San Diego Scooter Accident Lawyers

Scooter Accident Attorney in San Diego, CA

After a scooter accident in San Diego, injury victims may recover compensation by filing a claim against negligent drivers or other parties. Instead of negotiating a settlement on your own for a low settlement amount, work with a scooter accident lawyer in San Diego to recover the compensation you deserve.

The lawyers at Rawlins Law have years of experience with scooter and other vehicle accidents. We can represent you in a scooter accident case to help recover compensation from negligent parties, depending on the circumstances of your case.

San Diego Scooter Accident Guide

• Scooter Accident Compensation
• Why Scooter Accidents Occur in San Diego
• Common Types of Scooter Accidents and Injuries
• Negotiating Scooter Accident Claims With Insurers
• What to Do After a Scooter Accident in San Diego
• Consult an Experienced Scooter Accident Attorney in San Diego

Why Turn to the San Diego Scooter Accident Attorneys at Rawlins Law?

At Rawlins Law, we have decades of collective experience handling various types of motor vehicle accidents.

Over the years, we have collected millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, with case results such as:

• $100,000 for an accident involving minor vehicle damage and a fully recovered client
• $900,000 for a car accident injury victim requiring surgery
• $500,000 for a rear-end accident resulting in injuries requiring surgery

While we can’t guarantee the compensation you can recover for your claim, our lead attorney, Ashley Rae Rawlins, and the Rawlins Law team can guarantee dedication toward getting you what you deserve. We’re known for our personalized representation, and our convenient location makes us accessible to most clientele in and around San Diego. Even if you cannot visit our offices in person, we offer virtual meetings to keep our services accessible and reliable.

With the help of Rawlins Law and our team of experienced attorneys, you’ll be able to spend more time recovering from your injuries. Regardless of where your scooter accident occurred, we’re here for you as soon as you need us.

Schedule a free consultation with our lawyers today to learn about your options and find out how we can help.

Scooter Accident Compensation

Following a scooter accident, you may be able to seek different types of compensation for your injuries and other damages if another party is liable. The amount of compensation you’re able to recover will depend on certain factors that influence your case, including the severity of your injuries and whether one or more parties were liable.

The three main types of compensation you may recover include economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. Understanding these differences and how they work can help you determine how they’ll affect your case.

Economic Damages

Scooter accidents, like other types of vehicle accidents, often involve a variety of economic or special damages. These are the different types of financial losses people suffer because of their injuries and other damages resulting from the accident.

Some examples of economic damages include:

• Medical bills for treatment
• The cost of an ambulance ride
• Lost income and earning capacity
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Vehicle damage and other property damage
• Modifications made to the home to accommodate disabilities, such as ramps for wheelchairs

Non-Economic Damages

Injury victims in scooter accidents may also be able to recover certain non-economic damages, also known as general damages. These are subjective and apply to the victim’s experience regarding pain and suffering after an accident. They’re not as easy to calculate as economic damages, but there are ways to quantify them when calculating compensation.

Examples of non-economic damages could include:

• Physical pain
• Psychological distress
• Post-traumatic stress and trauma
• Disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of companionship

Punitive Damages

Scooter accidents resulting from gross negligence or malicious intent may also lead to punitive damages. While economic and non-economic damages aim to compensate the plaintiff in a scooter accident case, punitive damages exist to punish defendants for their behavior. The court may award these damages to prevent the defendant and others from behaving similarly.

At Rawlins Law, we can identify all damages pertaining to your case and help calculate them. To build your case, we can collect evidence supporting your claim or lawsuit and seek full compensation from all liable parties.

Why Scooter Accidents Occur in San Diego?

Like many other large cities, San Diego is the site of many types of accidents, including scooter accidents. Over 5,000 vehicle accidents occur in San Diego every year involving injuries and fatalities, according to recent crash data.

While the city legalized scooters some time ago, drivers don’t always look for them—and what drivers don’t see, they might hit.

The high traffic levels and the many busy intersections and roads increase the risk of a scooter accident, especially during rush hour when people commute in and around the city.

According to Circulate San Diego, some intersections in San Diego are more dangerous than others:

• 4th Avenue and B Street Downtown
• University Avenue and 52nd Street, City Heights
• Coronado Avenue and Thermal Avenue, Nestor/Egger Highlands
• El Cajon Blvd. and 36th Street, North Park
• 6th Avenue and Broadway, Downtown
• Euclid Avenue and Naranja Street, Encanto
• 5th Avenue and B Street, Downtown

Remember that you only have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit after a scooter accident in San Diego. This time limit is called a statute of limitations, which gives you a specific amount of time until you can no longer use the court system to pursue compensation.  California’s statute of limitations gives you only two years from the accident to file a lawsuit. With the help of a San Diego Scooter accident lawyer at Rawlins Law, you can successfully file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires.

