Minneapolis Attorneys for Pulled Muscles from Dockless Scooter Accidents
If you frequent some of the most popular locales in Minneapolis, you have no doubt seen an increase in two-wheeled traffic. Dockless scooters are a popular option for getting around in a more environmentally friendly way. Companies like Bird and Lime have made e-scooters an affordable and convenient way to explore the city. However, convenience sometimes has its cost.
While e-scooters are fun and easily accessible, using these vehicles does come with risks.
Negligent operators or faulty scooters can cause accidents and leave you with painful injuries. Pulled muscles are common injuries in dockless scooter accidents. While a pulled muscle may seem like no big deal, muscle injuries can put you on the sidelines.
If you were injured in a dockless scooter accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages. Get in touch with an experienced Minneapolis dockless scooter attorney at Robert Wilson & Associates today. Our team can review your situation and help you pursue the money you need to recover from a dockless scooter accident.
Schedule a confidential case review by calling (612) 334-3444, or reach out to us online.
What Is a Pulled Muscle Injury?
A pulled muscle is a common term for muscle strain. Muscle strains are orthopedic injuries that impact muscle tissue or tendons. Tendons are fibrous bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones and allow a person to move their limbs. Tendons can be prone to strains because they help absorb some of the impacts your muscles take during physical activity.
A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is overstretched or torn, usually due to some form of overexertion, repetitive motion, or strenuous activity. While strains can impact any muscle or muscle group in the body, they are most common in the lower back, neck, shoulders, and hamstrings. These muscles are some of the most frequently used and overworked parts of the human body.
Causes of Pulled Muscle Injuries
There are two different categories of muscle strains. Acute strains tend to be more common in dockless scooter accidents. Acute strains can occur in one injury-causing event, like a fall or a collision. Chronic muscle strains take time to develop and are caused by repetitive movements or injuries.
Common causes of acute muscle strains in scooter accidents include:
- Falling off a scooter
- Colliding with another rider
- Colliding with a fixed object
- Lifting a scooter
- Moving a scooter
Minneapolis is no stranger to cold weather. That can make a difference in scooter accidents. Scooter users may suffer from pulled muscles more often when the temperatures outside take a dip. That’s because muscles are stiffer in cold temperatures. Warming up your muscles with some mild stretches and exercises before any form of physical activity, even scooter riding, is good advice, especially when it’s chilly.
Symptoms of Pulled Muscles
How do you know if you pulled a muscle after a dockless scooter accident? Chances are that the first symptom you are going to notice is immediate pain coming from the injured area. Beyond the initial pain, there are other signs that you may have pulled a muscle and need rest and medical attention. Symptoms of a pulled muscle can include:
- Soreness
- Swelling
- Limited range of motion
- Muscle spasms
- Stiffness
- Weakness
- Bruising
- Tenderness
A mild muscle strain may heal with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain medication in a matter of weeks. Muscles that are more severely torn can take months to heal. Serious muscle strains can also limit a person’s ability to move and potentially jeopardize their ability to work.
If the pain does not ease, the injured muscle is numb, you feel a tingling sensation, or you cannot move your arms or legs, seek medical attention immediately. While most pulled muscle injuries are minor, some can require surgical intervention to repair. If you have pressing questions about your case, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
Can You Receive Compensation After a Dockless Scooter Accident?
Scooters are just another mode of transportation. As with car accidents, bicycle collisions, or pedestrian crashes, you may be able to recover compensation if a negligent individual causes your scooter accident. How you navigate filing for compensation can depend on how the accident occurred and who caused it.
If a scooter rider is hit by a car, the at-fault driver may be responsible for compensating an injured victim. A rider may file a claim with the driver’s insurance company seeking compensation or potentially file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if the scooter has a mechanical defect that caused an accident, a victim may be able to hold the company accountable for their injuries.
Depending on the type of accident and who is involved, victims may be able to recover financial compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
For more information on the value of your unique claim and who may be responsible for compensating you, contact an experienced Minneapolis dockless scooter attorney. An attorney can review your case and help you narrow down your legal avenues for pursuing the compensation you deserve.
How Robert Wilson & Associates Can Help After a Dockless Scooter Accident
After a scooter accident, you may want to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move on with your life. However, living with a pulled muscle can slow you down and take a toll on your physical and financial health. What starts as a minor annoyance can turn into a painful problem. Pulled muscles, especially in the back, neck, and legs, can cause a wide range of complications. Need to pick up the baby? You can’t. Does work require some level of physical activity? Not going to happen. Must attend a gathering which requires a long drive or flight? Ouch! A pulled muscle injury can have a ripple effect and cause problems you may not even be aware of yet.
Do you suffer in silence, or do you hold the negligent party accountable for their actions and seek the financial compensation you deserve? Don’t let a dockless scooter accident put your life on hold. Contact the Minneapolis scooter injury team at Robert Wilson & Associates for help getting the money you need. To learn more about how we may be able to help you, call us at (612) 334-3444, or reach out to us online for a confidential case review.