Scooter Accident Lawyer West Palm Beach

The e-scooter phenomenon is rapidly spreading across the United States, and West Palm Beach is no exception to the cities that are trying to understand the proper way to regulate these ride-sharing options such as Lime and Bird. The West Palm Beach board voted in October 2019 to approve electric scooter usage in the downtown area but is taking a special interest in rider safety pertaining to things like helmets, proper operating areas, storage, and more. These safety measures will be an important step to ensuring that scooter users in and around West Palm Beach can stay safe while keeping those around them safe as well, but these steps are not a certainty of safety by any means. 

If you choose to use these new, convenient transportation methods, then it is very important that you understand the rules and regulations that you must adhere to in order to ensure that you are operating within the legal guidelines set forth for your own safety. These rules and regulations, and your adherence to them, will be central in any case that may result from you being unfortunately injured in a traffic accident while riding an e-scooter.

Read more below to get a general idea about how scooter accidents have been handled thus-far in personal injury cases, such as how damages are calculated and how fault is determined. Keep in mind that your situation will vary depending on a variety of specific details, in which an attorney will be able to help you navigate towards a positive outcome. 1-800-Injured has a referral network of proven, aggressive personal injury attorneys who are ready to take your case today. Contact us now begin working with a scooter accident lawyer as soon as possible. All consultations are free.

Scooter Accident Statistics in West Palm Beach

Since e-scooters are a very new transportation method in Florida, there are very limited statistics for the specific locale. However, the following national trends may provide you with some insight into how we can expect this situation to unfold in West Palm Beach. 

According to a recent study published in JAMA Surgery, scooter injuries increased by 222% between 2014 and 2018, an alarming but somewhat unsurprising increase given the growing prominence of such transportation options across the country. During this same time, hospital admissions for scooter-related injuries increased by 365% to almost 3,300 hospital stays. Between 2017 and 2018, injuries nearly doubled from 8,016 to 14,651. 

While there is no way to truly anticipate what the statistics may look like in West Palm Beach by extrapolating from these national trends, it can be expected that e-scooter injuries will show a significant increase as they become more common.

Calculating Damages and Determining Fault In a Scooter Accident

Damages

Calculating damages after a scooter accident is similar to any other type of personal injury case, meaning that the victim will seek compensatory damages broken up by economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include all measurable expenses like medical costs, income-based impacts, and more. Non-economic damages seek compensation for things like the actual pain and suffering that a victim will endure as a result of their injuries. 

Each of these damages requires a different approach, but an experienced lawyer like the one you will be connected to through 1-800-Injured will be able to identify the most appropriate methods for calculation and maximizing your settlement amount. 

Determining Fault

After a settlement amount has been determined, there is still one more calculation that will determine the final amount of money that a victim will ultimately receive: comparative negligence. Essentially, the courts will determine the percentage that a victim contributed to the accident, and ultimately reduce their settlement amount by that percentage. 

For example, if you are injured and your final settlement is calculated to be $200,000 including both economic and non-economic damages, but you were found to be 30% responsible for the crash, then your settlement will be reduced by 30%, or $60,000, meaning that you will have a final settlement of $140,000. It is very important, therefore, that your attorney is aggressive and firm about finding and agreeing on a reasonable degree of negligence for your case so that you get the money you truly deserve.