Electric scooters are becoming a very popular method of
transportation. Whether you rent an electric scooter or use your
own, riding an e-scooter is a fun, convenient, and
budget-friendly way to travel. But though there are plenty of
benefits to e-scooters, there’s no getting around the fact that
they can be dangerous. Even when e-scooter riders follow the
recommended safety guidelines, they’re still at risk of getting
in an accident. And when a rider or pedestrian is involved in an
e-scooter accident, they can be seriously injured, since they
have little to no protection in the event of a fall or
collision.
E-scooter accidents are often caused by
negligence and, unfortunately, they can also be caused by
malicious behavior. But if you’ve been injured in an e-scooter
accident due to the negligent or malicious actions or another
party, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim
against that party and pursue compensation for your losses.
Victims who are injured in an electric scooter accident can
recover compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages,
property damage, emotional distress, and more.
If
you’ve been injured in an electric scooter accident in Los
Angeles, contact the personal injury attorneys at LA Lawyers
Group today to receive a free case evaluation. Our scooter
accident attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and
the steps you should take after being injured in a scooter
accident. Note that our legal services are provided on a
contingency fee basis. You never have to pay legal fees until we
settle or win your case.
Free Case Evaluation
Scooters vs. E-Scooters
Scooters and e-scooters look similar, but work differently.
Scooters are vehicles with a platform, two wheels, and no
motor. To propel a traditional scooter, the rider keeps one
foot on the platform, then kicks the ground with the other
foot to move the scooter forward. E-scooters are motorized
scooters that feature an electric motor. Riders who use
e-scooters stand on the scooter’s platform and balance while a
motor propels the scooter forward.
Due to how they
work, traditional scooters and e-scooters are typically used
differently. Non-motorized scooters are more commonly used for
recreation, while electric scooters are more commonly used for
transit. The motor on an e-scooter allows it to move at speeds
of up to 15 miles per hour with little effort on the part of
the rider, making electronic scooters an easy and convenient
option for traveling longer distances. This high speed,
however, also makes e-scooters more dangerous than
non-motorized scooters. The speed of electric scooters
increases the likelihood of more serious damage or injuries in
the event of an accident.
E-scooters have been
available for decades, but they’ve become much more popular in
recent years due to the spread of e-scooter companies.
Companies like Bird, Bold, Jump, Lime, and Lyft have made
electric scooters easily available for rent. These e-scooter
companies place their motorized scooters around a city and
allow individuals to rent them using a smartphone app. For a
low fee plus mileage, a person can rent an e-scooter they find
on the street, use it to travel to their destination, and then
simply leave the e-scooter outside on the street when they are
done using it.
Unique Elements of a California E-Scooter Case: Regulations and
User Agreements
E-Scooter Regulations in California
The prevalence of e-scooter usage is fairly new. Because of
this, there’s a lack of state-wide e-scooter regulation in
California, which means that e-scooter regulation is left to
local governments.
Electric scooter regulations
can vary widely from city to city. Some cities may have
absolutely no regulations for e-scooters, while others can
have regulations that are unique to their city. For example,
one city may allow e-scooter riders to ride in bike lanes or
in the street, while the next town over may require that
e-scooter riders stay on sidewalks. Or, one city may require
that e-scooter riders wear helmets, while another leaves
helmet usage up to the rider’s own discretion.
The
lack of state-wide e-scooter regulation can make determining
liability in a California scooter accident case more complex.
To determine liability in a personal injury case that involves
e-scooters, you need a full understanding of the local laws
and regulations that could apply to your case. Therefore, if
you or a loved one has been injured in an e-scooter accident
and you’re considering filing an accident claim, it’s wise to
seek the counsel of a personal injury attorney that has
experience handling e-scooter cases in your city specifically.
E-Scooter User Agreements
Before riders rent a Lime scooter, a Bird scooter, or another
company’s e-scooter, they must sign a legally binding user
agreement. These user agreements can vary in content, but they
generally contain components that are designed to limit the
company’s liability in the event of a scooter accident. For
example, Lime’s user agreement states that users agree to
follow traffic laws and that users agree to perform an
extensive safety inspection before they ride a Lime scooter.
User agreements are long and complex documents
that can be confusing for riders. However, regardless of their
confusing nature, these agreements are legally binding. If a
rider breaks a provision in one of these user agreements, the
scooter company could blame the rider for any damages or
injuries caused by an accident.
If you rented an
e-scooter and you’re considering filing a scooter injury
claim, it’s wise to consult with a personal injury attorney
before discussing the accident with a scooter company or an
insurance company. A personal injury lawyer can help you
understand the content of the user agreement you signed, how
that aligns with the circumstances involved in your accident,
and the steps you may want to take to protect your legal
rights.
