Mopeds and Scooters
As the weather heats up and residents head outside to enjoy the warmer temperatures, mopeds and scooters will start to appear on Worcester’s streets. Mopeds are cost-efficient and comfortable during the warm summer months and may be an increasingly popular option for city drivers in Worcester, along with the increasing possibility for scooter and moped accidents.
Moped Safety Risks and Precautions
However, keep in mind that these smaller vehicles create unique safety risks that are relevant to all motorists. Mopeds are easy to miss in a quick glance to the rear-view or side mirror, and moped drivers are much more vulnerable to injury than drivers in cars. If you drive a car or truck, take extra care when changing lanes in summer months to avoid scooter or moped accidents.
If you or a family member owns a moped, motorcycle, or motorized scooter, it is critically important for your safety that you always wear a helmet (required by law in Massachusetts). As bad as injuries can be in car accidents, with these smaller vehicles, there is no airbag or car interior to soften the impact of a collision. What would be just a fender-bender in a regular car accident can result in devastating injuries, or even death, for the driver of a moped or scooter.
Moped Accidents In the News
Last summer on Cape Cod, a young woman rented a moped from Ride-On Mopeds in Oak Bluffs and crashed into a 10-wheel dump truck. Her injuries were such that her leg had to be amputated. Police in Oak Bluffs determined that the crash was due to operator error.
However, recently the woman’s attorney notified the Town of Oak Bluffs that he will be filing a claim on her behalf against the town for failing to enforce its moped by-Laws in regard to moped rental companies.
Traffic Laws and Mopeds
The heightened risks for bodily injury to drivers in scooter and moped accidents make it extremely important to take reasonable precautions, such as wearing a helmet and following traffic laws. Mopeds and scooters must obey all traffic laws, rules, and regulations that cars are subject to; however, a study from 2014 suggests that existing laws may not account for the safety of moped drivers.
Mopeds are permitted to drive in the bicycle lane where available and are denied access to any highways where bicycles are not allowed. Because there is not typically a brake light, moped drivers must signal with their hand when they are coming to a stop. All moped drivers must be at least 16-years-old and have a valid driver’s license.
Legally, mopeds cannot be operated at a speed faster than 25 mph in Massachusetts. If lanes are tight, the slow speed of these little vehicles may cause other drivers to attempt to pass a scooter or moped, creating risks for the passing car as well as the drivers in other lanes. Some scooters are designed for highway travel and may reach speeds over 60 mph – these are typically considered motorcycles in terms of registration.
Legal Aid for Moped Accidents
If you have been in a scooter or moped accident that required you to seek medical attention, know that you may be entitled to some compensation if any other party was at fault. The offices of Attorney Peter Ventura can help you to claim what you are owed so that you can focus your attention on recovering from your accident, not on medical bills.
If your loved one was tragically killed in an accident, you may want to seek an attorney’s opinion on whether your case should be filed as a Wrongful Death Claim. It may seem too soon to consider such action while you are still reeling from your loss, but it is important to not let too much time pass, as evidence and witnesses may be harder to gather as time goes on.
Consultations
When you have a free consultation with Attorney Peter Ventura, you will be treated with the respect and care you deserve. Attorney Ventura has extensive experience in accident claims and has helped his clients realize significant compensation in personal injury and car accident cases over the years. Contact Peter Ventura toll-free at 508-755-7535 for a free and always-confidential consultation.
