Savannah Scooter Accident Lawyer

It seems like just a few years ago, rental scooter companies like Bird and Lime popped up completely overnight. Now, they are in Savannah and almost every major city in the country. While they provide a new way to travel through the city, many drivers have not yet adapted to the new normal and do not provide scooter riders with the care that they deserve. This is dangerous because scooters do not have airbags or other means of protection for riders. Additionally, riders are rarely required to wear protective equipment. This creates a perfect storm for catastrophic injuries that can alter one’s life in the blink of an eye.

If you have been injured while riding a scooter, you may be confused and hurt. However, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other expenses you have incurred. For a free consultation with a highly experienced Savannah scooter accident lawyer, call the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm today at 912-341-6644. 

Why Scooter Accidents Happen

Scooter accidents can happen without warning, even when riders are careful. Everyday conditions throughout Georgia can create danger for riders who rely on scooters for convenience or quick transportation. Common causes include potholes, uneven pavement, slippery surfaces after rain, distracted drivers, sudden door openings from parked vehicles, and problems with rental applications or battery-powered devices. Any of these issues can turn what feels like a simple ride into a fall that causes significant harm.

Scooter accidents often result in injuries that require serious medical attention. Road rash can lead to infection if not treated quickly. Bone fractures may limit mobility for weeks or months. Head injuries can affect concentration, vision, and balance. Back and spinal injuries often require long-term therapy or surgery. Internal injuries may not be visible at first but can become emergencies without proper diagnosis. Victims frequently face hospital visits, imaging scans, stitches, casts, and ongoing treatment that affects the way they work, rest, and carry out daily responsibilities.

The attorneys at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm understand how disruptive these injuries can be. Our team carefully records what happened, collects medical documentation, and communicates with experts who can explain the impact of your injuries. This detailed approach helps ensure that your physical pain and long-term needs are recognized.

Daily Challenges After a Scooter Crash

Life after a scooter crash often feels unfamiliar. Something as simple as getting out of bed, preparing meals, or moving around the house can take more effort than expected. Injured riders may spend weeks relying on crutches, braces, or walking boots. Pain medicine schedules interrupt normal routines. Transportation becomes harder because scooters are no longer an option and rideshare costs add up quickly.

It can also be difficult to return to work. If you work at a job that requires physical labor such as standing or lifting, you may not be able to return to work for a very long time, if at all. Even sedentary jobs that require long periods of sitting and typing can be difficult to perform after a scooter accident. You may need accommodations such as flexible scheduling, reduced hours, ergonomic assistance tools, new job duties, or perhaps retraining for an entirely new profession.

Sleep routines often suffer as well. Pain or stiffness can make it difficult to rest at night. A lack of quality sleep slows down healing and affects daily mood and energy. Social life may also change because recovery brings fatigue and limited mobility. Events with friends or family may be postponed or avoided entirely.

Long-Term Costs That Many Riders Overlook

A common challenge in scooter accident cases is the gap between what an insurance adjuster sees on a bill and what a victim experiences in real life. Insurance companies often focus on the earliest expenses such as ambulance transport or emergency room visits. They may overlook the many months of recovery that follow. These long-term costs may include follow-up appointments, therapy sessions, hardware removal, scar treatment, future surgeries, psychological treatment for trauma, and long periods without income.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm takes a detailed approach to accounting for these losses. Our team consults with surgeons who can explain whether hardware or pins might need to be removed later. We speak with rehabilitation specialists who estimate how many therapy sessions will be needed for a full recovery. We calculate the cost of transportation and temporary mobility options while your scooter is unavailable. We also consider the rising cost of future medical care and the risk of complications that may develop over time.

Differences Between Rental Scooter Claims and Personal Scooter Claims

Scooter accidents do not all follow the same legal process. A claim involving a rental scooter from a company may have different requirements than an accident involving your own scooter.

For rental scooters, there may be issues involving maintenance, battery problems, application errors, or defective parts. The company may have failed to maintain the device properly or allowed a malfunctioning scooter to remain available for use. There may also be digital evidence such as ride logs and app screenshots that show what happened.

How Insurance Companies Try To Deny Scooter Crash Cases

Scooter accident claims often involve several insurance companies at once. A rental company may claim limited coverage. An auto insurer may deny a claim by arguing that there was no contact between the car and the scooter. A health insurance company may attempt to recover bills through subrogation. These layers of insurance can create confusion and delay.

Companies may also blame the rider for violating rental terms, riding in the wrong place, or failing to wear a helmet. They may minimize injuries or offer low settlements before the full medical picture is clear. Some companies may even withhold maintenance logs or data that could prove negligence.

Relevant Georgia Laws Scooter Riders Ought To Know

Georgia law treats many electric scooters similarly to bicycles and sets specific rules to protect riders and the public. Riders under the age of sixteen must wear helmets. Adults are not required to wear helmets, but the use or nonuse of protective gear may affect how fault is assigned in a claim.

Speed limits apply to scooters, and certain areas restrict where scooters may be ridden. Riders must follow the same rules that apply to other vehicles when it comes to signaling, yielding, and avoiding impaired riding. The rules related to driving under the influence also apply to scooter riders.

Rental companies must follow city requirements regarding fleet maintenance and safety. They may not rely on broad contract waivers to avoid responsibility for their own careless actions. Georgia follows a comparative fault system, which means that if a rider is found partially responsible for a crash, the recovery amount may be adjusted. Our attorneys analyze these laws carefully to counter blame-shifting tactics from companies or insurers.

Why Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Is Prepared for Scooter Cases

The highly experienced Savannah scooter accident lawyer team at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has spent decades protecting Savannah residents’ legal rights and ensuring that they get the full legal compensation that they deserve following an injury. We are locally based and know the streets and roads of Savannah well. We also have a good working relationship with the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and the Savannah Police Department, which means we can get direct access to police officer testimony and accident reports. We have tried and won numerous cases in Savannah and throughout Georgia, which is why Savannah residents call Merritt & Merritt Law Firm when they have been injured.

Types of Compensation Available

A successful scooter accident claim may include recovery for medical expenses, missed income, future earnings, pain and suffering, property replacement, and the cost of transportation while you are unable to use your scooter. In some cases, punitive damages may be available if the negligent party acted with extreme carelessness such as driving drunk.

Our team works to capture the full impact of your injuries on your independence, confidence, and daily life. We build a claim that reflects both the physical harm and the emotional strain caused by the accident.

Support and Guidance While You Heal

After a scooter accident, your priority should be on healing, not negotiating with pushy insurance adjusters or worrying about legal deadlines. That is why the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm handles all aspects of your case when you partner with us. We understand that a scooter injury case is about more than just getting compensation, which is why our attorneys help promote an environment that allows you to get the rest and relaxation that injured people deserve.

Moving Forward After a Scooter Accident

If you were injured in a scooter accident, you should seek legal help as soon as possible. Evidence can disappear in the course of days or weeks, making it much harder to prove the cause of your injuries.

To get help enforcing your legal rights and getting the full legal compensation you need, call the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Savannah scooter accident lawyer at 912-341-6644 today.