California man sues Detroit for $10M after accident on E-scooter

The Berkeley native’s crash resulted in a traumatic brain injury

Detroit has a multi-million lawsuit to contend with after a Berkeley, California man crashed a rented Bird E-scooter, resulting in loss of consciousness and lasting injuries. His suit seeks $10 million to cover lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering experienced as a result of the crash.

The accident happened as Justin Almeida was riding the E-scooter around midnight on Aug. 29, 2021. He hit a massive pothole, causing the electric scooter to flip, and crashed into the pavement, where he lost consciousness. Almeida sustained a fractured skull, broke several bones in his face, and alleges he has permanent brain damage. The accident also caused lasting damage to Almeida’s ability to support himself, as the ensuing cognitive injuries and damage severely impact his former employment as a software engineer.

Almeida’s suit states the crash was due to Detroit’s negligence and breach of duty since it is the city’s job to maintain roads. The 34-year-old alleges that Detroit knew about the pothole for at least 30 days before his accident and did nothing to repair the hazardous streets. The lawsuit claims that the City of Detroit was responsible for repairing the pothole in a timely manner, as the road fell within their jurisdiction.

“The defendant City of Detroit had a statutory duty under MCLA 691.1402(1) to maintain a highway over which it had jurisdiction in reasonable repair so that it is reasonably safe and convenient for public travel. At the above date and time, there was a highway defect, specifically a large pothole, approximately 24 inches x 30 inches x 6 inches deep,” the lawsuit reads. “As a result of the injuries to the plaintiff, has been forced to endure, and will in the future continue to be forced to endure great pain and suffering.”

In California, E-scooters have many of the same rights and rules as vehicles while on the road. Accidents involving electric scooters are generally treated like an accident involving a motor vehicle. But as all accidents are different, an experienced Los Angeles accident attorney can answer any questions regarding the particulars of your claim.

If you’ve been in an E-scooter accident, it means you might need to take action by seeking to involve the experienced traffic accident attorneys at Adamson Ahdoot LLP. After an accident, AA Law will use our panel of experts to investigate your claim and prove facts that can be essential to maximizing a settlement. Contact us to get information about your rights with a free consultation. Not only is it free, but you’ll never have to pay anything out-of-pocket to us. We win when you win.