Because of Florida’s often sunny and warm weather, drivers have a number of vehicles to choose from to get around. You are not confined to traditional vehicles or even motorcycles. Many Floridians and tourists use motorized scooters and motor scooters. If you are in an accident with one of these vehicles, or while riding one of them, you should speak with a scooter accident lawyer in Miami right away. Gerson & Schwartz lawyers are experienced accident attorneys and will investigate the facts of your accident, gather evidence, and determine how to pursue compensation for your injuries. If you are facing allegations of being negligent yourself, our attorneys at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. will determine the best way to defend against these allegations or mitigate their impact on your claim. The Miami personal injury law offices of Gerson & Schwartz have been helping victims in Miami Dade County for over 4 decades. We won’t hesitate to bring your case to court, if a fair settlement offer is not made.
To learn more about you rights and options after a motor scooter accident in South Florida, call us today at (877) 475-2905.
Florida Motor Scooter LawUnder Florida Statutes Section 316.003(44), a “motorized scooter” is any vehicle that has three or fewer wheels, cannot move faster than 30 mph on level ground, and does not have a seat or saddle. When a similar vehicle has a seat or a saddle, it is called a “motor scooter.”
Motorized scooters that do not have a seat or saddle cannot be used legally on the streets or sidewalks. You need to have a license to operate a motorized scooter, technically, but it does not have to be registered and you do not have to wear a helmet.
A motor scooter is another matter. A motor scooter with a seat or saddle can be operated on Florida roads so long as it is properly registered, you have title and a license plate, and you have a license. While you can ride the scooter around locally, you cannot take it on the highway.
Your motor scooter will be deemed a moped under Florida Statutes Section 316.003(4) if it has pedals to permit propulsion by human power, has a seat or saddle for the rider, is designed to operate on fewer than three wheels, and has a motor rated less than 2 brake horsepower and no capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed greater than 30 mph on level ground. The internal combustion engine’s displacement cannot exceed 50 cubic centimeters.
It is also important to note that a motor scooter differs from a motorcycle in terms of its capacity for speed. A motorized vehicle with three or fewer wheels that has an engine over 50cc is considered a motorcycle.
If you were in an accident with a motorized scooter, motor scooter, or moped, do not hesitate to call our motor scooter accident lawyers in Miami for help. We will review the entirety of the circumstances to determine whether the other party was following the law. If they violated Florida’s motor scooter law, this may be evidence of negligence. Or, if you were struck while on a motor scooter, we may be able to show that you were entirely within the law and were hit by a negligent driver.
Types of Motor Scooter Accidents We HandleAt Gerson & Schwartz P.A., our personal injury or wrongful death lawyers have served in the capacity as:
If you were injured in a crash involving a motor scooter, do not hesitate to call our Miami motor scooter accident attorneys for help. Our bilingual personal injury and wrongful death lawyers are here to guide you through the insurance claim and litigation process and fight hard for you to receive compensation for your injuries.
Common Motor Scooter AccidentsLike motorcycles, motor scooters are at a disadvantage on the road. They are much smaller than vehicles, which makes it all too easy for drivers to overlook them. Because drivers often fail to see motor scooters, this increases the risk of left-turn accidents, right-turn accidents, and intersection collisions in Miami. Unprotected left turns are particularly dangerous. A motor scooter may be moving through an intersection and a vehicle that does not see it could make a left turn, colliding directly with the scooter and its driver or impeding the scooter’s path.
Another common motor scooter accident is being rear-ended in Miami. Motor scooters can only move up to 30 mph, and vehicles that are moving faster may not realize how slow the scooter is moving. A speeding driver may not be able to slow down in time to avoid a rear-end collision. Also, a driver now paying close enough attention may not see a scooter stopped at a red light or stop sign and may rear-end it.
Motor scooters are small enough to hide in a vehicle’s blind spots. This can lead vehicles to change lanes into motor scooters leading to Miami sideswipe accidents and driven-off-the-road accidents.
Another issue is that parked vehicles may not look out for oncoming motor scooters and open their doors into the scooter’s path.
If you were injured while riding your motor scooter in Florida, and you believe it was a driver’s fault, contact our motor scooter accident attorneys in Miami as soon as possible.
Let Us Help You After a Motor Scooter AccidentYou may have suffered serious injuries in a motor scooter accident in Florida, such as severe road rash, broken bones, whiplash, a traumatic brain injury, a back injury, or a spinal cord injury. Whatever the type and severity of the injury, Gerson & Schwartz P.A. is here to fight for your right to compensation. We have years of experience handling motor scooter and moped accident claims and have a track record of success.
Call us at (305) 371-6000 to schedule a free consultation.