Have you been injured in an electric scooter accident?
You’re not alone.
Within the last few years, electric scooters, or e-scooters as they’re often called, have soared in popularity throughout California. In 2019 alone, Los Angeles had around 36,000 e-scooters registered to eight micromobility companies. The city also contributed 31 million dockless e-scooter trips in the U.S. and Canada in 2022.
However, electric scooter injuries have increased alongside the vehicle’s popularity. If you were involved in an e-scooter accident, it’s essential to understand the following:
- The common causes of e-scooter accidents
- The common injuries associated with e-scooters
- How to recover compensation from a responsible party in an e-scooter accident
Of course, when you’re ready to talk about the specifics of your situation, you should schedule a complimentary case review at Adamson Ahdoot LLP. Each case is different, and a quick conversation with an e-scooter accident lawyer should give you helpful insights on how to get the financial compensation you deserve after being injured in an e-scooter accident.
Why Are Electric Scooters So Popular?
“Renting an electric scooter, bike, or hybrid in cities is an affordable option for frugal riders.“
Since Bird launched the first scooter rental service in Santa Monica in September 2017, it’s safe to say the entire industry has grown. Electric scooters, bikes, and hybrid vehicles can be rented throughout urban areas in California and overseas, becoming a more affordable option for frugal riders. While some of the most expensive models cost $600 and over, the average cost of an electric scooter is around $300.
Not everyone loves e-scooters, but many people find them fun to ride and appreciate the convenience they offer on short trips compared to walking, biking, or public transit. Plus, since e-scooters can be rented, they don’t cause concerns about theft, parking, repairs, or storage issues.
Are E-Scooters Safe?
Electric scooters may seem as safe as cars or other modes of transportation. Yet, some who rent these vehicles are unfamiliar with them and can endanger other riders, pedestrians, and other vehicles around them.
An e-scooter’s small size could put riders in unsafe situations and at risk of serious injury. Some may also be involved in fatal e-scooter crashes, leading to untimely deaths.
Common Causes of E-Scooter Accidents
“Don’t take the word of drivers or insurers if they claim you’re at fault for a scooter accident.“
As with nearly all personal injury cases, determining the cause of an e-scooter accident is critical when bringing an injury claim. Identifying a responsible party can help you establish what contributed to the incident.
Typical situations where the scooter rider may be at fault include:
- The scooter rider was distracted or intoxicated.
- The scooter rider was driving recklessly, such as on a sidewalk.
Typical situations where another person may be at fault include:
- The driver of another vehicle was distracted, intoxicated, or otherwise driving recklessly.
- The driver of another vehicle failed to see you because their view was obstructed.
Typical situations where another company or government entity may be at fault include:
- The road conditions affected the scooter driver’s ability to maneuver.
- The scooter had specific defects or faulty parts. For example, injuries may occur if an electric scooter turns off while you’re riding it.
To prove an individual, company, or government agency’s liability for an e-scooter accident, you must ensure there are credible witnesses to support your claim and you’ve collected sufficient proof of your injury or other losses. These factors influence the outcome of your case.
Important: Don’t necessarily take the word of the opposing drivers or their insurance representatives if they suggest you are at fault for an electric scooter accident. We’ve had multiple cases where our clients initially assumed they were at fault, but it turns out not to be the case, such as if our investigation reveals that the other party didn’t provide enough space for the safe operation of an e-scooter or a rental company knew of faulty parts that would impact a scooter’s safe operation.
Some notable accidents involving e-scooters include:
- A man suspected of driving an electric scooter while intoxicated was arrested after striking and killing a pedestrian in Venice.
- A man was killed in a hit-and-run accident after falling off his electric scooter.
- A child was injured in San Francisco in a hit-and-run accident while riding a scooter.
- A man was killed when he collided with a truck while riding a scooter.
If you were injured in an e-scooter accident, it’s worth your time to talk to a Los Angeles e-scooter accident lawyer at Adamson Ahdoot. They’ll review your case for free, and the sooner you call, the sooner we can start investigating the situation.
