Modesto Scooter Accident Lawyer

Maison Law represents injured scooter accident victims in Modesto. Scooter accidents are more common than you might think, especially in areas like Modesto with its Central Valley beauty and thriving downtown. But despite the presence of dedicated bike lanes and safety laws, crashes between scooter riders and motor vehicles still occur, resulting in severe, life-altering injuries. At Maison Law, we stand up for injured scooter riders and protect their right to compensation. If you’re suffering injuries, financial losses, and mental trauma from a scooter accident, our firm can help. Contact Maison Law today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Scooter Accident?

Scooter riders in Modesto have the same legal rights and responsibilities as someone driving a car or truck on the road. So, if you were injured by another motorist, pedestrian, or hazardous condition on the road, then you are entitled to recover damages in the same way a car accident victim would.

Unfortunately, recovering essential compensation can become challenging when insurance companies offer victims the lowest amount possible for their injuries. It can also be exceptionally difficult for scooter riders, as they are often blamed for causing accidents on the road. But that’s where Maison Law can help. We stand up on behalf of injured scooter riders and protect them from liability, as well as their right to fair compensation. Our firm will manage your accident claim and ensure the insurance company compensates you for the following damages:

• Economic damages: financial damages you incurred due to the accident.
  • Medical bills
  • Lost Wages
  • Loss of future potential earnings
  • Loss of property
  • Cost of property repair or replacement
• Non-economic damages: these are subjective, non-compensatory damages.
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages: these are damages awarded to serve as punishment to the at-fault party.
  • Reckless behavior (DUI, street racing)
  • Actions performed out of spite

When Do I Need a Lawyer for a Modesto Scooter Accident?

If you only suffered minor scrapes or bruises from a scooter accident, you may not need a lawyer. However, you should contact an attorney after a scooter accident if:

• There were serious injuries: You will need compensation to cover your current and future medical bills if you’ve suffered serious injuries. An attorney can ensure both.
• Wrongful death: If a loved one has passed away due to the accident, you will need compensation for funeral expenses and damages related to the untimely loss.
• Fault: If you are blamed for the accident, but are not at fault, an attorney can protect and assign liability to the at-fault parties. Also, an attorney can reduce liability if you are liable to some extent.
• Multiple parties involved: Multiple parties make cases complex. An attorney can manage your case while protecting your best interests and right to compensation from all liable parties.
• False police report: If a police report places blame on you, and you disagree, an attorney will gather evidence to support your claim.

Steps You Should Take After a Scooter Accident

An injury caused by a scooter accident can affect your financial stability, career, and mental well-being, which is why it is important to make sure you take the necessary steps to protect your right to compensation. While your health is what is most important after an injury, receiving financial compensation can ensure you receive vital medical treatment in order to make a full recovery.

So, if you’re unsure about what you’re supposed to do, don’t worry. At Maison Law, we can handle your case for you, so you don’t have to worry about being taken advantage of by the insurance company, defense lawyers, or missing out on compensation you may need for current and future medical procedures. We recommend taking the following steps to ensure you have a strong case:

• Collect Medical Records: Even if your injuries seem minor, they can manifest into something much worse weeks later. So, it is recommended to check in with a doctor and get a record of your injury. An MRI or an X-ray can reveal substantial damage that you might not be aware of. These documents will be essential to building a strong case.
• Get a Police Report (if applicable) or injury report: Failing to report your injury to some figure of authority, or a corporation, will not help your case, especially if the case comes down to your word over the other party’s word. An injury report will provide important details about what happened and may even assign blame. This info is critical evidence in any claim and will play a key role in ensuring you are fully compensated.
• Gather Evidence: You should document the accident as thoroughly as possible. Take pictures of the damage and the property where the accident occurred. Take a video of yourself recounting the accident while it is still fresh in your mind.
• Collect Eye Witness Statements: if there are any eyewitnesses, try and get a statement from them. Or, at least, get their names and numbers, as they can testify on your behalf or provide a statement to corroborate your story later.
• Collect General Information: Be sure to get the name, phone number, and contact information of the party responsible.
• Contact Maison Law: Our firm is standing by to help injured victims in California. Call, text, or email. Our door is always open to the community, and we’d love to help you through this difficult time.

