Moped Accident Lawyer in Lancaster, SC

Mopeds and scooters are lightweight, inexpensive, and fuel-efficient forms of transportation. No wonder that they have become common sights on South Carolina roads. But a moped is no match for a car or larger vehicle in a collision. A serious moped or motor scooter accident can turn your life upside down and leave you unable to work or attend school for weeks or months. Many moped riders are injured due to the carelessness or inattention of other motorists. If you were injured while riding a moped or scooter and the accident was not your fault, then you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries. You should talk to a moped accident lawyer about whether you have a personal injury case.

The legal team at David Blackwell Law has extensive experience handling moped accident injury claims. Our compassionate attorneys help injured riders seek the maximum compensation available to address their losses and help them rebuild their lives. We help moped accident victims in Lancaster and throughout South Carolina.

If you have been seriously injured in a moped accident or scooter crash, you may be facing a long recovery and struggling physically, emotionally, and financially. The last thing you need to add to your load is the stress of dealing with insurance adjusters. The adjusters may act friendly, but they do not have your best interests in mind. If another motorist caused your moped accident or motor scooter accident, you may be entitled to seek an insurance settlement to pay your medical bills and other expenses. You should seek the guidance of an experienced moped injury lawyer in Lancaster, SC who will fight for you to receive full compensation for your injuries.

We serve clients across South Carolina, including Indian Land, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill.

Compensation in an SC Moped Accident Lawsuit

The compensation available if you have been injured in a moped accident depends on several factors including:

The extent of your injuries
The contributing factors to the accident and the number of parties at fault
Whether you were partly responsible for the moped accident
The insurance policies available to cover losses

At David Blackwell Law, our legal team will evaluate the damages you have suffered from the moped crash and whether your injuries will limit your ability to work and adversely affect your life in the years ahead. Based on the specific details of your accident and injury, you may seek compensation for:

Present and future medical costs, including hospitalization, rehabilitation, medications, and wheelchairs, walkers, or other assistive mobility devices.
Reimbursement for lost wages because of your injuries.
Loss of earning capacity if your injuries will restrict the kind of work you can do in the years ahead.
Pain and suffering.
Repair or replacement of your damaged moped or scooter

It is usually not possible to know immediately after a serious moped accident what your future medical needs will be or how your injuries will affect you in the future. That makes it important to seek legal guidance before accepting any quick settlement offered by an insurer.

An experienced S.C. injury lawyer who has handled moped injury claims can evaluate whether the offer is reasonable or will leave you on the hook for thousands of dollars of future medical expenses. An experienced accident lawyer will help you protect your future.

What Are Moped Licensing Requirements?

In South Carolina, operators of mopeds on public streets and highways are required to be at least 14 years old and to have a valid driver’s license or moped operator’s license. An individual whose driver’s license has been suspended for six months or less may operate a moped without obtaining a moped operator’s license during the suspension.

South Carolina law defines a moped as a cycle with or without pedals, with a motor of not more than fifty cubic centimeters. Anything with an engine larger than 50 cc is either a motor scooter or a motorcycle. If the moped has an internal combustion engine, the moped must have a power drive that functions automatically when engaged without clutching or shifting by the driver.

Serious and fatal accidents involving moped riders have been increasing in South Carolina. The number of collisions in South Carolina involving a moped reached a high of 819 in 2015. Mopeds are smaller than other vehicles and easier for automobile drivers to overlook.

May I Seek Compensation if the Scooter Accident Was Partly My Fault?

You still may have a right to seek compensation for your injuries, even if you contributed to a scooter accident. It depends on the facts of the scooter accident and the degree of fault that each side had.

In South Carolina, an individual has a right to recover damages for injuries caused by others’ negligence, as long as the person pursuing damages is less than 50 percent responsible for the accident. Shared liability is common in traffic accident cases. How much you may recover will depend on how much liability each side has for the accident.

At David Blackwell, we will work aggressively to show that you were not primarily responsible for the accident and are entitled to seek compensation. That process starts with a detailed investigation of your scooter accident to identify all the responsible parties.

How Do Mopeds and Motor Scooters Differ?

In South Carolina, it is illegal to drive a moped at a speed of more than 25 miles per hour.
Mopeds have a top speed of no more than 30 miles per hour on level ground based on their engine size. In South Carolina, it is illegal to drive a moped at a speed of more than 25 miles per hour.
Motor scooters have more powerful engines and can move at higher speeds.
It is unlawful to ride a moped on a sidewalk in South Carolina.
It is illegal to carry a passenger on a moped unless the vehicle is specifically designed to accommodate two riders.
The driver of a moped must keep the vehicle’s lights burning at all times while the moped is in operation on the public highways of South Carolina.
While motorcycles and motor scooters must have a vehicle license tag, mopeds need only tags issued by the dealer.
Mopeds are exempt from property taxes and the requirement of vehicle insurance.

