Madera scooter riders struck by careless drivers can seek full compensation for their hardships. That should include money to pay all medical bills and physical therapy costs. Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t always make it easy for injured riders to get the help they need.
Victims may require the help of a skilled, local attorney to earn full compensation. Contact Maison Law of Madera to set up a free, confidential case review to find out what your injury is worth and how to hold a car insurance company 100% accountable.
Should I Talk to a Lawyer About My Scooter Accident?
If your injuries are very minor or you’ve just got scooter damage, you may not need to have a lawyer to get fair compensation. But if your injuries are more serious, like a broken bone, severe skin damage, or head trauma, you would be wise to talk to a lawyer about your options.
Rising medical costs with a serious injury make insurers take notice and work harder to avoid blame. You may need a lawyer’s protection when insurers try to blame your accident on you or attempt to downplay the injuries you received. They want to settle your case for as little as possible or find an excuse to leave you with nothing at all.
Your Madera scooter accident lawyer would fully investigate your accident and the driver involved. Then, with evidence in hand, your lawyer would negotiate to win you the maximum in support. This is often much more than you could hope to win by handling your case yourself.
Scooter Accident Dangers in Madera
People can hop on several different types of scooters in Madera County. They may own their own electric scooter and use the helpful motor to travel faster and without breaking a sweat.
Others may download an app and take a trip on a rideshare scooter, such as a Lime scooter. Others, often children and teens, will enjoy riding an original scooter with no motor. These are scooters that are gravity and foot-powered.
Each type can present its own dangers, especially around careless drivers. Scooters with motors aren’t allowed on sidewalks according to California Vehicle Code (CVC) 21235. (g). Therefore, riders must stick to bike paths and bike lanes, or ride alongside traffic on a busy street like Yosemite Avenue. A reckless lane-switch by a distracted driver can knock a scooter rider from the road.
Younger riders on non-motorized scooters may not be able to travel at dangerous speeds, but their smaller profile can more easily be overlooked by motorists who are tuning-in their radios or texting. Victims can take a full impact on a neighborhood street and suffer major injuries.
(The same CVC mentioned above also prohibits riders without a driver’s license from riding motorized scooters. This keeps children off of scooters that operate under their own power.)
Victims might end up at Madera Community Hospital with broken ankles or Traumatic Brain Injuries. The care they may need might not end at the emergency room. Victims may require care in the months and years ahead, and car insurance companies should be on the hook fully for whatever these final totals may be.
A skilled attorney with Maison Law demands compensation for the victim for current bills and for those hardships that may arise in the future.
What Can Be Compensated in a Scooter Accident Injury Claim?
A Madera scooter accident attorney seeks support for these damages and more on behalf of victims:
- Total costs of medical bills
- Estimates for care over a lifetime for a permanent disability
- Support for the pain victims endure
- Support for the emotional trauma and loss of enjoyment of life that victims experience
- Repairs or replacement costs for a scooter
- Scooter accident wrongful death benefits. Families who receive the tragic news that a loved one has struck and killed by a careless driver must take action to protect themselves financially. They’ll require support to pay for funeral costs and leftover medical costs, and help with replacing the income the deceased can no longer provide to the family in the future. In the case of a child victim, parents should receive support for the loss of companionship they’ll be forced to cope with over their lives.
Why Do Child Victims Need More Support for Scooter Injuries?
In some cases, scooter accident victims are minors, often when traditional, non-powered scooters are involved. They can be hurt while playing in their own driveways or while crossing the street to a friend’s house.
Negligent drivers and their insurers must be asked for more when a child is the victim. Children have less natural protection from collisions in the form of muscle tissue. Their bones often break more easily. The injuries from a scooter crash can be more severe.
Unfortunately, a young victim’s wounds can stick around longer and cause issues as they mature. Settlement money must be secured to pay for any health issues that arise. Compensation must factor in the possibility of surgeries and additional physical therapy if victims begin to see symptoms of a past injury in their teen years.
Maison Law would demand this additional protection and support from a reckless driver on behalf of parents and children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive injury support if I was hit on a scooter while I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Yes. The fact that you weren’t wearing a helmet doesn’t affect the driver’s liability for your recovery costs. You can still ask for help with your medical bills. In California, scooter riders 18 and older aren’t required to wear helmets. You can read more about the scooter helmet laws here.
How long do I have to file a scooter accident injury claim?
Two years. You’ll have to file your injury claim before two years have passed since the accident date or risk having your case rejected. You should take action sooner rather than later, before important evidence disappears.
What if I can’t afford to pay a personal injury lawyer?
Scooter riders don’t need to worry about finding the money to hire Maison Law while they are down with an injury. Our Madera accident attorneys don’t accept any payment unless they win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money that a car insurance company is forced to provide.
Contact a Madera Scooter Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been in a scooter accident in Madera, Maison Law can help. We understand how traumatic a scooter accident can be, especially when you have to fight with the insurance company to get financial relief for your medical bills and missed time at work. But, fortunately, you’re not alone in this fight.
Maison Law is here to help restore your life and protect your right to the maximum amount of compensation available. Our firm has years of experience taking on the insurance company to protect the rights of injured scooter riders.
If you’re concerned about the financial, physical, and mental impact a scooter accident has had on your life or a child’s life, contact Maison Law today. We offer all injured victims a free consultation and case evaluation. There are no hidden fees for our services, and you will only be charged once we win your case.
Additional Resources:
