In recent years, the trend of companies providing rentable scooters for transportation has taken hold throughout Alabama, including in Montgomery. Unfortunately, for all the promise of providing a more environmentally-friendly and convenient form of transportation for navigating the city streets, these scooters are also associated with significant injuries when they are involved in accidents with other motor vehicles.
If you were injured in a scooter accident, an experienced scooter accident lawyer in Montgomery can provide information about the process of seeking compensation through the Alabama civil court system as well as services aimed at assisting you in obtaining the maximum level of compensation available to you.
What Types of Scooter Accidents Can Result in a Personal Injury Claim?
In 2019, Alabama’s legislature generally approved the use of electric scooters on roadways throughout the state, offering a few provisions while largely leaving the matter for city governments within the state to sort out. The requirements that the state put in place include:
- Riders must be at least 14 years old and possess a Class M license to ride the scooter on the streets of Montgomery.
- Riders must use a helmet when riding the scooter on a city roadway if they are under 16.
- The scooter cannot be ridden on bicycle paths or sidewalks.
- The vehicle must be ridden on the far right-hand edge of the roadway and travel with the directional flow of traffic.
For a free legal consultation with a Scooter Accident lawyer serving Montgomery, call (334) 523-0664
Seeking Compensation for a Scooter Accident in Montgomery
Because scooters are legally permitted on Alabama roadways, if you are injured in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligent actions, you can seek compensation for your injury through the personal injury claims process. This process typically involves first submitting a demand to the at-fault party’s insurer. Upon receiving the demand, the insurance adjuster can do one of three things:
- Admit to the liability of their insured and approve the claim as submitted.
- Deny the claim and notify the claimant of the reason for the denial.
- Admit liability but offer to settle the claim for a lower amount than demanded.
If the insurer denies the claim, then you and your attorney will consider filing the claim in the form of a personal injury lawsuit. A lawsuit is also often the next course of action if settlement negotiations have stalled and the insurance adjuster is unwilling to make a settlement offer that fairly compensates you for the expenses and impacts of your injury. The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Montgomery is generally two years from the date on which the accident occurred.
Types of Compensation You Can Receive for Your Montgomery Scooter Accident Injuries
Through the personal injury claims process, Alabama allows you to seek the recovery of both economic and non-economic damages. What this means in everyday language is that you can seek compensation (damages) for the expenses (economic) and impacts (non-economic) of your injury. Some of the expenses and impacts that are commonly claimed after a Montgomery scooter accident include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Determining the Liable Parties in Your Claim
One of the many services a Montgomery AL scooter accident lawyer can provide for you is the determination of all sources of liability. The term liability refers to the legal responsibility that one has to compensate individuals who were injured as a result of carelessness or recklessness. While drivers of motor vehicles are the most common sources of liability in scooter accident claims, other potentially liable parties include:
- Other roadway users such as bicyclists or pedestrians who caused an accident with a scooter
- The scooter rider, if the claimant was a pedestrian who was injured in a collision with the scooter
- The occupants of cars parked on the side of the roadway who open their door into the path of a scooter
- The manufacturer of the scooter if the accident was the result of product defects
Settlement Negotiations
Settlement negotiations often begin when the insurance adjuster receives the demand package from your attorney. These negotiations can continue all the way up to the point where a lawsuit has been filed, the trial has begun, but the court has not yet rendered a decision on the matter. Patience is often required at this point, as the insurance companies will often drag this process out in hopes that the claimant will be desperate enough to accept a low offer.
Litigation
As with other types of personal injury claims, the vast majority of scooter accident claims are resolved before they ever see the inside of a courtroom. However, litigation is a powerful option to have, and it is important that your attorney is equally comfortable fighting for your right to fair compensation in the courtroom as they are at the negotiation table.
A Montgomery Scooter Accident Attorney Can Help You Fight for Compensation
The legal team at Morris Bart is ready to fight for your right to compensation after your scooter accident, whether through settlement negotiations or litigation. Let our experienced scooter accident attorneys in Montgomery explore your legal options for obtaining compensation for your injury. There is no cost or obligation for obtaining this information, and you can also learn more about the services we can provide.
For your free case evaluation, contact us online or by calling us at any time.
Questions?Call (334) 523-0664
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
