As electric scooter rentals continue to rise in prominence along with a variety of other micro-mobility options, it is a certainty that accidents involving these electric scooters will increase as well. St. Augustine and other cities across the country have begun to get access to Bird, Lime, and other scooter rental companies, commuters will need to discover how these transportation methods are best utilized safely and efficiently to handle these micro-mobility options, and while that adjustment period is happening it is likely that there will be a significant increase in electric scooter accidents.
If you or a family member have been involved in an electric scooter accident, it is important that you partner with a St. Augustine motorcycle accident lawyer who is familiar with these cases to help you get the care and compensation that you deserve. Since this is a somewhat “gray” area legally since the devices are so new, you may find that insurance companies are resistant to accept liability on their client’s behalf after an accident, or may try to pin additional blame on you unnecessarily.
Read more below to get a general idea of why it is important to work with a St. Augustine personal injury lawyer after one of these accidents and contact our award-winning firm as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation and learn how we can move forward together towards an outcome you deserve.
What To Do After an Electric Scooter Accident
After any accident, the most important thing to do is to prioritize your health and safety. Stay calm at the scene of the accident, and call 911 immediately so that the first responders can arrive and take control of the situation. If the person who caused the accident tries to get you to not call 911, do not listen – you will benefit from having the St. Augustine police department, firefighters, and EMTs at the scene to make sure that you get the attention that you need.
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See a Doctor Immediately
If you do not take an ambulance to the emergency room, you will want to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician immediately so that you can get medical care, and start to establish a record of your injuries. Without legitimate proof of injuries, the insurance company will not pay you for the associated damages. Many times, people may think that their injuries are not major enough to warrant a trip to the doctor because they will heal on their own, and while your injuries may not need any sort of invasive surgery or serious medical treatment, you will still want to be sure that they are documented.
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Hire a Lawyer
Once you have addressed your medical needs, you will want to hire an attorney to help you through the legal process that you will need to go through in order to get the money that you deserve. Insurance companies are notoriously difficult to work with when you are trying to get a fair settlement, although they are typically very easy to work with if you simply go along with their wishes. Your attorney will calculate the damages that you rightfully deserve, and will negotiate aggressively on your behalf for a fair settlement. While they are handling the administrative work, you can focus on your recovery.
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Accept a Settlement or File a Lawsuit
Once your attorney has gone through the process of negotiations, you will need to choose to either settle your case or to move forward with a lawsuit in the Florida courts. This is an extremely personal decision that will be discussed in great detail between you and your attorney over the entirety of your work together, and there will be pros and cons to consider for each of them. However, either of these decisions will be much better than simply accepting the initial offer from the insurance company without taking any steps towards negotiating.
Contact the Team at Fasig | Brooks Today
The sooner you contact our firm, the sooner we will be able to begin building a comprehensive case for you after your St. Augustine electric scooter accident. We understand that the first days and weeks after any accident can be overwhelming, which is why it is so important to partner with a lawyer early in the process – you will be able to focus on your own personal needs and physical recovery, and we will be happy to put your mind at ease about the many unknowns in your future related to your insurance claim.
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