Motor scooters aren’t quite as powerful as motorcycles and can move much faster than bicycles, but they’re just as street-legal in many places as either of those two vehicles. You also have the same right to be safe on the road while riding a motor scooter as you have while on or in anything else with wheels and an engine. That legal right means you may be able to file suit against anyone who causes you to get hurt in a traffic collision while you’re on your scooter.
That said, personal injury lawsuits are hardly ever simple or straightforward in Pennsylvania, and that’s particularly true for claims built around Vespa/motor scooter accidents in Norristown. If you want a fair shot at getting paid for the injuries and losses you’ve sustained, speak with one of our experienced motorcycle wreck attorneys at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers as soon as possible after your crash.
How Valuable Could a Motor Scooter Crash Lawsuit Be?
Like with any other personal injury claim, the financial value of a motor scooter injury claim will depend mainly on two things:
- What specific “damages” you’ve suffered from your injuries, and
- Whether you hold any “comparative fault” for causing those injuries.
Through a comprehensive lawsuit or settlement proposal, it’s possible to recover for both short and long-term effects of a Norristown motor scooter wreck, including:
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Mental anguish and suffering
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Lost work wages
- Medical bills and personal property damage—including scooter repair/replacement costs—that insurance hasn’t already paid for
However, suppose a court decides that you’re partially at fault for your moped accident happening in the first place. In that case, your final damage award—or whatever settlement offer you get from an insurance company—will be reduced based on the percentage of “comparative fault” assigned to you. Even worse, if you’re found to hold more than 50% of the total fault for your crash, you likely won’t get any money at all through a civil claim, even if someone else was also partially at fault.
Legal Time Limits for Vespa Accident Claims
As if all that weren’t enough, you’ll also need to contend with the “statute of limitations” if you want to sue over a motor scooter injury in Norristown. Under Pennsylvania law, you’ll rarely have longer than two years at the absolute most to file suit after you first get hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.
Two years might sound like a long time to you now, but that time can pass shockingly quickly while you’re recovering from a serious injury and trying to collect evidence to build a strong case around. Hiring and working closely with our skilled attorneys can be key to making the most of your time and maximizing your chances of getting a positive case result.
Contact a Norristown Attorney for Help After a Vespa/Motor Scooter Accident
Drivers who cause accidents by breaking traffic laws or doing something else irresponsible behind the wheel can be held responsible for the negative effects of those accidents. Whether you were on a motor scooter, bicycle, motorcycle, or anything else, “negligence” could be the basis for a lawsuit that gets you paid fairly for every form of harm the crash has left you with.
Vespa/motor scooter accidents in Norristown are much easier to handle with support from seasoned legal counsel. Call today to learn how an attorney from Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers can help you.