Alabama Scooter Accident Lawyer Focused On Winning Your Case
Injured on an E-scooter? Discover what our Mobile law firm can do for you
Scooters have become a popular form of transportation in many cities across the country, including Mobile. Many companies, including Lime, Bird and Gotcha, rent electric scooters (often called E-scooters) through ridesharing programs. Unfortunately, injuries involving E-scooters and other types of E-bikes have increased dramatically in recent years.
On average, 14 E-scooter trips per 100,000 result in an injury, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many E-scooter injuries require emergency medical care, including treatment for broken bones and head injuries. Nearly half (45 percent) of electric scooter accidents involve head injuries, including concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Many E-scooter accidents involve other drivers behaving in a reckless or negligent manner. When that happens, it’s important that injury victims take legal action right away and demand the money they deserve for medical care and other injury-related expenses.
The Alabama scooter accident attorneys at Dean Waite & Associates, LLC in Mobile know how to handle such complex legal cases. We’re familiar with the constantly changing laws that apply to electric scooter accidents. That’s why we want to meet with you, learn more about what happened and develop a strategy designed to win your case.
Why do scooter accidents happen?
Accidents involving electric scooters often involve another driver on the road. Some of the reasons why these E-scooter accidents happen include:
- Distracted drivers who don’t see scooters due to texting while driving, talking on a cellphone or other distracting behavior.
- Aggressive drivers who don’t “share the road” with E-scooters, resulting in a crash caused by a driver who was too close or didn’t leave enough space between the vehicle and the scooter.
- Speeding drivers who don’t have time to slow down and avoid causing an accident involving an E-scooter.
- Drivers under the influence of alcohol or other drugs who crash into people riding E-scooters.
Electric scooter accidents happen for many different reasons. Whatever the circumstances of your crash, make sure you fully understand your rights. Make sure you talk to an attorney right away.
What are Alabama’s scooter laws?
Alabama’s E-scooter laws continue to evolve as electronic scooters become increasingly popular throughout the state and the country.
Electric scooters became legal in Alabama in 2019 on a statewide level as a result of the passage of Alabama Code § 32-1-1.1. Under the law, E-scooters cannot go faster than the maximum speed of 20 mph. All E-scooters must also be equipped with brakes and front and back lights. Statewide, E-scooter riders can be as young as 14 years old but must have a valid Class M license. All E-scooter riders under 16 years old must also wear a helmet.
In addition, some cities and companies have their own unique rules and regulations. For instance, Gotcha, which rents E-scooters in Mobile, requires that riders must be at least 18 years old, must have a valid driver’s license and cannot ride their E-scooters on sidewalks, among other restrictions.
Who pays for scooter accident expenses?
Alabama has an “at-fault” insurance system when it comes to accidents involving motor vehicles. This simply means that the at-fault party is responsible for financially compensating injury victims for their accident-related expenses.
If another driver caused an electric scooter accident, this often means that the at-fault driver’s insurance company must pay for the injured scooter operator’s accident expenses, which can cover a wide range.
There are often disputes between injured scooter operators and the at-fault party’s insurance company over exactly what’s covered by such injury claims. That’s why it’s important for injury victims to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to learn more about their legal rights.
How much is my claim worth?
The financial impact of an E-scooter accident can add up fast. Many times, such injury claims are worth thousands of dollars or significantly more. Insurance companies know this. That’s why they often want to settle claims soon after an accident –before all the expenses have been taken into account.
Along with short-term accident-related expenses, injury victims should receive money for all future anticipated expenses related to their accident. Such expenses can cover a wide range, including:
- Ambulance fees
- Emergency medical care, including emergency surgery and overnight hospital fees
- Doctor’s appointments, including follow-up doctor’s appointments
- Physical therapy, especially in cases involving physical mobility issues
- Prescription medications, especially in cases involving chronic pain
- Follow-up surgical procedures, especially due to long-term medical conditions often associated with serious injuries
- Replacement income if you cannot work while you’re recovering from your accident
- Lost future income if you cannot return to work due to a permanent disability sustained in the accident
- Pain and suffering in certain circumstances
The bottom line is you should be financially compensated for all past, present, and future accident-related expenses. Having an experienced lawyer can help you demand such financial compensation.
Why should I hire an attorney?
Many scooter accident claims turn out to be complicated legal cases. Sometimes, it’s due to the driver who caused the collision and denies doing anything wrong. Other times, you might encounter resistance from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Instead of paying your injury claim, some insurance companies focus on denying claims rather than paying you the money you deserve.
Our experienced Mobile scooter accident lawyers at Dean Waite & Associates, LLC can fight for your rights every step of the way. We know how to find the evidence you need to build a strong legal case, whether it’s reviewing your official accident report, interviewing witnesses or consulting with accident reconstruction experts. We know what it takes to win tough cases.
Discover what we can do for you. Contact our law firm and schedule your free case evaluation with an Alabama scooter accident lawyer you can count on in a crisis. Schedule an appointment at our Mobile law firm today.