There has been a rise in the use of scooters across Alabama. Scooters are far less expensive to buy than a car, they are economical to drive, and teenagers younger than the traditional driving age can drive them.
However, along with an increase in these two-wheeled vehicles on the road has come an increase in scooter accidents. Despite Alabama’s helmet laws, major injuries happen. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries, you need a local, experienced scooter accident lawyer in Mobile to handle your legal case.
What Should I Do After My Mobile Scooter Accident?
Immediately following a scooter accident, you must focus on your injuries and medical care. Once you are recovering, you should contact a resolute local Mobile personal injury lawyer for a free consultation. You need a local attorney familiar with Alabama traffic laws and Mobile’s roadways.
If you are comfortable with your choice for legal representation, you and he or she can begin to move forward, working on your case. You will need to provide information such as:
- Your recollection of the accident
- The type of vehicle that hit you
- The name and contact number of the driver of that vehicle, along with their insurance information
- Any witness information you were able to collect at the scene
- Photographs of the accident, your scooter following the accident, the area around the accident, and your injuries
- A copy of the police report
- Copies of your medical records from the accident, including emergency care, tests, doctor visits, therapy, and medications prescribed
- Copies of any bills resulting from the accident
Provide as much information as possible to your attorney so that he or she and the legal team can get to work investigating your case.
For a free legal consultation with a Scooter Accident lawyer serving Mobile, call (251) 298-8380
How Can a Mobile Scooter Accident Lawyer Help Me?
When hiring a scooter accident lawyer in Mobile, you want someone who can focus on you and your case while determining and working toward appropriate compensation. Your scooter accident attorney in Mobile will:
- Discover how the accident occurred and determine who was at fault
- Deal with your and the other party’s insurance companies
- Determine appropriate compensation for you
- Negotiate with the other party’s lawyer
- File a lawsuit should it become necessary
No one should try to navigate the legalities of a scooter case on their own. Nor should you try to deal with insurance company representatives whose job it is to offer you as little in compensation as possible.
Determining Fault in a Mobile Scooter Accident
Determining fault is key to your case and receiving compensation for the injuries and damages you have endured. In many cases, the other vehicle’s driver is to blame for the accident. In other cases, the scooter, part manufacturer, or repair shop could be responsible for malfunctioning parts or poor-quality repair work.
Yet still, in some instances, the scooter driver could be at fault for not following the laws of the road for motor-driven cycles. Alabama is one of the few states with strict comparative negligence laws, meaning that if you are found even 1% responsible for the accident, you cannot recover any damages. Insurance companies are familiar with this law, so it’s important to have legal representation who can prove you were not at fault.
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Understanding Alabama’s Scooter Laws
Alabama categorizes scooters as motor-driven cycles, along with mopeds and motorized bicycles. This is a separate category from motorcycles. Anyone 14 years or older may apply for the required Class B restricted license through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to drive a scooter on public roadways. The Class B test is based on Alabama’s Motorcycle Operator Manual.
Drivers of scooters and other motor-driven cycles must wear a helmet designed for motorcycle use. The helmet must be shatterproof and have a shock-absorbent interior between the head and the outer shell.
Scooter drivers are required to carry liability coverage, a Motor Vehicle Liability Bond, or a Certificate of Cash Bond to drive a scooter on any state roadway. Drivers must also carry proof of their insurance whenever they are driving their scooter.
What Compensation Can You Expect to Receive?
Alabama recognizes economic, non-economic, and punitive damages in a scooter accident case. Economic compensation includes the actual monetary losses the injured party may have incurred. The most common examples are:
- Reimbursement of medical bills, including emergency care, tests, surgery, physical and/or emotional therapy, rehabilitation, and medications
- Projected future medical costs
- Lost wages and benefits from missing work
- Loss of future earnings
- Property damage to your scooter
- Any other out-of-pocket expenses, including legal fees
Non-economic damages are just as real; however, they are less tangible. Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of companionship and/or consortium
What Are Punitive Damages?
Punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, may be awarded when the other party is found to have acted out of maliciousness or intent to harm. Punitive damages are not to compensate the injured party as much as to punish and discourage the defendant from future similar acts.
Is There a Time Limit for Me to Take Legal Action After a Scooter Accident in Mobile?
Alabama has a statute of limitations of two years. That means you have two years from the date of your scooter accident to make a legal claim. But that doesn’t mean you should become complacent.
Investigating an accident and building a legal case takes time. You should contact a skilled scooter accident lawyer as soon as possible to let the firm’s legal team get to work on your case.
What Can a Mobile Scooter Accident Attorney Do for Me?
Following a scooter accident, you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side to help you get proper compensation, allowing you to recover from your injuries without worrying about finances. Morris Bart attorneys have the training, expertise, and experience to guide you through your legal claim.
Contact us for your free consultation today! We’re available 24/7 to best serve our clients.
Questions?Call (251) 298-8380
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
