Scooter Accident Lawyers

Kraemer, Manes & Associates LLC “KM&A” is a personal injury law firm with scooter accident lawyers serving all of Pennsylvania. If you or a loved one have been involved in a scooter accident involving serious personal injury, or you have lost a loved one from an accident, we invite you to contact us for a consultation. Call a KM&A scooter accident lawyer at 412-626-5626 or email us at lawyer@lawkm.com.

When the weather warms up and summer approaches many people look for alternative ways to travel around the city and enjoy the warm weather. Bicycles, mopeds, and scooters will begin to pop up all around Pittsburgh. Combine the nice weather, rising gas prices and new initiatives for bike trails, it only makes sense that scooters and mopeds are a popular choice for transportation around the city. However, along with this rise in scooter ridership comes an increase in scooter-related accidents and injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a scooter accident, you will need an attorney who understands how the law allows you to be compensated for those injuries. At Kraemer, Manes and Associates LLC we have a team of attorneys and legal professionals who are experienced in scooter and other vehicle related accidents and who are ready to step in and fight for what is owed to you.

Risks Associated with Scooters

When driving in a car, truck, or other automobile, the occupants are generally protected from forceful impacts with air bags, seat belts, and crash-resistant frames. However, by their very nature, scooters are not equipped with many of the safety features that larger vehicles have. When riding on a scooter the driver is much more exposed to injury from impacts with obstacles and other vehicles. Helmets and safety gear may save your life, but they may not save you from broken bones, concussions and other serious injury. Scooters leave drivers especially vulnerable as there is a high risk that a small impacts could lead to serious injuries or even death.

What is the Cause of Most Scooter Accidents?

Scooter accidents are primarily caused by two primary sources, obstacles in the roadway and other vehicles on the roadway.

Obstacles

Scooter Accident Lawyer: 412-626-5626

Obstacles pose a risk to all drivers, regardless of the vehicle. However, because scooters are much smaller and usually only have two wheels, they are much more vulnerable to obstacles that would not pose a risk to cars and other larger vehicles. Some common obstacles that may cause scooter accidents are:

• Potholes, large and small
• Objects in the roadway
• Uneven pavement
• Puddles
• Oil slicks

These obstacles, along with others, may result in serious injury for scooter drivers. Kraemer, Manes and Associates LLC has the experience needed to ensure that you are made whole for the injuries and damage to you and your scooter.

Other Vehicles

Other drivers on the road pose a serious threat to scooter drivers. Scooters are often not seen by drivers of cars, SUVs, and trucks because they are not either looking for them or because they are smaller than other vehicles. This negligence by other drivers poses a serious threat to scooter riders. Whenever there is an impact between a car, SUV, or truck, serious injury is almost inevitable for the driver of a scooter. Many drivers also take a aggressive attitude towards scooter riders which further increases the dangers scooters face on the roadways.

Who is at Fault for a Scooter Accident?

While each scooter accident is different, there are various entities and individuals who may be at fault for the accident. Other drivers may be at fault for the scooter accident based on their negligence. In addition to other drivers, in some cases you may be able to hold the designer or manufacturer of the scooter responsible for your injuries. You may even be able to find liability for a person or entity that created an obstacle that caused your accident. Two primary legal theories will underlie the claim to hold the other party or parties responsible for the injuries from the scooter accident: negligence and products liability.

Negligence

Under a negligence theory, a party that placed an obstacle in the road or another driver who collided with you may be held liable for your injuries. Negligence requires that you show the party at fault had a duty to behave in a safe manner and that they breached that duty when they either drove recklessly or placed an obstacle in the road that caused your injury. For example, a construction crew who dangerously allowed rubble to lay in the road that a scooter ran into could be found to have negligently created a dangerous obstacle. Additionally, a driver who was speeding around a corner when they rear-ended a scooter may be found negligent and held responsible for the injuries and property damage that result. In some cases even a city or municipality may be found negligent for allowing a pothole to lay unrepaired when a scooter driver ran into it and subsequently crashed. An experienced injury attorney at Kraemer, Manes & Associates LLC will be able to make the case that these parties were negligent in causing your injuries and hold them responsible to compensate for the harm caused.

