Scooter Accident in Tampa: Who to Blame?
Electric scooters have become the latest mode of transportation to disrupt how people travel and have also attracted their fair share of controversy over the last couple of years. Tampa city officials recently launched an electric scooter pilot program which is supposed to put around 1,800 scooters on Tampa’s streets.
City officials have allowed the scooters to be used in a small 12 square mile area of the city, mainly downtown Tampa south of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Tampa’s electric scooter program was recently in the news, due to an accident in which an e-scooter rider was struck by a semi-trailer truck.
Opponents of scooters have long argued that they are quite unsafe, and the popularity of scooters has sparked debate over the safety of these new means of transport. E-Scooters are a recent phenomenon, so we don’t have enough data to definitively say whether they are safe or not.
What are the Common Causes of Scooter Accidents in Tampa?
Scooter accidents can be caused by several different factors. The following are some of the most common causes of scooter accidents in Tampa:
- Manufacturing defects,
- Riding without proper training
- Riding the scooter too fast
- Performing reckless tricks
- Failure to observe traffic signals while crossing the street
- Riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Riding on a public road or highway against regulations
- Riding the scooter with too many people
- Failing to yield for pedestrians
Who is to Blame if You Got Involved in a Scooter Accident?
Under Florida law, a person responsible for an accident is held liable for all the damages that occurred due to the accident. If a person riding the scooter is held responsible, then he will be responsible for the damages. If someone else such as a pedestrian, or vehicle driver is responsible for the accident, then the scooter rider can claim compensation for the damages or injuries.
Although, preliminary research suggests that mostly scooter riders are responsible for the accidents. Oftentimes, it may be the other way around as accidents involving electric scooters and other vehicles are also common.
If an accident is caused due to a manufacturing defect in the scooter, then the manufacturer may be held liable for the accident. In such a case the scooter company has to pay the damages awarded in an electric scooter accident lawsuit.
How to Get a Compensation if You Got Injured?
You can bring a lawsuit against the person responsible for the accident under Florida law and get compensation for the injuries suffered in the crash. You can claim compensation for the following types of damage:
- Present and future medical bills
- Damage to your personal property
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitative costs
- Pain and suffering
- Lifestyle changes after the accident
- Loss of relationships
Get the Help of a Tampa Injury Attorney
Accidents involving electric scooters are quite complicated as there are several legal nuances, including the definition of what qualifies as a scooter. You will most probably need the help of an experienced Tampa Injury Attorney to file a lawsuit.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case. You may also call us at (727) 498-8771 and speak with one of our attorneys.