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Gina M. Corena is a distinguished lawyer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ranked in the “Top 40 under 40” in 2017, Ms. Corena is a leading attorney in the fields of personal injury and bankruptcy. With 16 years of professional experience, she is a founding member and managing partner of Gina Corena & Associates. Ms.
A teenage girl, aged 17, tragically lost her life after being hit by a U-Haul truck while riding her electric scooter in Henderson in June last year.
The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. when a white U-Haul from 2019 was traveling eastward on Sun Shadow Avenue before turning onto North Pecos Road. This maneuver led the truck into the path of the young girl’s scooter, which was riding in a bicycle lane, as reported by the Henderson Police Department.
Following the accident, the girl was rushed to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Electric scooter accidents in Las Vegas can be complex, and understanding one’s rights is important for anyone involved in such incidents. In Las Vegas, electric scooter riders, like other vehicle operators, are expected to adhere to traffic laws. If an accident occurs, legal protections exist for those injured. These rights include seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages resulting from the accident. However, determining fault can be challenging. Las Vegas law considers factors such as adherence to traffic rules and the presence of negligence. For instance, if a scooter rider is injured due to a car driver’s negligence, the rider may have grounds for a claim. Similarly, the manufacturer might be held accountable if the scooter malfunctioned due to manufacturing issues.
Electric scooter accidents often result in specific types of injuries. One of the most common is road rash, when skin scrapes against pavement. Broken bones, especially in the arms and legs, are also frequent due to falls or collisions. Head injuries, ranging from mild concussions to severe trauma, can occur, mainly if a helmet is not worn.
In Las Vegas, individuals injured in electric scooter accidents have legal options for seeking compensation. This compensation aims to cover medical expenses, which can be significant in severe injuries. Lost wages from time missed at work due to the injury are another factor often considered in compensation claims. In long-term or permanent disability resulting from the accident, compensation might also account for future medical care and lost earning potential. It is essential for those injured to understand these aspects, as they directly impact the recovery and financial stability following an electric scooter accident.
Determining who is at fault or liable in Las Vegas electric scooter accidents can be a complex process. Liability depends on various factors, including the behavior of those involved and the circumstances of the accident. For example, if a car driver does not follow traffic laws and hits a scooter rider, the driver may be liable. Similarly, they may be partly responsible if the scooter rider is breaking traffic rules, like riding on sidewalks or ignoring traffic signals.
Another aspect to consider is the condition of the scooter. If a malfunction, such as brake failure, caused the accident, the scooter rental company or manufacturer might be liable. In some cases, liability can be shared among multiple parties. For instance, if both a scooter rider and a car driver contributed to the accident, they might bear some responsibility. Understanding these scenarios is important for anyone involved in an electric scooter accident in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas personal injury law plays a significant role in electric scooter accidents. Under these laws, individuals injured in such accidents can seek compensation if someone else’s negligence caused their injuries. Negligence means another person or entity failed to act responsibly, leading to the accident. For example, if a car driver is texting and hits a scooter rider, the driver may be considered negligent.
The law also considers the concept of ‘comparative negligence.’ This means if the injured person is partly at fault for the accident, the compensation might be reduced by their percentage of fault. For instance, if a scooter rider is found 20% at fault for not wearing a helmet, their compensation could be reduced by 20%.
In cases where a defective scooter causes an accident, the manufacturer or rental company might be liable under product liability laws. These laws hold manufacturers and suppliers responsible for providing safe products. If a scooter’s faulty brakes lead to an accident, the company providing the scooter could be held accountable.
When involved in an electric scooter accident in Las Vegas, understanding the potential damages can be claimed is important. Damages refer to the monetary compensation for losses suffered due to the accident. These typically include medical expenses, which cover both immediate and ongoing medical treatments. Lost wages are another common type of damage, compensating for income lost due to time off work for recovery.
In some cases, individuals may also claim damages for pain and suffering. This refers to the physical and emotional distress caused by the accident. The amount varies depending on the severity of the injuries and their impact on the individual’s life.
Property damage is another possible component of a claim, covering costs to repair or replace the scooter and any other personal property damaged in the accident. The total amount of damages depends on the specific circumstances of each case, including the severity of injuries and the impact on the individual’s life.
In Las Vegas, the statute of limitations is an important law to understand for electric scooter accident claims. This law sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit after an accident. In Nevada, the standard time limit for personal injury claims, including those from electric scooter accidents, is typically two years from the accident date.
If someone is injured in an electric scooter accident, they have two years from the accident date to start legal proceedings. If they file a claim after this period, the court will likely dismiss it, regardless of the case’s merits.
The statute of limitations ensures that claims are made while evidence is still fresh, and memories of the incident are clear. For anyone considering a claim following an electric scooter accident in Las Vegas, being aware of this time frame is important to ensure they do not miss the opportunity to seek compensation for their injuries.
If you have suffered an injury in an electric scooter accident, call 702-680-1111 or contact our experienced legal team today, and we will work to get the compensation you deserve.
As founder of Gina Corena & Associates, she is dedicated to fighting for the rights of the people who suffer life-changing personal injuries in car, truck and motorcycle accidents as well as other types of personal injury. Gina feels fortunate to serve the Nevada community and hold wrongdoers accountable for their harm to her clients.