Products Liability

In addition to holding other drivers, or people who obstructed the roadway, responsible for the injuries caused, the scooter driver may also be able to hold the designer and manufacturers of the scooter responsible for damages. If the scooter was designed and sold with a defect, and that defect contributed to the injuries, the designer and manufacturer will be responsible for a portion, if not all, of the injuries and the costs associated with them. For example, if a defective bolt causes the wheel to spin off your scooter while you are riding it and you crash into a guardrail, the designers and manufacturers will be held responsible. Designers and manufacturers have a duty to design and sell safe products, and if they sell a defective product that causes you injury, the attorneys here at Kraemer, Manes and Associates LLC will fight for you to ensure that they are held responsible for their actions.

What to do if you are Hurt in a Scooter Accident

1. If you are involved in a scooter accident, the first thing you should immediately do is ensure that you are not in risk of further injury. If possible, move to the side of the road/away from the flow of traffic.
2. You should contact the medical professionals following the accident. You may not be aware of injuries you have sustained in the immediate aftermath of the accident, Time is of the essence when serious injuries have occurred so do not hesitate in dialing 911 and get help on the scene as soon as possible.
3. You should also be sure to contact the police, as they will be able to secure the scene and assist further with any necessary medical assistance. Additionally, the police report of the accident can be crucial to the successful litigation of your case further down the road.
4. Do not admit fault to an insurance company or anybody else at the scene of the accident. Fault can be determined at a later time, so if anybody asks you, decline to answer the question. Any issues of fault should not be discussed until you are represented by an attorney and have an attorney present at the time.
5. Assess the scene of the accident and take photographs if you are able to. All evidence that can be documented at the scene of the accident can contribute to the strength of your case farther down the road.
6. Contact a qualified accident and scooter attorney such as the attorneys at Kraemer, Manes and Associates LLC. They will be able to advise you of any other steps going forward and they can protect you from taking any missteps when speaking to an insurance company or other party involved in the accident investigation.

Compensation That May be Available to You

There are several different types of compensation that will be available to you if you were injured in a scooter accident. You may be able to recover the costs of your medical bills along with any future medical costs related to the ongoing treatment of a crash-related injury. Compensation for pain and suffering may also be available along with compensation for a decrease in your quality of life or even the loss of companionship or the affections of others. Also, you will be able to recover any lost wages if you were forced to miss time at work due to the injury. Other damages in addition to the ones mentioned here may be available and the attorneys at KM&A will secure any and all compensation that you may have a right to.

Ways to Stay Safe on a Scooter

There are many safety precautions that a scooter rider can take in order to stay safe and help prevent accidents. The following are a set of actions a scooter rider should be sure to follow to make sure they are safe on the road:

Scooter Accident Lawyer: 412-626-5626

• Always wear a helmet while riding.
• Wear a reflective vest and place reflective lighting on your scooter when riding at night.
• Strictly adhere to proper signaling of stops and turns.
• Obey the speed limit.
• Stay out of the blind spots of other motorists.
• Use caution at all turns and intersections.
• Pay close attention to the actions of drivers around you as it may be difficult for them to see you.
• Keep both hands on the handlebars and both feet on the platform.
• Do not drive recklessly or attempt to push the limit with your riding skills.
• Drive with a defensive posture and stay aware of your surroundings.

What the Attorneys at KM&A Can Do for You

Scooter accidents are serious. A minor bump from another vehicle or a small pothole on the road can lead to significant injuries for scooter drivers. KM&A can guide you through the complicated web of insurance companies, police reports, and legal proceedings that you will need to navigate in order to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Remember, many insurance companies are more interested in protecting their bottom line than getting you the money and care that you need to cope with the results of an accident. Here at KM&A we are dedicated to getting each and every one of our clients the compensation they deserve. Dedication, passion, and knowledge of scooter injuries sets the attorneys at KM&A apart from the pack. Contact Kraemer, Manes & Associates LLC to have skilled attorneys on your side, fighting for you.

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