Scooters of all shapes and sizes have become a popular and cheap way to get around. When used for commuting they often beat travel times to and from work compared to ordinary four wheeled vehicles. Scooters are not known for their safety features. They tend to be quite unstable and easily topple over when hit by larger vehicles. In some instances, scooters may be harder to see for drivers of certain commercial vehicles. If you have been hit by a truck, you may be lucky to escape without serious injuries. Talk to a personal injury lawyer about claiming compensation if you believe you are entitled to a claim.
Claiming Damages if Hit by a Mail Truck While on a Scooter
It will be important to determine what you need to claim after an accident on a scooter. The most important damages claimed in a personal injury claim are for what are termed ‘economic damages.’ These are the easiest to work out in money terms and can be relatively easily be quantified by receipts and invoices. The three main economic damages are:
- medical costs
- loss of earnings
- any damage done to property, most importantly the scooter you were riding
The most difficult aspect when quantifying economic damages is when the injuries sustained are long term or permanent. This could affect your ability to return to work and may even mean you are unable to work at all. You could be in need of medical support, surgery, rehabilitation or long term support if your injuries are hard to fully repair, e.g. brain injury or spinal injury. It is important to get an experienced lawyer to calculate your future needs.
‘Non-economic damages’ are the other main component of a personal injury claim and may amount to a larger final figure than the economic damages. The most common type of non-economic damages is a payment to compensate for the pain and suffering caused.
How Fault Might be Determined after a Scooter Accident
Determining fault is often the most difficult aspect of filing a compensation claim. It is vital that proof is available to show that someone’s negligence was to blame for your injuries. Typical evidence includes:
- witness reports at the scene of the collision
- photographic evidence
- any other evidence obtained at the crash scene such as damage to the scooter and the mail truck
- the police report made at the scene of the crash
- any other evidence that might implicate the other driver such as a breath test or proof that he or she had been working for longer hours than allowed
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer if Injured on a Scooter Due to Another Road User’s Negligence
One of the more difficult factors to deal with when hit by a commercial driver is that the company is likely to have a sophisticated system in place that will help to minimize or evade claims of negligence against it. The postal service insurer will not pay compensation unless evidence is convincing and may try and put blame on you, the scooter driver. You are strongly advised to seek advice from an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as your injuries allow.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer
The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against FedEx, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
