Riding a scooter is a convenient and low-cost transportation option for many in the Hattiesburg area. These compact two-wheel vehicles can move about a city easily and are an appealing mode of transport for people who may not want to invest in a vehicle. While motor scooters operate at lower speeds and are pretty simple to maneuver and operate, riders can still be at risk of significant injury or fatality if they are involved in a traffic accident with a motor vehicle.
Compensation for Your Losses After a Hattiesburg Scooter Accident
After a Mississippi motor scooter accident, you may wonder whether you can get compensation for your injuries, damage to your scooter, or other losses. Personal injury law applies to scooter accidents where a victim suffers injuries and other damages. While in most instances, you will first go through an insurer to try to resolve your claim, there are situations where it may be necessary to sue the liable party in court.
If you are in a scooter accident and believe another party’s actions led to the accident, the law allows you to seek recovery for any losses you may incur because of the accident or your injuries. Proof of a party’s negligence is necessary to win your case.
For a free legal consultation with a Scooter Accident lawyer serving Hattiesburg, call (601) 602-8431
Proving Negligence After a Scooter Traffic Accident in Hattiesburg
Insurance companies and the court will consider whether the other party acted negligently in their actions to determine whether they are liable to you for your losses. Negligence in a scooter accident can include a motor vehicle driver who is driving recklessly, while distracted, under the influence, or violating traffic laws and signals. To prove negligence, you must show that the at-fault party meets the four elements under the law.
The elements of negligence include:
- A party owed you a duty of care.
- That party violated that duty of care through some action or lack of action.
- You sustained an injury or a loss.
- The injury you sustained is due to the other party’s breach of their duty of care to you.
Determining Fault After a Scooter Accident in Hattiesburg, MS
You may be unsure of who is at fault for the accident or maybe you have a strong indication of the at-fault party. Whatever the case may be, different parties could be liable to you after a scooter accident, and it may not always be who you may think. Even when another motorist or party is cited for the accident, there is the possibility that additional parties are liable to you.
Liable parties to a scooter accident can include:
- A motorist – Most scooter accidents happen because of the actions of a negligent motorist. When a negligent driver causes your injuries, they are liable for your damages.
- Employer – If the driver of the vehicle that strikes you is working at the time of the collision, you may be eligible to seek compensation from their employer.
- Rental company – Scooter rentals are common in tourist areas. If a company that provides a scooter for rental fails to maintain or provide a safe vehicle to the rider, they can be liable for your injuries and damages.
- Scooter manufacturer – The maker of scooters or scooter parts and equipment can be liable to a rider if their products are either defective or dangerous and cause or exacerbate the injuries in a scooter accident.
Click to contact our Hattiesburg Personal Injury Attorneys today
Damages You Can Be Eligible for After a Hattiesburg Scooter Accident
A collision between a scooter and a motor vehicle can be devastating, and the injuries that result are often severe, if not fatal. In a period of one year, the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety reports that over 40 people will lose their lives in a motorcycle-related accident, including scooter riders, in Mississippi. For survivors of a scooter accident, their lives can be forever changed instantly.
The damages you can recover after a scooter accident will depend on factors such as the type of injuries you sustain, the severity of your injuries, and how those injuries will affect your life currently and in the years ahead.
Damages in a scooter accident case can include:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Future expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
Will You Need to File a Lawsuit for Compensation in a Scooter Case?
You may be under the impression that a lawsuit is your only option for compensation after a scooter accident. However, lawsuits are not your first or only option. In most scenarios, a scooter accident case reaches a successful resolution before filing a suit becomes necessary. Your first path to recovery from your losses after a scooter accident is through an insurance company.
When you are in an accident with a negligent driver, there is a high likelihood that the driver’s vehicle is insured at the time of the accident. If an insurance policy is available and the motor vehicle driver is at fault for the collision, you will proceed to file a claim with the insurer for compensation of your losses. With the help of a scooter accident attorney in Hattiesburg, you will attempt to negotiate a settlement that meets your needs and accounts for the losses you have accrued.
In some cases, it may not be possible to reach a settlement agreement in a scooter accident case. This is more likely to occur when your injuries result in permanent disability, or there is a dispute as to who is at fault. If this happens, a Hattiesburg scooter accident attorney will work with you to file a lawsuit against the parties responsible in court, where the matter is ultimately resolved.
Contact a Hattiesburg Scooter Accident Lawyer Today
Negotiating a successful settlement with an insurance company can be difficult without an attorney. Hiring a scooter accident lawyer can not only give you a higher likelihood of reaching a successful settlement but also the likelihood that you will recover a greater amount of compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact our scooter accident lawyers in Hattiesburg for a free evaluation of your case.
Questions?Call (601) 602-8431
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
