Scooter, E-Scooter & Moped Accident Attorney Near You

Injured? Discuss Your Legal Rights with a Tampa Scooter Accident Lawyer for Free

As scooters and electric scooters (e-scooters) become increasingly common, so do scooter and e-scooter accidents. These accidents can result from a variety of different causes; and, if you’ve been injured in an accident, determining the cause of the accident will be one of the first steps toward filing a successful claim. This involves hiring a Tampa scooter accident attorney to conduct a thorough investigation.

We represent victims in motorized scooter and e-scooter claims throughout Florida. We handle moped accident claims as well. Accidents involving scooters, e-scooters, and mopeds can leave victims suffering from serious injuries—and these injuries can lead to substantial economic and non-economic costs.

Scooters are two-wheeled or three-wheeled devices with a foot pedestal (the “deck”) and a handle attached to a vertical pole. While scooters used to be primarily used as toys, they have also become popular as a means of transportation in recent years—especially in urban areas and beach towns.

E-scooters have electric motors that propel them forward. Rather than using their feet to push off of the ground, e-scooter riders have a speed controller on the handle. Typically, this operates similarly to the throttle on a motorcycle, with the rider twisting one of the hand grips to drive the e-scooter forward. Due to the growth in popularity of e-scooters, many companies now offer short-term rentals in major cities like Tampa. These companies include:

• Bird
• Jump
• Lime
• Lyft
• Skip
• Spin
• Uber

Mopeds are also two-wheeled transportation devices. However, they can be distinguished from scooters by two main characteristics: First, mopeds generally have a seat, whereas scooter riders stand on the deck. Second, mopeds typically have larger gas or electric engines, which typically means that they can reach higher speeds than scooters as well.

Segway is the brand name of a self-balancing transportation device that became popular around 2010. Today, Segway sells several types of transportation devices, including e-scooters, e-mopeds, and even golf carts and e-bikes. It still sells its self-balancing devices as well, and it describes these as “self-balancing scooters.” Thus, when most people refer to “a Segway,” they are referring to an e-scooter.

Regardless of whether you are riding a Segway, Vespa, or any other type of scooter, e-scooter, or moped, you face injury risks every time you hit the road (or the sidewalk). If you need a scooter injury lawyer or moped accident lawyer in Tampa, you are not alone. Accidents are extremely common; and, while some of these accidents are fairly minor, many result in serious injuries.

Some of the most common causes of scooter, e-scooter, and moped accidents include:

• Car and truck driver negligence (i.e., speeding and distracted driving)
• Poorly marked crosswalks
• Poorly timed stoplights and crossing signals
• Hazardous sidewalks and roads
• Inadequate rental e-scooter maintenance
• Scooter and moped malfunctions
• Lack of safe pedestrian and bicycle lanes

Regardless of why a scooter, e-scooter, or moped accident happens, it can have serious consequences. Riders usually have little (if any) protection, and the result of an accident can cause serious external and internal trauma. These accidents commonly result in injuries such as:

• Back and spinal cord injuries (SCI)
• Broken and dislocated bones
• Burns (including burns from road rash)
• Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Nerve and soft tissue (muscle, ligament, and tendon) damage
• Severe cuts and bruises

Florida has several laws that apply to scooter, e-scooter, and moped accidents. One of the most important of these laws is Florida’s law on general negligence.

In Florida, individuals, companies, and government agencies all owe a duty of care to avoid causing unnecessary accidents and injuries. What exactly this duty means varies in different circumstances; but, as a general rule, if a person or entity causes an accident that could—and should—have been avoided, that person or entity can be held liable for the victim’s injuries.

This applies to scooter, e-scooter, and moped accidents. If you were injured in an accident that was a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to just compensation for your injury-related costs. As we discuss below, these costs (your “damages”) can take several forms, and they can add up to make it well worth hiring a Tampa scooter injury lawyer to file a claim.

Another important law in scooter, e-scooter, and moped accident cases is Florida’s law on “modified comparative negligence.” This law took effect in 2023. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, you may recover a portion of your losses if you were 50% or less at fault in an accident; but, if you were more than 50% at fault, you are not entitled to any financial compensation.

Due to Florida’s new modified comparative negligence law, insurance companies will try to blame scooter, e-scooter, and moped accident victims for their own injuries in many cases. Overcoming these allegations requires clear evidence of liability; and, to make sure you have the evidence you need, you should hire a Tampa scooter accident lawyer as soon after your accident as possible.

Speaking of the insurance companies, recovering just compensation for a scooter, e-scooter, or moped accident involves filing an insurance claim in most cases. Auto liability policies cover these accidents, and companies’ and government agencies’ insurance policies cover accident-related injuries as well.

If you have auto insurance and you have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage under your policy, you may be able to use this coverage if you don’t have any better options. At least one Florida court has held that UIM insurance covers e-scooter accidents in certain scenarios. When you speak with a Florida scooter accident attorney at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk about your case, your attorney will carefully examine all of your options for seeking just compensation.

No matter what type of claim (or claims) you can file, there are some important steps you need to try to take after a scooter, e-scooter, or moped accident in Florida. To protect your legal rights, you should:

• Get Medical Treatment – Getting the treatment you need (and having a doctor document your injuries) is important for protecting your health and your legal rights.
• Take Notes – Write down everything you can remember about the accident. The more details you can write down, the better.
• Talk to a Tampa Scooter Lawyer – Scooter and moped accident cases present some unique challenges, so it will be important to have an experienced lawyer on your side.

When you hire a Tampa scooter crash lawyer at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk to represent you, your lawyer will use his or her experience to carefully calculate the damages you may be entitled to recover. Florida law allows scooter and moped crash victims to seek just compensation for all of their injury-related losses, including common losses such as:

• Medical expenses (current and future)
• Other out-of-pocket costs (current and future)
• Loss of income (current and future)
• Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma
• Permanent scarring, disfigurement, and disability
• Loss of companionship, consortium, services, and support
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Your injuries could prove incredibly costly, and you may be entitled to financial compensation if someone else is to blame for your accident. An e-scooter accident lawyer in Tampa can investigate to determine if you have a claim; and, if you do, your lawyer can calculate just compensation and fight to obtain a settlement or verdict on your behalf.

What if you were injured while riding as a passenger on a scooter, e-scooter, or moped? In this scenario, your legal rights are exactly the same as if you were the driver. If someone else (including the driver) is responsible for your injuries, you have the right to recover just compensation under Florida law.

When Florida’s comparative fault law changed in 2023, so did the state’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Time can pass quickly, and hiring a lawyer as soon as possible will give you the best chance to seek the financial compensation you deserve.

Are you entitled to financial compensation for your scooter, e-scooter, or moped accident in Florida? Contact us to find out. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call 866-921-3219 or request an appointment online today.