Motor scooters and mopeds have become increasingly popular options for people in urban areas like Reno who want to travel short distances without paying a premium for gasoline or needing to park a passenger car at their destination. However, just like motorcyclists and bicyclists, motor scooter riders who operate their scooters on public roads are subject to all the same rules and regulations for vehicular traffic that everyone else is.
Importantly, they also have the same right to seek financial restitution if they get hurt in a wreck caused by someone else, whether it comes through a civil lawsuit, an insurance claim, or a combination of both. That said, many people who try to pursue compensation over Vespa/motor scooter accidents in Reno by themselves get stymied quickly by the various restrictions placed on these claims by state law. Working closely with a dependable motorcycle accident lawyer can be key to achieving the best possible resolution from this sort of case.
Motor vehicle drivers owe the same duty of care to everyone else on the road with them, which means they are expected to obey traffic laws, pay attention to nearby traffic, and generally act like a reasonable person at all times while driving. If a driver instead acts unlawfully or irresponsibly behind the wheel and collides with a motor scooter as a direct result of their misconduct, that driver has met all the criteria for legal negligence and can be held financially accountable for losses stemming from that collision.
Compensable damages after a Reno moped accident can include, but are not strictly limited to:
A capable legal professional can provide custom-tailored guidance about what losses should be incorporated into a specific claim and what amount of money should be demanded for each of them.
Legal counsel can also help contest accusations made by the person at fault for a motor scooter injury in Reno that the injured scooter operator contributed to causing their own injuries through their own negligent conduct. This can be important because of the modified comparative fault system outlined in Nevada Revised Statutes § 41-141.
Under this section of state law, anyone found to hold a percentage of the total fault for their own accident is subject to a proportional reduction in the value of their final damage award. For example, someone found 20 percent at fault for their own injury could only recover for 80 percent of their ensuing damages. On top of that, anyone found to hold more than 50 percent of the total fault for an accident is barred from recovering any civil compensation for injuries caused by that accident, even if someone else was also partly to blame for it.
The comparative fault rule is just one of the many legal and procedural roadblocks you may run into if you try to file suit over a Vespa/motor scooter accident in Reno. However, if you first seek help from a dependable legal representative, you will be able to more effectively navigate around these obstacles and give yourself a better chance of obtaining the restitution you need.
A conversation with a skilled lawyer can provide answers to important questions and confidence about the next steps you should take to enforce your rights after a wreck. Call today to schedule a meeting.
(775) 789-4944