Common Causes of Scooter Accident Injuries

Like with any physical activity, riding a scooter comes with the risk of injuries. According to the CDC, the cost of bicycle, scooter, and skateboard injuries and deaths exceeds $23 billion in the United States every year. These costs are accumulated through medical expenses, lost quality of life, missed time at work, and the loss of life. Some injuries are preventable with training, technique, and proper safety practices. But when another person is careless around people riding a scooter, injuries are inevitable and extremely costly. That’s why it is important to consult with an experienced Scooter Accident Lawyer in Modesto after an accident to ensure you receive full compensation for your damages. Here are some of the most common causes ofscooter injuries:

• Collisions: scooter accidents involving cars, pedestrians, and cyclists result in injuries, ranging from minor cuts to severe trauma. These injuries can be minimized by wearing the proper safety equipment.
• Speed and reckless riding: riding at excessive speeds or engaging in reckless behavior, such as ignoring typical traffic laws, can lead to accidents and crashes with others on the road.
• Weather conditions: adverse weather conditions, such as rain, snow, and ice can make riding your scooter more dangerous due to the reduced traction and road visibility.
• Unsafe road conditions: poorly maintained roads, potholes, debris, and gravel can lead to crashes and injury. A simple defect in the road or bike lane can throw cyclists from their bikes, resulting in serious injury.

Common Scooter Injuries

Riding a scooter is a physical activity that involves moving fast, along with constant balancing as you ride. With the combination of high speeds and concrete roadways scooter riders experience every day, injuries are common hardships shared by all riders, ranging from minor cuts, and broken bones, to catastrophic brain injuries. Some of the most common scooter injuries include:

• Nose fractures: a nose fracture involves a break in the nose bone. It often occurs due to direct impact or force applied to the nose, for example, when a rider falls and hits their nose on the ground.
• Cheek fractures: a cheek fracture is a break in the cheekbone resulting from blunt force trauma to the face. Riders will often overlook a cheekbone fracture as they’ll experience pain and facial bruising without realizing something is broken. For that reason, it is important to seek medical attention for any facial injuries.
• Lacerations: this injury occurs when the skin is cut or torn. It can occur when a rider falls and hits their skin on a rough surface. These can range from minor cuts to deep gashes. It is essential to clean the wound immediately to avoid infection.
• Broken Teeth: broken teeth occur when a rider falls and hits their mouth on the ground, or their scooter. Teeth injuries range from small chips to complete tooth fractures. Tooth treatment can be extensive and requires root canal treatment in severe cases.
• Plantar Fasciitis: plantar fasciitis is a condition that occurs due to the irritation or inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the base of a rider’s toes. This injury commonly occurs in riders due to the intense, gripping motion of the toes while balancing and poor calf strength.
• Head injuries and Concussions: riding a scooter can lead to serious falls that may result in head injuries. There are two types of head injuries that can occur: closed and open. Closed head injuries do not break the skull, while open or penetrating head injuries when an impact breaks the skull and enters the brain. These injuries require immediate medical attention and can have severe consequences on a person’s motor skills and ability to function normally throughout their daily lives.
• Broken Bones: broken bones are common in riders, mostly because scooter riders are gliding over concrete at high speeds. The most common bones riders break include the wrist, ankle, elbow, arms, and legs.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Claim for a Scooter Accident

According to the Statute of Limitations in California, you have two years from the day your scooter accident occurred. However, there are some exceptions. For example, if a government vehicle ran a red light to make a left turn and caused your accident. You would have six months, instead of two years, to file a personal injury claim. Another exception would be the “discovery rule.” This rule delays the statute of limitations if you could not have reasonably known about your injuries right away. For example, let’s say a truck makes a right turn at an intersection without seeing you in the bike lane next to them, and they hit you before they can stop.

You fall and hit your head at a low speed with your helmet on. You seem fine, so you brush yourself off and continue on your way. Years later, however, you begin to have neurological issues that your doctor says must be from a time when you suffered some sort of blunt trauma to your head. In this situation, the “discovery rule” applies as the two-year clock does not start running until the day your injury was discovered.

What is the Typical Compensation for a Modesto Scooter Accident?

There is no set dollar amount for the trauma and pain experienced by scooter accident victims. However, an experienced Scooter Accident Lawyer will help you understand the value of your case by calculating your economic damages (such as lost wages and medical bills) and non-economic damages (emotional harm, depression, and anxiety). These damages combined include:

• Special Damages: medical bills, ongoing treatment, costs that accumulate when you’re unable to work, like rent or mortgage payments
• General Damages: these are non-economic hardships like pain and suffering, anxiety, depression, mental trauma
• Wrongful Death Damages: these damages may be sought by a spouse or close relative for funeral arrangements, burial expenses, and medical treatment before a loved one’s death
• Punitive Damages: these damages are rare, but if the driver engaged in reckless driving with the intention of hurting you, then you could sue for punitive damages

Contact a Modesto Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been in a scooter accident in Modesto, the Personal Injury Attorneys at 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 what you’re owed. But 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 you’re entitled to. Our firm has years of experience taking on the insurance company to protect the rights of injured scooter riders in Modesto.

If you’re concerned about the financial, physical, and mental impact a scooter accident has had on your 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.