Electric scooters are popular forms of transportation. However, electric scooter accidents can cause severe injuries and substantial damages. If you were injured on an electric scooter in Carlisle, PA, you could be entitled to compensation for your damages.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our Carlisle personal injury attorneys have extensive experience representing injured victims. Since we opened the law firm in 2008, we have recovered millions for our clients. Let us help you recover the money you deserve after an electric scooter crash.
Contact our law firm for a free consultation with one of our Carlisle electric scooter accident lawyers or call at (717) 995-8732. We are available 24/7 to help you with your case.
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How Our Carlisle Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You’ve Been Injured in an Electric Scooter Accident in Pennsylvania
Proving liability for a Carlisle electric scooter accident can be challenging. Insurance companies and at-fault parties often blame the rider for causing the accident, even when the rider is an innocent victim. Therefore, you need experienced lawyers working to prove you did not cause the wreck.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our lawyers have more than 120 years of combined experience in personal injury matters. We are a top-rated personal injury law firm. Our attorneys have received numerous awards and recognition for their legal expertise from organizations including Best Lawyers, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, U.S. News, and Super Lawyers.
When you hire our award-winning personal injury lawyers in Carlisle, we’ll handle all matters related to your case, including:
- Investigating the cause of your electric scooter accident
- Identifying all parties who could be liable for damages
- Documenting damages and calculating the value of your personal injury claim
- Working with leading experts as needed
- Monitoring deadlines and handling the filing of all documents required for insurance claims and personal injury cases
- Aggressively negotiating a personal injury settlement that compensates you fairly for damages
- Filing a lawsuit when necessary and taking the case to court
Our Carlisle electric scooter accident attorneys will pursue all claims and sources of compensation for your case. We won’t stop fighting until we exhaust every possible means of getting you more money.
Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced electric scooter accident lawyer in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Overview of Pennsylvania Electric Scooter Laws
An electric scooter or motor scooter is also known as a motor-driven cycle under Pennsylvania law. You must title and register your electric scooter with the state to legally operate it on roadways. Riders are required to have a valid driver’s license and insurance.
Before registering and titling your scooter, you must meet the state’s inspection and equipment requirements. Unfortunately, many electric scooters do not meet these requirements. So, if you want to operate your scooter on the road, you should research the requirements and compare them to the scooter you want to own before purchasing it.
No scooters are allowed to be driven on sidewalks in Pennsylvania. Violating Pennsylvania e-scooter laws could cause problems with an injury claim and could impact your right to compensation for damages.
What Are the Common Causes of Electric Scooter Accidents in Carlisle, PA?
Many of the same reasons people crash electric scooters are the same reasons people crash cars. Negligence is a common reason for Carlisle scooter accidents. However, other factors can contribute to the cause of a scooter crash.
Common causes of electric scooter accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Inexperienced riders
- Potholes and road conditions
- Driving under the influence
- Defective scooters
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failing to follow traffic laws
- Speeding
You must prove that another party caused the accident. If not, you cannot hold that party liable for your damages.
Our lawyers will gather evidence to prove your case, including:
- Copies of accident reports and police reports
- Videos of the crash from traffic cameras, dash cams, and surveillance systems
- Testimony from the parties involved in the crash
- Physical evidence from the accident scene
- Medical records and statements from physicians
- Testimony from eyewitnesses
- Reports and conclusions from expert witnesses
- Photographs taken at the accident scene
Determining the cause of the scooter crash is essential to obtaining compensation for your injuries. Riders are not the only ones who cause electric scooter accidents. Motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, property owners, and the City of Carlisle could be liable for damages.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Carlisle Electric Scooter Accident?
You should be able to claim compensatory damages from the party who caused your accident. These damages include economic and non-economic damages.
Examples of damages in an electric scooter accident claim include:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Mental anguish and emotional suffering
- Lost wages and decreases in earning capacity
- Diminished quality of life
- Long-term care
- Impairments, disfigurement, and disabilities
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
In cases where a person acted with malice, evil motive, oppression, or reckless indifference, a jury might award punitive damages. However, punitive damages are only awarded in a small number of personal injury lawsuits.
The amount you receive for a scooter accident claim depends on the facts of your case. You might not receive as much money for your claim if you are partly at fault. However, if you sustain severe injuries, the value of your claim could increase.
Our Carlisle electric scooter accident lawyers will diligently document each of your damages to maximize the value of your claim. We’ll work to recover compensation for all your damages.
What Happens if I’m Partially to Blame for a Scooter Accident in Carlisle, PA?
Pennsylvania operates under a modified comparative fault law for personal injury claims. Each party is responsible for the damages they cause based on their level of fault for the accident. Therefore, if you are not at fault, you should be able to seek full compensation for all damages.
However, if you are partially to blame, your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if a jury determines you are 30% to blame for causing your electric scooter accident, you can only receive 70% of the award for damages.
Furthermore, Pennsylvania sets a 51% bar. If you are more than 50% to blame for the accident, you receive no money for your damages.
Contributory fault is often used to avoid liability for claims, even when the victim is not at fault. Before you talk with an insurance adjuster or accept liability for an accident, reach out to our Carlisle personal injury attorneys for a free consultation.
Why Are Electric Scooter Accidents So Dangerous in Carlisle, PA?
An electric scooter is smaller than a motorcycle. It is hard to see, especially in traffic. Therefore, motorists might not see the scooter until it is too late to avoid a crash.
The small size of a scooter also makes it harder to control in some situations. Potholes, cracks, and ice can cause the driver to lose control and crash.
Also, riders have no protection from injuries in an electric scooter accident. They can be thrown from the scooter, crushed under a vehicle, or slammed against an object. Therefore, scooter accidents pose a high risk of catastrophic injury and wrongful death for riders.
Common Injuries Caused by E-Scooters in Carlisle
A rider can suffer multiple injuries from an accident while on a scooter.
Examples of electric scooter accident injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Amputations
- Abrasions and lacerations
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Ankle and foot injuries
Seek immediate medical treatment after an accident on an electric scooter. Delays in medical care can give the insurance company a reason to dispute your claim.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Carlisle Personal Injury Lawyer for an Electric Scooter Accident Case?
It is understandable that you are worried about how you can afford to hire a Carlisle electric scooter accident attorney. However, we want to put your worries to rest. It does not cost any money upfront to hire our lawyers.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our personal injury attorneys work for a contingency fee. We agree to accept a percentage of the amount we recover for your injury case. Therefore, we are not paid until we win your case.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Electric Scooter Accident Cases in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a two-year deadline for filing most personal injury claims based on negligence. If you miss the deadline, the judge can dismiss your case.
Exceptions to the statute of limitations and the circumstances of your case could change the filing deadline for your claim. Therefore, prompt legal advice is the best way to protect your right to pursue your claim in court.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Carlisle Electric Scooter Accident Lawyers
Do you have questions about a claim after an electric scooter accident? If so, call our law office to request a free case review with an experienced Carlisle electric scooter accident attorney. You should not bear the burden of an accident or injury you did not cause.