Scooter riders face many of the same dangers as motorcyclists on Tennessee roads. Scooters don't reach the same speeds as motorcycles and generally don't go on highways, but some of the most dangerous roadways for two-wheeled motorists are inside Nashville city limits.
A man driving a scooter was killed in Nashville recently when a car struck him. The two collided near the intersection of Spence Lane and Lebanon Road. The scooter was traveling eastbound on Lebanon Road and the car was traveling westbound when the driver took a left turn toward a gas station and ran into the scooter. The scooter driver was wearing a helmet, but was pronounced dead at the scene. The car's driver told police he didn't see the scooter.
This tragic accident presents an all-too-common scenario for scooter drivers and motorcyclists. About 70 percent of accidents involving both a motorcycle and another vehicle occur at or near intersections, where car or truck drivers say they have trouble seeing the smaller vehicles. Motorcyclists and scooter drivers are so much more exposed to the elements than people in cars or trucks, so when a collision occurs it is much more likely to result in catastrophic injury or death for the person on two wheels. According to one study, motorcyclists are about 26 times more likely to die in a crash than are occupants of cars, and five times more likely to be injured.
Those injured in motorcycle accidents or scooter accidents can be left with huge medical expenses and often unable to work. In many cases, they may be permanently disabled. In the cases of a fatal accident, the victim's family is left without that person's income and companionship.
Tennessee scooter drivers or motorcyclists who have been injured by another driver's negligence can be compensated for these damages through a personal injury lawsuit. The families of those killed can be compensated through a wrongful death lawsuit. These legal actions can help victims and their families cope with the aftermath of a tragic accident.
Source: Wilson Post, "MJ man dies in Nashville wreck," Sept. 24, 2013