Scooters offer motorists a fuel-efficient, cost-effective alternative to driving a traditional vehicle, so it’s no wonder why there are an increasing number of scooters on the road in San Francisco.
Although these smaller vehicles provide people with convenient parking and are better for the environment, they also carry certain risks. If you’re involved in an accident, you may face severe injuries, and unlike conventional vehicles, scooters don’t offer you the protection of an external frame. Even a minor fender bender can lead to permanently disabling injuries.
One serious case we handled at Sally Morin involved a van striking an electric scooter. The e-scooter motorist suffered a severe knee injury that left him with costly medical bills. Fortunately, we were able to get him the money he deserved for his scooter wreck.
Here’s what you need to know about scooter accidents in San Francisco and recovering compensation.
Dangers of Riding an E-Scooter in San Francisco
The number of scooters on San Francisco’s roads has increased dramatically in recent years, and, unfortunately, the number of scooter accidents and serious injuries has also spiked.
According to a study conducted by the University of California-San Francisco, scooter-related injuries increased by 222% from 2014 to 2018, and the total number of injuries during that four-year period was 39,000. Additionally, scooter-related hospitalizations increased by 365%.
Although scooter riders are sometimes at fault for accidents, many scooter collisions result from another driver’s negligence. When a scooter wrecks with another vehicle, it’s especially dangerous for the scooter motorist because other vehicles are significantly larger and weigh significantly more than the average scooter.
In our recent scooter case, a van struck our client when entering a parking garage located on 8th Street. Our client rode his scooter legally in the protected bike lane, but the van made a sudden turn into his path when attempting to park.
The collision fractured our client’s left patella in multiple places, requiring expensive reconstructive surgery with screws. Unfortunately, the injury also resulted in him developing a blood clot in his leg.
Luckily, we won our client a $200,000 settlement to pay for his overwhelming medical bills.
Recovering Compensation After a Scooter Accident
If you suffer from a personal injury caused by another motorist, you have every right to seek compensation for your property damage, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
In order to receive the money you deserve, you need to be able to prove that the other driver was liable and that the wreck directly resulted in your injuries.
After suffering from a scooter accident, you need to take immediate steps to ensure your safety and personal injury claim:
- Call 911: You need to receive medical assistance at the scene of the accident, and you should continue receiving care from a doctor. Otherwise, an insurance company may argue that your injuries weren’t serious.
- Gather photographic and video evidence: If you’re physically able, you can take pictures and videos at the scene of the accident. Additionally, you can collect camera footage from nearby traffic cams and surveillance cameras. You’ll need a lawyer to subpoena the footage.
- Collect eyewitness testimonies: If anyone witnessed the wreck, collect their account of events. Also, make sure to write down their name and contact information.
- Contact a scooter personal injury attorney: Although you aren’t required to enlist the services of a lawyer to file a personal injury claim, a seasoned San Francisco personal injury attorney can help you prove your claim.
In addition to a negligent driver causing your wreck, a third-party company could also be liable. For example, the van that struck our client was owned by a third-party company. Although the company denied liability, the attorneys at Sally Morin were able to prove that the company was responsible for their driver’s actions.
Don’t Go It Alone After Your Scooter Accident
If you’re involved in a scooter accident, you may feel overwhelmed, but you need to take immediate action after your accident to increase your likelihood of recovering damages. Fortunately, you can call Sally Morin to fight on your behalf every step of the way.
After his accident, our client felt incredibly stressed and overwhelmed about his case. He was unsure about his rights in recovering damages. We enabled our client to focus on his recovery rather than a drawn-out legal dispute. Within only a year, we were able to get him the money he deserved, and we maximized the amount he received.
Were you injured in an accident in San Francisco? Call Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers at 877-380-8852, or click here for a free case evaluation.