Riders of motor scooters must have a motorcycle license. Vehicles that are motor scooters must be registered and insured as motorcycles. Moped owners in South Carolina must register their mopeds and attach a license plate starting when a new law takes effect in November 2018.

Common Injuries in Moped Accidents

Operators of mopeds and motor scooters are categorized as vulnerable roadway users in South Carolina for good reason. Moped and scooter riders are vulnerable to severe injuries in collisions with larger, heavier vehicles. Mopeds have an open design that does not afford riders protection in the event of a collision with a car or truck.

South Carolina law limits mopeds to traveling at speeds of no more than 25 miles per hour. That means mopeds are often moving more slowly than other traffic. That difference in speed between mopeds and other vehicles accounts for many accidents.

Car crash collision accident and moped. Nearly half of moped collisions involving severe or fatal injuries occur on primary roads, more than a third occur on secondary roads and the remainder occur on county roads, according to the S.C. Office of Highway Safety.

53 percent of moped crashes causing serious injuries and deaths occurred during daylight hours
5 percent occurred during dawn or dusk
42 percent of moped crashes causing serious injuries and deaths in S.C. occurred at night.

According to medical research, the most common types of injuries sustained by moped riders include:

head injuries such as traumatic brain injuries
shoulder and upper extremity fractures
knee and leg injuries
broken elbows and forearms

South Carolina does not require that mopeds be insured. In fact, most moped drivers who are involved in accidents do not have insurance. If another motorist was responsible for the accident, an injured moped rider may be entitled to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault motorist seeking compensation to pay medical bills, lost income, and other expenses.

Safety Tips for Moped Operators

Moped drivers should wear highly visible clothing to help other motorists see them. Motorists have a harder time gauging distance between their vehicle and vehicles in front in darkness.
Operators of mopeds should sit straight and close enough to the handlebars to grip them with their arms slightly bent. Always use two hands to drive.
Wear a motorcycle helmet for protection. No one expects to crash, but if you do, a helmet may help you avoid a traumatic brain injury.
Be sure the moped has proper lights, and that no lights are burned out.
Check mirrors regularly to be aware of approaching vehicles.
Even though mopeds are small, they still have blind spots. Always turn your head and look over your shoulder before changing lanes to make sure no traffic is present.
Remain alert for vehicles entering the road from side streets and driveways.
When passing parked cars, move to the left side of the lane to allow more distance between your moped and the parked cars, in case someone opens a door of a parked car unexpectedly.
Stay off interstates. Mopeds are not allowed on interstate highways in South Carolina.
No one may operate a moped on S.C. roads at a speed of more 25 miles per hour.

What Clients Say

“To know them is to love them. From website to final documents, they were outstanding. I appreciated the way they assisted my family and cooperated with all parties involved.”

- Marco Lusk

“Getting into an accident is always an unfortunate event but having a great team like this on your side will make a huge difference. I could have never received what I did alone.”

- John Coy

“David Blackwell is a compassionate, hardworking lawyer who will listen to your concerns and make your needs his number one priority.”

- Dana Courtney

“I have had the privilege to work with David Blackwell at David Blackwell Law on a number of matters. He is dedicated to the well-being of his clients. He views clients as the most important asset of the firm.”

- Paul Reeves, Local Attorney

“If I’m ever in another accident, I’m not dealing with the insurance company I’m calling and letting them handle it.”

- Chris Catledge

View All Testimonials

Call Our Expert Moped Accident Lawyer in Lancaster, SC

After a serious moped or motor scooter accident, you should be focused on regaining your health. You should not have to cope with the stress of unpaid medical bills. At David Blackwell Law, we want to help you regain financial stability and move forward with your life. We will deal with the insurance adjusters and the paperwork, so you can focus on your health and recovery.

You do not need to worry about how you will pay for a lawyer. At David Blackwell Law, we help accident victims on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay anything upfront and only pay an attorney’s fee if you receive compensation. Our personal injury attorneys don’t get paid a legal fee unless you collect compensation through an insurance settlement or jury award.

David Blackwell Law has a reputation among insurance companies for taking injury cases that we know are worth the fight. Let us review your situation and discuss how we may help you.

Monday	8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday	8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday	8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday	8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday	8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Monday	8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday	8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday	8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday	8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday	8:00 am - 1:00 pm