Moped Accidents: Tips Before Renting Mopeds on Summer Vacation
On Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, renting a moped is a convenient and cost-effective way to travel while on vacation.
Unfortunately, horrible accidents have happen:
On July 5th, 2017, a 46-year-old woman was taken to Boston by Medflight after a Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) bus collided into her.
During the summer of 2016, two young women on a moped were struck by a truck in Oak Bluffs, sustaining serious injuries, including the loss of a leg by the 19-year-old moped driver.
If you’re injured while driving your rented moped, call the Snow Law Firm. Our moped accident lawyer will discuss your legal options in the aftermath of a wreck. Call (508) 477-7100.
Below are some questions to ask before renting or riding on a moped:
Should I Purchase Additional Insurance From The Moped Rental Shop?
At the heart of being safe from risks that result in a moped accident is finding out what your current policy covers and what your risk of loss is if an accident occurs.
Look over your auto insurance policy first. If you’re in an accident and are the moped operator, do you have medical coverage for yourself and for your passenger – or if you hit a pedestrian, for that person too?
Second, if you have one, check your umbrella policy. Umbrella policies afford coverage where other policies stop and are a safety net when it comes to being sued.
Finally, examine what coverage you have under your homeowner’s policy for liability. Liability insurance covers you from claims involving bodily injury or property damages resulting from an accident.
If you don’t know these answers, call your agent and find out. If you do not have adequate insurance coverage or you are unsure of what coverage you have, purchase the moped insurance at the time of rental. The old adage rings true, better safe than sorry.
What If I’m Hurt In A Moped Accident?
The price you pay for the wind in your hair is that an accident on a moped is likely to cause more serious injuries than one in a car.
As with any accident, you will want to notify the police immediately. Like motorcycles, mopeds are often not noticed by other motor vehicle operators, especially distracted drivers on vacation. Having the police at the scene will help ensure there is a thorough investigation to determine who was at-fault.
If you are a passenger on the moped involved in the accident, and the driver of the moped or the person who caused the accident has adequate insurance coverage, you will be able to make a claim against those policies if you are injured. However, the smartest thing to do is ask the driver what coverage he/she has before you get on the moped. Likewise, you should contact your car insurance agent and find out what coverage you have under your own automobile insurance policy (underinsured/uninsured) should you be injured in a moped accident.
Attorney Steven T. Snow PC
Steven T. Snow worked his way through law school as a retail stockbroker with Merrill Lynch. After earning his law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1988, Attorney Snow worked for a Boston law firm that represented insurance companies. This experience provided him with an understanding of exactly how insurance companies value personal injury claims, and how they prepare for trial. He uses this knowledge to anticipate and counter his opponent’s defense strategies ensuring his clients obtain a judgment on their behalf. Attorney Snow bodily injuries and wrongful death claims through mediation and arbitration and trial.
Regardless of the type of injury you may have sustained, or the obstacles you may be facing, Attorney Steven T. Snow has the experience and skills to secure the best possible results in your case.
