PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY – PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
Florida’s temperate climate and beautiful terrain encourage many individuals to take to the roads on a scooter or moped. With rising gas prices, scooters are seen on our roadways more than ever. With this increase in the number of scooters on the road comes a corresponding increase in the number of scooter accidents. Scooter operators face many dangers which are often due to the negligence or recklessness of automobile motorists. Many motorists do not notice, or pay sufficient attention to, scooters on the road. No matter how careful they are, scooter operators are very vulnerable.
Every year, thousands of scooter riders are injured in crashes and collisions with automobiles. Scooter operators are extremely vulnerable to serious injury from crashes and from collisions with other vehicles. They, like bicyclists and motorcyclists, are exposed to greater dangers than automobile drivers and passengers due to the lack of protection between their bodies and the road. They are also confronted with obstacles, such as road conditions and severe weather, without the benefit of an automobile surrounding them. Some of the many road dangers which can particularly affect individuals on scooters are:
- Puddles
- Oil Slicks/Spills
- Uneven Pavement
- Objects in the Road
- Potholes
- Railroad Tracks
- Debris
In Florida, individuals on scooters have the same rights to the road and are subject to the same traffic laws and regulations as other vehicles. It is the operator’s responsibility to maintain proper safety equipment, to obey all traffic lights and signals, and to use proper signaling.
Most serious scooter accidents are caused by the negligence of other drivers on the road. Other drivers often have trouble seeing and hearing scooters because of their size and position on the road, thereby increasing the chances of an accident. Most accidents involving another vehicle occur at intersections and involve violations of the right of way. Scooter or moped accident injuries are most often caused by collisions with a motor vehicle, and the injuries sustained in such accidents, even if they were at low-speed, are often severe. Individuals on scooters or mopeds are much more likely to be injured or killed in an accident than individuals in an automobile. Even the most minor of accidents can have devastating effects for a scooter operator.
Although helmets can save lives, helmets do not prevent broken bones, internal injuries, or spinal cord injury. The following recommendations can increase your safety on a scooter or moped:
- Wear a helmet and bright protective clothing
- Obey all traffic laws and speed limits
- Be aware of blind spots
- Exercise caution at intersections and in parking lots
- Use your signal well in advance of a turn or lane change, use hand signals, or both
- Pay close attention to road and weather conditions and adjust speed accordingly
- Keep both hands on handlebars
If you have been injured in a scooter or moped accident, it is imperative that you take certain steps.
- Do not leave the accident scene.
- Seek immediate medical attention
- Contact the police, even if the accident seems minor. This will allow for an investigation to be conducted at the accident scene and will provide necessary proof that the accident occurred. Make a record of the date of the accident and the name of the law enforcement agency that responded to, and investigated, your accident.
- Assess the accident scene. Take the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
- Gather the following necessary information from all drivers and passengers involved in the accident: the make, model, vehicle information number, and license plate number of all vehicles, as well as insurance information of everyone involved.
- Take photographs of your vehicle, the other driver’s vehicle, skid marks, the accident scene, any existing road dangers, and weather conditions at the time of the accident, etc.
- Do not apologize or admit fault to anyone.
- Seek the advice of an experienced scooter accident attorney.
- Take your vehicle to a reputable body shop for repair estimates.
- Compile medical records. If you sought and received medical treatment for your injuries, keep a record of the doctors who treated you, as well as the time and place of treatment. Gather documentation of any past relevant medical history to present to your attorney.
- Record lost time from work. Depending on the nature and extent of your injuries, you may be unable to work. Record all dates and time that you are absent from work. Your attorney will need your employer’s name, your job title, pay rate or salary, and the amount of time missed from work. You may also need to obtain documentation of past earnings to prove lost earnings.
If you have been injured while riding a scooter or moped, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of earning ability
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of companionship
Contact the experienced scooter accident injury attorneys at Rice for a free consultation to determine whether a scooter accident action is appropriate in your case. Our attorneys are well versed in personal injury laws and liability issues. We will investigate the circumstances of the accident, conduct witness interviews, and gather all necessary evidence to establish liability and to obtain the maximum compensation for the injuries you sustained.
