Motorized Scooter Accidents in Florida

Attorney with client, discussing personal injury lawsuit.

Motorized scooters are a convenient way to travel short distances without a car. Unfortunately, however, riding a motorized scooter is not without its hazards. Motorized scooters offer little protection to riders, placing them at risk of serious injury in the case of an accident. Luckily, if you’ve been injured in a motorized scooter accident in the state of Florida, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you pursue financial compensation for your injuries. In this article, we examine motorized scooter accidents in Florida. 

What is a Motorized Scooter? 

Under Florida law, a motorized scooter is a device:

  • That is powered by a motor;
  • With or without a saddle or seat;
  • That travels on less than three wheels at speeds of under 20 miles per hour. 

This definition includes many widely available rentable electric scooters, including Razor, Bird, Lime, and Lyft.

Obtaining Compensation for a Motorized Scooter Accident

Motorized scooter accidents are usually the result of negligence. In Florida, a person who is injured due to another’s negligence may file a lawsuit against the negligent party. To prove that a motorized scooter accident was the result of another’s negligence, an injured person must prove the following: 

  • The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of reasonable care;
  • The defendant breached this duty of care;
  • The defendant’s breach was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries; and
  • The plaintiff suffered damages and losses due to his or her injury.

An injured party who successfully demonstrates that another party’s negligence caused his or her injuries may be eligible for significant financial compensation. 

Comparative Negligence in Florida

Under Florida’s comparative negligence system, although an injured party may be eligible for financial compensation when another party’s negligence is involved, the injured party’s own negligence can affect this amount. With comparative negligence, if an injured party is at all responsible for his or her motorized scooter injuries, the court will reduce his or her damages by the percentage of fault it assigns to him or her. Luckily, however, a plaintiff’s own negligence does not completely bar his or her ability to recover damages in a personal injury case in Florida.

Contact a Pensacola Motorized Scooter Accident Attorney 

If you’ve suffered injuries in a motorized scooter accident in Pensacola, Florida, or elsewhere in Northwest Florida, you need an experienced Florida motorized scooter accident attorney on your side. Located in Pensacola, Florida, Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., has over seventy years of combined experience representing accident victims in Florida. When you come to us for assistance with your motorized scooter accident case, our experienced attorneys will do everything in our power to ensure that you obtain the financial compensation you deserve. So, if you’ve been harmed in a motorized scooter accident, please contact our office today to schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable and talented attorneys.

Posted in: Personal Injury