A man in his 30s was killed when the motor scooter he was riding went over a highway barrier and onto the ground 40 feet below. According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on northbound U.S. Highway 101 just south of the Ninth Street exit. The man lost control of the motor scooter as he was rounding a left curve. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
For many city drivers, a motor scooter or a moped can be a good way to get around. Scooters can get up to 100 miles per gallon, and are small and easy to park. However, in many ways they are more dangerous than motorcycles, and they leave their riders vulnerable to injuries in an accident.
In California, to ride a motorcycle, you must have a special motorcycle license. To ride a motor scooter or moped, you must only have a valid driver’s license. California defines motor scooters as vehicles with a 149cc or smaller engine. Although motor scooters in many ways can be as dangerous as motorcycles, no special training is required to operate them on public roads.
Moped riders face a combination of risks that both bicyclists and motorcyclists endure. Both have very little protection to prevent injury in the event of an accident, and both have less visibility to other drivers. They also have additional risks that motorcycles do not have. First, because they travel so slowly, it can be hard for other drivers on the road to judge their speed, which can cause rear end collisions. Drivers also tend to pull out in front of mopeds because they cannot tell how fast a moped is going.Motor scooters can stop much faster than cars or motorcycles, which can be hard to anticipate by vehicles that are following closely behind a scooter. Finally, if there are obstacles in the road, they can be much more dangerous to a moped than to a car or a heavy motorcycle.
Because of the lack of protection, moped riders are at a very high risk for injuries if involved in an accident. Unfortunately, many moped riders do not have insurance to cover their injuries. A study done at the University of Florida examined over 5,000 motor scooter crashes that occurred in Florida. Of the riders, only 10 percent had insurance, and only 17 percent wore helmets. That is a dangerous combination, which can leave riders open to both serious head injuries and high medical bills.
Motor scooter riders are very susceptible to head injuries. Head injuries can cause victims lifetime health problems, and may require very extensive medical treatment. Motor scooter riders also face the risk of broken bones, cuts, and even limb amputations if they are hit while riding a motor scooter or moped. Expenses can easily become astronomical. Therefore, it’s very important to seek legal help in order to ensure that the party responsible for the accident pays restitution to the accident victims.
If you have been involved in an accident in the San Francisco area with a motor scooter or a moped, do not assume that the other party’s insurance company will pay your expenses. Instead, call the San Francisco motor scooter accident attorneys at Liberty Law. At Liberty Law, Micha Star Liberty and Seth I. Rosenberg believe that accident victims must stand up for their legal rights. We can help you negotiate with the responsible party and their insurance company to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation at 415-896-1000 or 510-645-1000.