Over the years, Rawlins Law has developed into a strong and reliable law firm in San Diego. Our attorneys have experience handling scooter accident cases and other types of cases involving motor vehicles. We know how these cases work and the different factors that can affect them.

Common Types of Scooter Accidents and Injuries

Several types of common scooter accidents in San Diego include:

• Scooters colliding with vehicles. In some accidents, a vehicle might hit a scooter. Causes could include distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding that put motorists and pedestrians at risk.
• Avoiding hazards in the road. Scooter accidents could result when a scooter rider attempts to avoid a hazard in the road, such as a pothole or debris blocking their path.
• Scooter malfunctions. Motorized scooters could experience malfunctions that cause the rider to lose control and crash. In these cases, the manufacturer of the scooter may be liable.
• Scooter accidents involving pedestrians. In some cases, pedestrians may get involved in accidents with scooters. For example, they might cross the street and not notice a scooter approaching or trip over an unattended and parked scooter on a sidewalk.

In any of these accidents, victims may suffer:

• Broken or fractured bones
• Lacerations and road rash
• Strains and sprains
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

Negotiating Scooter Accident Claims With Insurers

If you or a loved one gets involved in a scooter accident, you may want to file a claim against the liable party’s insurance company. During negotiations, it’s important to remember that insurance companies and adjusters aren’t on your side. They may appear helpful and seem to want to provide you with a fair settlement, but insurance companies typically want to avoid paying out as much as possible. They’ll try to find any reason to make a low offer or deny your claim, making it crucial to support your case during negotiations.

At some point, insurance companies may make an offer that seems fair, but you might be able to recover more compensation and not know it. To help you determine how much compensation you actually deserve, consider consulting with a reputable scooter accident lawyer in San Diego who can calculate your losses and negotiate a truly fair settlement.

In addition to fighting for a fair settlement, an attorney can help you avoid making any statements during negotiations that could otherwise harm your case. For example, some claimants may admit they were at fault in an accident, even if they aren’t. They may also fail to include all of the details of the accident and relay how it occurred.

The skilled lawyers at Rawlins Law will be able to help you negotiate with insurers following a scooter accident or any other type of vehicle accident. Our firm can handle the legal battle so you’ll be able to focus on recovering from your injuries and spending time with loved ones.

What to Do After a Scooter Accident in San Diego

Following a scooter accident in San Diego, you must take steps to build a strong case and get full compensation from any liable parties behind the accident. The first step you should have taken is to seek medical treatment for any injuries, which can help you get started on the recovery process and collect medical records that serve as evidence in your case.

After getting treatment and beginning your recovery, the following steps are critical:

Gather Evidence to Build Your Case

It would be best if you began collecting as much evidence as possible to support your claim or lawsuit.

After a scooter accident, there are many types of evidence you can collect, including:

• Photos and video recordings of injuries and other physical damages
• Witness statements
• Damaged scooters or other vehicles
• Police reports
• Records of lost income and work absences
• Vehicle maintenance records
• Calls to local authorities
• Medical records and receipts

You may also be able to gather evidence that proves certain non-economic damages. For instance, you can keep a pain journal that documents your daily experience living with pain and suffering as you recover.

If you can’t obtain any of this evidence on your own, an attorney can help do this for you. Your lawyer can get in touch with police, witnesses, and others who can provide you with helpful documentation to build a solid case.

Stick to Your Doctor’s Recommendations

After seeking treatment and your doctor gives you advice, you must adhere to this advice and follow your treatment plan. Failure to do so could compromise your case as insurers believe your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim them to be.

Avoid Social Media

During your recovery and negotiations, staying off social media platforms is also best. Saying the wrong thing or posting images of yourself that contradict your claims could hurt your case, and insurers are likely to look at your social media profiles when investigating your claim.

Keep a Copy of All Receipts

You should keep copies of all receipts for expenses applicable to your case, including medical bills and repairs to scooters or other vehicles. These can further support your claim and serve as evidence of all damages resulting from the accident.

Once you gather as much documentation as possible to support a case, bring it to the legal team at Rawlins Law. We can also help you collect any evidence you cannot gather on your own.

Consult an Experienced Scooter Accident Attorney in San Diego

Following a scooter accident, connect with our attorneys to discuss your accident and a potential case. The experienced and knowledgeable lawyers at Rawlins Law can determine what options you have and may be able to provide representation to prepare your case, negotiate with insurers, and go to court if necessary.

Do you want to find out whether you have a viable case we can handle? Speak with our attorneys in a free consultation and find out what we can do for you. You can schedule a free consultation by calling our offices at (858) 529-5872 or contacting us online.