What Do After a Scooter Accident in New Orleans
Electric and gas scooters are popular these days. They’re fun, affordable, and environmentally friendly. However, the popularity of scooters means there are more severe accidents. Scooter accidents are happening more often. JAMA Surgery reported that the number of e-scooter injuries in the US climbed from 4,582 in 2014 to 14,650 in 2018.
Imagine if you’re hit by a driver when you’re on your scooter. You could be left with devastating injuries and a pile of medical bills. And you may not be able to work for months. What would you do?
Below are essential steps to take if a driver hits you on your scooter. For more information, call a personal injury lawyer in New Orleans today.
Get Immediate Medical Attention
After an auto accident, it’s essential to be seen by a doctor. But when you’re on a scooter or motorcycle, getting immediate medical attention is critical.
You are entirely exposed to the violent forces of the collision on your scooter. You probably will be thrown off the scooter. You could slam into the vehicle that hit you, the ground, or both. There is a high probability you have serious injuries, which might include:
- Broken bones
- Head trauma
- Back injuries
- Cuts and scrapes
- Internal injuries
- Joint injuries
Some scooter injuries may be apparent right away, but not always. For example, you could have internal bleeding or a concussion that you don’t notice for a day or two. That’s why it’s essential to get medical attention right away.
The doctor will document all your injuries and ensure you get the treatment you need. Also, documenting your injuries immediately will help your personal injury attorney file a successful claim or lawsuit.
Obtain the Police Report
The police should respond to the scooter accident. So you should ask for a copy of the police report at the crash scene. But if you’re too injured, you can contact the police later to receive a copy. You also can usually order a police report copy online.
Even if you’re still in the hospital, now is the time to contact a scooter personal injury attorney. The sooner you get a lawyer the better. Even if the other driver was at fault, you still could say something that hurts your case. Therefore, you should only discuss the issue with your attorney present.
Remember to choose an attorney with a lot of personal injury experience, ideally in scooter and motorcycle accident cases.
Additional Scooter Accident Tips
After you have had medical attention and retained a lawyer, we recommend these guidelines:
- Don’t provide the other insurance company with a recorded statement unless your attorney is there.
- Don’t talk about your scooter accident on social media.
- Provide all of your medical bills and other accident-related documents to your attorney.
- If you are seriously injured and will miss a lot of work, give your attorney as much information about your job and salary as possible. Loss of future earnings can be a large part of a personal injury settlement.
Call Us Today to speak with a New Orleans Personal Injury Lawyer
A scooter accident can leave you with debilitating injuries, medical bills, and lost wages. Egenberg Trial Lawyers can help you get compensation for your damages and other losses. Contact us today at (504) 229-2863.