Common Injuries Caused By Scooter Accidents
Electric scooter injuries can be much more severe than many
people might assume. Since motorized scooters can travel at
high speeds and their riders often forgo wearing helmets,
serious injuries are common in e-scooter accidents.
Two notable studies done on electric scooter
accident injuries come from the Journal of the American
Medical Association and the CDC. Both of these studies found
that head injuries were the most common type of scooter
accident injury. The Journal of the American Medical
Association found that 40% of the scooter injuries observed in
their study involved the head area, while the CDC found that
48% of the scooter injuries observed in their study involved
fractures, abrasions, or lacerations to the head.
Head injuries are the most common type of electric
scooter injury. Other common injuries in scooter accidents
include neck injuries, broken bones, lacerations, blunt chest
trauma, blunt abdominal trauma, and road rash.
Common Types of Scooter Accidents
Single Rider Scooter Accidents
Most e-scooter accidents are single vehicle accidents in which
only the rider of the electric scooter is harmed. These types
of accidents generally occur when the rider loses control of
the e-scooter, which results in a scooter crash. Note,
however, that the rider isn’t always responsible for losing
control of an e-scooter. Electric scooter accidents can also
occur due to elements that are outside of the rider’s control,
such as the condition of a road or sidewalk or a defective
scooter. If a scooter accident is caused by poor sidewalk or
road conditions (such as potholes, cracks in the road, etc.),
a government entity could be responsible for the accident if
they were negligent in maintaining the road or sidewalk. If a
scooter accident is caused by a defective scooter, the scooter
company that provided that scooter could be responsible for
the accident.
Pedestrian Trip and Fall Scooter Accidents
A surprisingly common type of scooter accident is a pedestrian
trip and fall. Rented e-scooters are left on the street after
the rider has finished their trip. If a scooter is left in an
inconvenient place, a pedestrian may trip over the scooter and
become injured.
In this type of case, a pedestrian
could be entitled to compensation for their injuries depending
on the unique circumstances involved. Some parties that could
potentially be liable for this type of accident include:
●
The e-scooter rider who left the scooter, if it was
foreseeable that someone could trip and fall over the
scooter ● A property owner, if the scooter
was abandoned on their private party ● An
e-scooter company, if they had a legal obligation to collect
the scooter ● A government entity, if the
city was responsible for collecting the scooter
Pedestrian and Scooter Accidents
Pedestrians and electric scooter riders often occupy the same
public spaces, so many scooter accidents involve both
pedestrians and scooter riders. Who is responsible in the
event of a pedestrian and scooter accident depends on the
specifics of the accident and the electric scooter regulations
in the area in which the accident took place.
Car and Scooter Accidents
Accidents that involve both cars and scooters can cause severe
injuries. While a variety of circumstances could cause a car
and scooter accident, the most common type of car and scooter
accident is a “dooring” accident. In this type of car
accident, a person in a parked car opens their door into the
path of a scooter rider. The rider may then collide with the
door or they may attempt to take evasive action, causing them
to move into the path of other cars. In California, “dooring”
accidents (which are also a common cause of injury among
bicyclists) are often determined to be the fault of the person
who opens the door due to California Vehicle Code 22517.
Defective Scooter Accidents
In some more rare cases, electric scooter accidents can be
caused by a defective scooter that malfunctions. For example,
the company Lime has had issues with defective scooters in the
past. In previous instances, Lime has had e-scooters break
apart during a ride, e-scooter batteries that caught fire
during operation, and e-scooters that allegedly had brake
issues.
Damages Available to California Scooter Accident Victims
In California, victims who have been injured in a scooter
accident may be able to collect compensatory damages for:
● Medical Bills ● Property
Damage ● Lost Wages ● A
Loss of Earning Capacity ● Emotional
Distress ● Pain and Suffering
Contact a Los Angeles Scooter Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in a scooter or e-scooter accident in Los
Angeles, contact LA Lawyers Group to receive a free case
evaluation. The expert personal injury attorneys at our law firm
are well-versed in the varying scooter regulations that are in
place in different parts of Los Angeles, such as the regulations
in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Venice, and Hollywood. Our
injury attorneys can help you understand your legal rights as an
accident victim and help you recover the compensation you’re
legally entitled to for the losses you have suffered.
Call
LA Lawyers Group today at (213)LAWYERS (529-9377) to receive
your free consultation with one of our Los Angeles scooter
accident lawyers.
