The legal team at Maison Law is here to protect the rights of skateboarders who were injured in an accident in Merced. If you or a loved one suffered harm because of a skateboard accident caused by another person or entity, contact Maison Law for a free consultation and case evaluation. Soon, you will have all the information you need to make a wise choice about legal action that could impact the rest of your life.
Do I Need a Merced Skateboard Accident Lawyer
If you are asking if you are legally required to hire a Merced skateboard accident lawyer to handle a skateboard accident lawsuit, the answer is no. In California, the victim of any personal injury case may represent themselves in a lawsuit to seek compensation for damages caused by someone else’s negligence. But the better question might be whether you should secure legal representation to handle this type of legal matter.
If your Merced skateboard accident resulted in little or no damages and losses, then the situation might be best addressed by negotiating with the insurance company representing the liable party. Many personal injury victims manage this process without the need for a lawyer. But if the insurance company fails to respond on time or makes a lowball offer, the team at Maison Law is just a call away.
If your injuries and losses as a result of a Merced skateboard accident were severe, you should really consider hiring a professional to litigate the case on your behalf. Your priority should be healing and your recovery. The added stress of the lawsuit could easily hamper your focus on healing and increase your recovery time. In addition, experts agree that any skateboard accident case handled by a Maison Law Merced skateboard accident lawyer is likely to result in a larger settlement or more robust compensation awarded to the victim than if they managed the case on their own. In this instance, the simple and easy choice is also the wise one.
Schedule A Free Consultation ASAP
After getting hurt due to a Merced skateboard accident, there could be many legal questions clouding your thoughts. But you are not ready to choose legal action or hire a lawyer. And you certainly do not want to spend any money when your financial security could be in question because of your injuries and inability to work. The smart option is to contact Maison Law for a free consultation and case evaluation. You will get the answers and information you need at no charge, and there is never any obligation for you to hire our firm or move forward with a skateboard accident lawsuit.
Calculating the Value of a Merced Skateboard Accident Lawsuit
Being involved in a vehicle accident while on a skateboard can be terrifying. The injuries that you sustain and the personal property that is damaged or destroyed will be significant factors in determining the value of your Merced skateboard accident lawsuit.
Working with your Maison Law skateboard accident lawyer in Merced, you will compile all of your economic and non-economic damages resulting from the accident. The easiest place to begin is the economic damages, as most of them have a specified dollar amount that will be included in the compensation you seek. Common skateboard accident economic damages include:
- Your current and projected medical expenses related to the treatment and rehabilitation of the injuries caused by the skateboard accident
- The cost of transportation to your medical care appointments
- The cost of any counseling or therapy that is needed to address the emotional trauma and harm as a result of the accident
- Your lost wages if the injuries you sustained prevent you from working at your regular job until you are fully recovered
- Any future loss of earning potential if the skateboard accident injuries resulted in permanent limitations or disabilities that will negatively impact your future earning capability or career choices
- The cost to repair or replace your skateboard and other personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the incident in Merced
The remaining losses and expenses included in the amount of compensation sought in your case are referred to as non-economic damages. These are items that you have lost or must endure as a result of the incident that do not carry a specific dollar value. You and your Maison Law legal team will assign a fair and reasonable amount to these items that will impact your daily life, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of routine activities like hobbies, skateboarding, participating in sports or other forms of physical fitness or activity
- An inability to contribute to the lives of your loved ones as you did before the accident
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional harm and issues like PTSD, anxiety, fear, or increased stress levels, or issues with sleeping or nightmares
Who is to be held Accountable for your Merced Skateboard Accident
Much like any motor vehicle accident, determining who caused your harm while on your skateboard can be very complex. There are a surprising number of parties and entities that can share in the blame for the incident. As you discuss the case with your Maison Law skateboard accident lawyer, they will gather information and help you understand the liability for the incident and your injuries, as well as how to secure any compensation that is owed to you. The list of liable parties for the harm that was inflicted on you can include:
- Vehicle drivers
- Cyclists
- Property owners along the site of the accident if they failed to maintain the area properly and there were traffic and road signs blocked from view or safety hazards were obscured
- Local contractors working on the roads who left debris or other obstacles in the roadway
- Business owners whose commercial vehicles lost items or debris and created a hazard in the road
- The company that was responsible for servicing any vehicle that stalled or broke down and caused the accident
- The manufacturer of a defective vehicle and that failure caused the accident
- The City of Merced, Merced County, or the State of California if a road hazard, pothole, damaged or missing road sign, or other traffic signal failure was the cause of the accident
Common Causes of Merced Accidents Involving a Skateboard
Sadly, most accidents in Merced and across the country could be avoided if drivers paid a little more attention to the task of operating a vehicle and were more aware of their surroundings. As a skateboarder, you are the smallest traveler on the road other than a pedestrian, and you can move faster than a person can walk. The harsh reality is that an inattentive driver might not see you, and the result is a tragic accident. Specific skateboard and vehicle accidents that can often happen in Merced include:
- Running the skateboard off the road
- Turning into or in front of a skateboard
- Failing to yield to a skateboard
- Injuries from falling objects
- Litter or debris thrown from or coming from a vehicle
- Passing too close to a skateboard or sideswiping the skateboarder
Statute of Limitations for a Merced Skateboard Accident Lawsuit
As the victim of a skateboard accident in Merced, you have two years from the date of the injury incident to file your lawsuit with the court, in most cases. The exception to this time limit is when the liable party is a government entity or agency. In these cases, the time limit is reduced to only six months from the date of the accident. In either scenario, the time limit is strictly enforced. Once it has passed, you will no longer have the right to pursue a lawsuit to secure compensation related to this specific skateboard accident in Merced.
Frequently Asked Questions About Merced Skateboard Accident Lawsuits
Do skateboard accident lawsuits frequently go to court?
It might sound odd to think of your skateboard accident as a vehicle incident. But in most cases, these incidents do involve one or more vehicles and therefore the insurance companies representing the drivers. The most common outcome for a claim or lawsuit involving a skateboard and a car is a settlement before the case reaches the court. In reality, less than 10% of all lawsuits filed reach the courtroom. All others are resolved through negotiations and a settlement process.
How can a property owner be responsible for my Merced skateboard accident?
All property owners are required to meet a level of maintenance and care for their property called duty of care. The obligation is to keep the space safe and hazard-free. If a property owner fails to provide the required care and level of safety, and then you suffer a skateboard accident on the property, you could have grounds for a lawsuit because the property owner was negligent in their duty of care.
How should I document my Merced skateboard accident in case I need to file a lawsuit?
It is always best to document any accident scene if you are able. Include pictures of all the vehicles or parties involved, the surroundings that could have caused the accident, and the damage to all vehicles. Also get photos of your injuries, have a medical professional examine them, and document the injuries for future reference. Finally, get the contact information from all witnesses and others involved in the accident.
Contact A Merced Skateboard Accident Lawyer
As the victim of a skateboard accident in Merced, you can reach out to Maison Law for a free case evaluation and consultation to ensure you understand your rights and how to protect them. If you have grounds for a lawsuit, your Maison Law lawyer will explain your options and how to secure the compensation that is owed to you. But the choice to file a claim, hire Maison Law, and pursue legal action is always up to you.
If you do hire our firm, you will appreciate that we work on a contingency basis, and you never need to face out-of-pocket legal costs. We only get paid after the matter is resolved, and you have received compensation or a settlement that includes funds to pay for your legal services.
