The legal team at Maison Law is ready to represent victims of a Merced scooter accident who suffered injuries and losses due to the incident. If you or a loved one were recently hurt in a scooter accident, get in touch with Maison Law to speak to a Merced scooter accident lawyer during a free consultation. We provide a complete case evaluation, and there is never any obligation to hire our firm or move forward with legal action.
Do I Need a Merced Scooter Accident Lawyer
The short answer is that you do not legally need to hire a scooter accident lawyer to represent you in this matter. In California, personal injury victims are never required to have legal representation when they are pursuing legal action such as filing a lawsuit. But there are several reasons why you should consider hiring a Maison Law Merced scooter accident lawyer to handle your case.
If the accident was minor, there is little damage to your scooter, and you did not sustain significant injuries, it may be okay to work with the insurance company representing the liable party to resolve your limited losses and expenses. But keep in mind that the insurance company rep is not working in your best interest. They want to save the company money to ensure they keep their job. If you face adversity in resolving even a simple insurance claim, reach out to Maison Law for expert help in settling the matter.
For cases involving more damages and serious injuries, you need to consider the time, energy, and stress involved in preparing and filing a scooter accident lawsuit. While it is possible for the victim to take on this task, it is also very possible that you will face many issues as you are not familiar with the process and legal requirements to complete and submit the required documentation. Consider using the professionals at Maison Law to represent you in your Merced scooter accident lawsuit so that you can focus on the vital task of healing and making a complete recovery from your injuries. No one else can put in the work and effort required to heal and fully rehab injuries from your significant scooter accident but you.
Finally, if you think the cost of hiring Maison Law is high and that it will only lower the amount you get in compensation, keep in mind that studies have determined that personal injury cases that a personal injury lawyer handles result in larger settlements and more compensation awarded than in similar cases that the actual injury victim handles without legal counsel. Make the simple, smart choice to focus on healing and let your Maison Law scooter accident lawyer secure the full compensation you deserve for your losses and expenses.
Request a Free Consultation Today
Any vehicle accident can feel overwhelming. You face new challenges related to injuries and treatment, concerns about healing and making a complete recovery, and the financial and legal aspects can weigh heavily on your shoulders. To get all the information you need to make a wise choice about legal action, contact Maison Law for a free consultation and case evaluation. After the meeting, you will have all the facts and understand the processes that can help you secure compensation and move past this painful and costly incident.
Calculating the Value of a Merced Scooter Accident
As you see medical expenses begin to increase and think about lost wages and other issues caused by your Merced scooter accident, it becomes vital for you to understand the possible case value if you file a lawsuit related to your Merced scooter accident. Working with a Merced scooter accident lawyer at Maison Law, you can combine all economic and non-economic damages incurred to begin calculating the potential value of your case. The economic damages feature a clear dollar value and typically include:
- All current medical expenses related to the scooter accident injuries and any projected future medical costs for the treatment or ongoing care of the scooter accident injuries
- Therapy or counseling costs to address any trauma from the accident
- Transportation costs to attend medical appointments related to the accident injuries
- Your lost wages if the accident injuries prevented you from working during the healing process
- Lost future earning potential if your scooter accident left you with limitations or a disability that decreased your earning potential
- The repair or replacement of your scooter
The items that might take more time to compile and assign a dollar value are the less defined losses you face in your everyday life after the scooter accident, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- The loss of enjoyment from participating in family activities, sports, or other hobbies and pastimes you once enjoyed
- Your loss of ability to contribute to the lives of loved ones as you did before the accident
- Emotional challenges like PTSD, anxiety, increased and unmanageable stress, or an inability to sleep
- Loss of consortium
Common Causes of Merced Scooter Accidents
Much like motorcycles, scooters are smaller than most other vehicles on the roads around Merced. Sadly, other drivers are often distracted, not looking for other vehicles, driving over the speed limit, and simply not using the care needed to drive safely. In these cases, the ones who often pay the greatest price for this lack of focus and attention when driving are those riding scooters.
Drivers either claim to have not seen the scooter or were unable to estimate its speed and make poor or negligent choices that often result in these common accidents involving scooters:
- Side swipes
- Running a scooter off the road
- Turning left in front of a scooter
- Rear ending a scooter
- Scooter accidents caused by damaged road surfaces like potholes
- Scooter accidents as a result of debris dropped in the road.
- Accidents caused by poor weather or road conditions
- Vehicles operated at an unsafe speed for the road or weather
- Road Rage
- Driving under the influence
The Statute of Limitations for Scooter Accidents in Merced
After a scooter accident in Merced, you have two years from the date of the incident to file your lawsuit with the court, in most instances. If the liable party in the accident was a government entity or agency, that time limit is decreased to only six months from the date of the incident. So, if you were hit by a Merced County service vehicle, you have very little time to decide if you are going to pursue legal action.
Know that the time provided in these cases is strictly enforced, and once it expires, you lose the right to pursue a lawsuit to secure compensation for the damages incurred by the incident. Reach out to Maison Law today to learn more and ensure you do not wait too long to explore your options to file a Merced scooter accident lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scooter Accidents in Merced
I did not have a valid license at the time of my Merced scooter accident. Can I still pursue legal action?
Drivers of scooters in California must be 16 or older and have a learner's permit or license endorsement. However, if you were in an accident and did not have a license, you can still file a lawsuit if you suffered damages. You might receive a citation, but that does not stop you from filing your lawsuit with the court. But it could mean that you share the liability for the accident because it is a comparative liability state.
What is comparative liability?
In states with comparative liability, multiple parties can share the liability or blame for an accident. The court will assign the percentage of liability to all responsible parties. If you are also a victim of losses and expenses because of the accident, you may pursue legal action to recover a percentage of your damages equal to the liability shared by the other parties accountable for the incident. If you were 20% to blame for the accident, you could seek 75% of your damages from the other liable parties via a lawsuit.
What is Negligence Per Se?
If you did not have a license when you were involved in a scooter accident in Merced, you would have violated the law, but not having a license did not contribute to the cause of the accident. Determining negligence per se, could allow you to seek full compensation for your damages and not share any of the negligence for the incident.
Contact A Merced Scooter Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one were hurt in a Merced scooter accident, contact Maison Law today for a free consultation. You will learn if you have grounds for a lawsuit and the process to secure any compensation for the damages you suffered. And you are never obligated to hire the firm or take legal action. The choice is always yours.
If you opt for a lawsuit with Maison Law representing you, we will never demand any upfront fees or expenses. Instead, we choose to work on a contingency basis so our clients never face out of pocket expenses. We only get paid after the case is completed and you have the settlement funds or compensation that includes money to pay your legal fees.
