Did you suffer serious injuries in a moped scooter accident in North Las Vegas? Chances are likely that you have a lot of questions about what comes next. Do you have the right to file a scooter accident claim for compensation? What should you do next?
Reach out to Pacific West Injury Law as soon after your accident as possible to connect with an experienced scooter accident attorney in North Las Vegas. Our team can answer key questions about your accident and your claim.
When Do You Have the Right to File a Scooter Accident Claim in North Las Vegas?
You have the right to file a scooter accident claim if you were the victim of an accident caused by another party’s negligence or willful act. The type of claim you will file will depend on the damages you suffered.
Someone Else’s Negligence or Willful Act Caused Your Scooter Accident
If you have a moped scooter accident while driving down the road because you grew distracted and failed to notice a hazard in front of you, you may not have grounds for a scooter accident claim.
On the other hand, if your accident occurred because of someone else’s negligence or willful act, including another driver who pulled out on top of you or failed to safely share the lane, you may have the right to compensation for your injuries.
You Suffered Serious Injuries in the Accident
If you suffer a scooter accident that results primarily in damage to your scooter, you do not need to file a personal injury claim. You can–and should–move forward with a property damage claim that will help you repair or replace your scooter. However, you do not have to worry about a personal injury claim unless you sustained injuries in the accident.
How Much Compensation Should You Expect After a Scooter Accident?
Our North Las Vegas scooter accident lawyers cannot guarantee the compensation you will receive after your accident. How much money you will ultimately recover depends on several factors, including who caused your accident and how much auto insurance protection they carry.
There are many types of damages you will potentially be eligible to recover. Here are further details about three of the most common types of damages claimed in personal injury lawsuits.
Medical Costs
Most often, the medical bills associated with your scooter accident will form the foundation of your personal injury claim. If you sustained severe injuries, including multiple broken bones, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injuries, you may have high, ongoing medical expenses.
Since the goal of a personal injury claim is to provide you with compensation for the losses you faced due to someone else’s negligence, your scooter accident claim will start by seeking compensation for those medical bills. You can get coverage for the bills you are currently facing as well as medical costs you will face in the future.
Lost Wages
Serious injuries obtained in a scooter accident can interfere with your ability to work for a long time after your accident. In fact, some scooter accident injuries can permanently prevent you from going back to your former job. The longer you have to miss work because of your injuries, the more compensation you can claim for lost wages.
If you cannot go back to your former profession at all, you may have the right to include compensation for lost earning potential as part of your claim.
Pain and Suffering
In addition to compensation for tangible financial losses after your scooter accident, you may have the right to claim compensation for the physical and emotional anguish you faced. Scooter accident injuries may cause considerable physical pain.
In addition, you may find yourself dealing with immense emotional suffering, including difficulty adapting to the challenges you now face, an overall loss of enjoyment of life, or lost relationships due to the injuries you sustained.
Do You Really Need a Lawyer to Handle a Scooter Accident Claim?
The decision to hire an attorney is a highly individual one. Many people have a range of reasons why they assume they do not need an attorney. You may worry that hiring an attorney will substantially increase the cost associated with your claim or feel that you do not really need an attorney to manage your claim.
In reality, however, you should always connect with a personal injury attorney following any type of accident that resulted in severe injury. An attorney offers a number of advantages as you move forward with your claim:
- Establishing liability: An attorney can help investigate your claim and identify all liable parties. Did you know that more than one party may bear liability for your scooter accident and that identifying multiple liable parties may help increase the compensation you can recover for your injuries?
- Determining your case’s value: Working with an attorney can give you a better idea of the compensation you really deserve after your moped scooter accident. Some insurance companies may attempt to minimize the compensation they pay out and may even try to convince you to accept a low settlement offer.
- Reducing your stress: You may find that using an attorney to handle your claim can help reduce your overall stress since you will not have to deal with attempting to fight a complicated legal case on your own. That way, you can take the time you need to recover from your injuries.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Scooter Accident Attorney in North Las Vegas?
Hiring a North Las Vegas scooter accident attorney to help manage your claim may prove more affordable than you think. First, most personal injury attorneys start with a free consultation: a chance to review your accident and your injuries and determine whether you may have grounds for a claim.
Next, personal injury attorneys frequently accept claims on a contingency fee basis. Instead of paying upfront for the legal services you need, payment will be taken as a percentage of the settlement the attorney helped you recover.
Often, working with an attorney actually increases the compensation you can recover from scooter accident injuries–which means that in the end, it could cost more to handle your claim on your own.
Should I Accept a Settlement Offer?
While most scooter accident lawsuits end up settling out of court, that does not mean you should take the first settlement offer you receive. In fact, the first offer from an insurance company will likely be for a fraction of the true value of your claim.
The best way to ensure you get the money you deserve in a settlement agreement is by hiring an experienced scooter accident lawyer who has a proven track record of negotiating substantial settlements for their clients.
You also need to ensure that your scooter accident lawyer in North Las Vegas has experience litigating cases as well. While a settlement is often preferable, you need to be ready to fight it out in court if necessary. Having a lawyer with an established record in courtroom trials will make the opposition more willing to present a fair settlement deal.
Make Sure to File Your Lawsuit on Time
When planning to file a lawsuit after a scooter accident, it is critical that you pay attention to the statute of limitations. In Nevada, accident victims have two years to file a lawsuit against the liable party under NRS § 11.190. If you fail to file before the two years are up, you could find that you are no longer eligible to recover compensation for your damages.
However, it is essential to note that the statute of limitations is not inflexible. Special circumstances may apply to your case, which could allow you to file your lawsuit well past the end of the standard two-year limit.
At the same time, you may find that the specifics of your case further limit the amount of time you have to file, and you actually need to file your lawsuit within months rather than years. By hiring an experienced scooter accident lawyer shortly after your crash, you can ensure that all deadlines are met and your right to fight for compensation is protected.
If You Need a North Las Vegas Scooter Accident Attorney, Call Us
If you suffered injuries in a scooter wreck, do not try to handle your claim on your own. Instead, contact Pacific West Injury Law today to learn more about the compensation you may deserve. A North Las Vgas scooter accident lawyer can listen to your story, help you build a claim, and guide you on the path to maximum compensation.
