Have you been hurt while riding an electric scooter in Lancaster, PA? If so, a Lancaster electric scooter accident lawyer can explain your legal rights. You might be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering.
The legal team at Marzzacco Niven & Associates consists of highly experienced accident attorneys. We have been helping clients since opening our doors in 2008, and we’ve acquired tens of millions of dollars in the process.
Contact our law office at (717) 616-2954 to set up a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.
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How Can Marzzacco Niven & Associates Help Me Get Compensation After an Electric Scooter Accident in Lancaster, PA?
Marzzacco Niven & Associates understands the ins and outs of electric scooter accidents. Our lawyers can help you recover money for medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, and pain and suffering. Thanks to our 120+ years of combined experience in personal injury law, we have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients.
Each electric scooter accident case is different.
When you hire us to represent you after an electric scooter accident in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, we will:
- Find out what caused the accident
- Identify who is responsible
- File an insurance claim
- Negotiate with the defendant and insurance companies
- Provide legal advice
- Calculate your damages
- Collect evidence to support your case
- Keep track of deadlines and paperwork
- File a personal injury lawsuit when necessary
Our Lancaster personal injury lawyers will take every step required to get you compensated. We know that your case is different from all the others. Winning will take a rock-solid strategy tailored to your needs.
Don’t risk hiring a lawyer that will treat your e-scooter case as run-of-the-mill. Call our office to set up a free consultation with an experienced Lancaster e-scooter accident lawyer.
What Are the Electric Scooter Laws in Pennsylvania?
To legally operate a motor scooter (also known as a “motor-driven cycle”) on roadways, Pennsylvania law requires you to title and register it with the Commonwealth. To do this, you must meet the state’s equipment and inspection requirements. Additionally, you must have insurance and a valid driver’s license.
The catch is that most e-scooters don’t have the necessary equipment to pass an inspection.
Therefore, if you want to buy a motor scooter for use on Pennsylvania roads, you need to ensure:
- That it has a manufacturer’s certification label indicating that it meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)
- That the certification label is easily readable, located on a permanent part of the scooter, and placed near the handlebars
Additionally, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation notes that even if the scooter meets all requirements, it may not be appropriate to operate on all streets. For example, if it cannot maintain a high enough speed on a certain road, it cannot be used because it will impede traffic.
You are prohibited from riding an e-scooter on Pennsylvania sidewalks.
Why Are Electric Scooters Dangerous?
Electric scooters are fun and convenient, but they can be dangerous. It may seem obvious, but e-scooters are only balanced on two wheels. Even though they are low to the ground, it’s easier for a scooter to lose balance and fall over. The wheels are often smaller and less capable of enduring bumps and potholes in the road.
Furthermore, electric scooters rarely have safety features that protect the rider. There are no turn signals or automatic-braking mechanisms. While some electric scooters are limited in how fast they can go, nothing is protecting a rider from being thrown from the scooter and onto the concrete or oncoming traffic.
Many people don’t even wear helmets when riding. They might not have any formal training or experience riding a scooter. They may not even possess a license. As a result, the riders are less likely to follow the rules of the road and may act unpredictably around cars, bikers, and motorcycles.
Electric Scooter Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
Electric scooter accidents can result in catastrophic injuries, similar to, if not worse than, a car accident.
In our experience, electric scooters most commonly cause:
- Broken bones
- Brain injuries
- Sprains and dislocated joints
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (including paralysis)
- Ankle and feet injuries
- Amputation
- Burns
- Crushing injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Facial injuries
- Back injuries
In the most severe cases, the injuries may become fatal.
More often than not, our clients have a combination of injuries that make their cases more complex. We will work with your doctors and treatment teams to understand your injuries and the treatment plan going forward. This helps us to be the best legal advocate possible and fight for the resources you need to heal.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Electric Scooter Accidents in Lancaster, PA?
There is no singular cause of electric scooter accidents in Lancaster.
However, in our experience, some of the most common causes include:
- Distracted driving
- Obstructions in the road (like potholes or debris)
- Snow and ice on the road or sidewalk
- Drunk drivers
- Inexperienced drivers
- Unsafe lane changes
- Unsafe left turns
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Speeding
- Defective scooters
- Lack of bike lanes
In most cases, our Lancaster personal injury attorneys can determine what caused the accident. We can do this by collecting evidence and even consulting expert witnesses. We must understand how the accident happened to determine who is responsible.
Once we find out who is responsible, we can file an insurance claim or lawsuit, depending on the specifics of the case.
Many of our clients are overwhelmed by their injuries after an accident. It’s helpful to have a lawyer who can investigate the crash while you focus on healing. Call our office to learn more about how we can help you recover compensation.
Is the Electric Scooter Rider Always At Fault For Causing an Accident?
Electric scooter riders in Lancaster, PA may find themselves in a difficult situation after an accident. Even if you aren’t responsible for causing a crash, harsh electric scooter laws may make it difficult for you to recover compensation.
The electric scooter rider is often determined to be at fault. However, other parties may be responsible for causing or contributing to an electric scooter accident.
This could include:
- Drivers
- Bicyclists
- Pedestrians
- The City of Lancaster
- Property owners
Our Lancaster electric scooter accident attorneys will investigate all potentially liable parties and seek compensation when and where appropriate.
Will I Lose My Case If I Am Blamed For Causing My Electric Scooter Accident in Lancaster?
If you are blamed for causing the electric scooter accident in Lancaster, you may lose your right to recover money. However, that’s not always the case.
In personal injury cases, Pennsylvania’s modified comparative fault law applies. As long as you are less than 51% responsible for causing an accident, you can recover compensation. If you are 51% or more responsible for the crash, you are completely barred from recovery.
Our lawyers will work as hard as possible to minimize your apportioned fault for the accident. If we win, you can recover proportionate damages. That means you will recover damages minus the percentage that you are at fault.
For example, if you are 30% at fault, you will recover 70% of your damages.
What Damages Are Available After an E-Scooter Crash in Pennsylvania?
There are several different types of damages available in a Lancaster e-scooter crash case. This may include economic damages, non-economic damages, or even punitive damages.
Economic damages are financial losses that happen due to an accident. You can usually prove this type of damage through bills, invoices, and bank statements.
Examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Doctors visits
- Physical therapy
- In-home nursing care
- Cost of pharmaceuticals or medical devices
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Lost employment benefits
Non-economic damages are usually called pain and suffering. This is payment for your emotional losses after an accident.
In an electric scooter accident case, this might include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- The onset of mental illness (like anxiety or depression)
In rare cases, you may be awarded punitive damages in an electric scooter crash case. Punitive damages punish the defendant for particularly bad behavior. This form of damages is only available if the defendant acted willfully or with malice, oppression, an evil motive, or reckless indifference to others’ rights.
Call our office to learn what damages may be available in your case. We can calculate your case value so that you have an idea of what you might recover.
Call a Lancaster Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer To Schedule a Free Consultation
We know that the e-scooter laws in Pennsylvania can be confusing. If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, it’s frustrating to think that you might have limited options.
Our Lancaster e-scooter accident attorneys at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you understand your legal rights. We won’t sugarcoat your case and will work as hard as possible to get what you deserve.
Call our law firm to set up a free consultation. There are no strings attached. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means we won’t get paid unless we win your case.
Visit Our Law Office in Lancaster,PA
Marzzacco Niven & Associates
2173 Embassy Dr Ste 123, Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 616-2954