accident cases don’t make it to court. Your lawyer can often settle a case long before a trial is necessary.
Through fierce negotiations, your electric scooter accident lawyer will fight hard to make sure you get a payout that truly reflects the losses you have incurred. Your attorney won’t entertain offers that are below what you deserve and will file a lawsuit if necessary.
Crucial Claims Tasks
Additionally, your electric scooter accident lawyer will perform all of the crucial tasks necessary for any successful compensation claim. This means you have the time you need to recover and rest after your accident instead of worrying about fighting for compensation.
Some of these crucial tasks include:
- Performing thorough investigations of the accident
- Consulting with medical and accident recreation experts
- Properly calculating the damages you are owed
- Anticipating and dealing with obstacles on the way to compensation
If you are in a scooter accident, don’t try to seek compensation on your own. Although you may get some money for your losses, you are likely to get up to and over four times that amount when you have an attorney.
Contact an Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer Today
Did you suffer injuries in an electric scooter accident and are not sure what to do next? You don’t have to fight for the compensation you deserve alone. A skilled electric scooter injury attorney from The Joel Bieber Firm can help you seek justice for your losses. Contact us for a free case review today.
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