Common E-Scooter Injuries
“Many electric scooter injuries only show up days or weeks after an accident.”
Most cities in California don’t allow e-scooters to go more than 15 mph (miles per hour) while on streets, but some can reach speeds of 60 mph and more.
However, even traveling at the (relatively) slow speed of 15 mph can pose a risk to a rider, with or without a helmet.
California’s adult residents can ride e-scooters without helmets, whereas underage riders must wear helmets. Still, these hard hats only protect one’s head and not the rest of the body.
Common electric scooter injuries include:
- Bone fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Road rash injuries
- Concussions
- Amputation injuries
Regardless of your injury and level of pain, if you’ve been involved in a serious e-scooter accident, it’s best to assume that you’ll need medical attention. After all, many electric scooter injuries only show up days or weeks after an accident.
Electric Scooter Accident Statistics
“UCLA found Los Angeles e-scooter injury rates exceed national rates for vehicles and pedestrians.“
In 2023, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that e-scooter injuries nationwide increased further by 22%. 37% of treated injuries occurred while using rented e-scooters, and 63% occurred when using purchased or unspecified e-scooters.
CPSC also shared estimated injury data by how e-scooter riders were injured and specific riding surfaces. 94% of individuals got hurt while riding their scooters, whereas only 2% said other or unspecified factors caused their injuries. Furthermore, 63% of electric scooter accidents occurred on paved roads.
E-scooter injury data for Los Angeles is just as alarming. UCLA research reported that the injury rate for the city’s e-scooter riders exceeded the national injury rates for motorcycle riders, cyclists, motor vehicle drivers, and pedestrians over a six-year period. It’s estimated that 115 injuries occur per 1 million e-scooter trips.
Regarding e-scooter deaths, 111 fatalities from 2017 to 2022 were linked to dockless scooters, and 18 deaths occurred while riding rented scooters. These numbers accounted for the 232 micromobility-related fatalities that occurred nationwide over the five-year period.
How To Collect Compensation for a Serious E-Scooter Injury
“California law requires injury claims, including scooter accidents, to be filed within 2 years.“
Throughout most of California, e-scooter riders are given almost the same rights and rules as vehicle drivers in the eyes of the law. Electric scooter and bike accidents are generally treated like any motor vehicle accident.
Hence, just as car accident victims must prove they were hurt by someone else’s reckless actions, e-scooter accident victims must act to recover injury-related compensation. This doesn’t mean you must go to court, as most of the time, claims are resolved with insurance companies without the need for lawsuits.
However, it does mean you need to take action. The sooner you get professionals involved after an accident, the easier it is to investigate the accident and prove facts that can be essential to maximizing a settlement. Under California law, personal injury claims, including electric scooter accidents, must be filed within two years from the incident date.
What Should You Do After an E-Scooter Accident?
Getting immediate care for e-scooter injuries is the first (and most important) step after an accident. Again, certain injuries may develop gradually, and long-overdue medical consultations may drive the at-fault party to insist on their innocence.
Moreover, you must file an accident report with the police. This document is key to your claim as it can dictate whether you win or lose. If your e-scooter accident involves a car, it must be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles in case of injury, death, or property damage worth at least $750.
Remember to collect information about the accident, as well. Take the other party’s name, contact and insurance information, and other information, including license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, and witness contact information. Also, take photos (and videos) of the current scene, then note where the accident happened and the resulting damage.
Besides the aforementioned information, we recommend keeping copies of your accident report, medical bills, and other documents relevant to your claim. By documenting and providing facts, some common items we’ve been able to get our clients compensated for include:
- Hospital stays
- Initial and follow-up consultations with doctors
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost earnings from work missed
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability
- Physical pain and suffering
Can Insurance Policies Cover E-Scooter Injuries?
“Suing an uninsured driver, pedestrian, or rider can make recovering compensation more difficult.“
Currently, electric scooters are excluded from most auto insurance policies. Scooter-sharing operators can help you cover accident-related expenses through company-specific policies, but only to a certain extent.
It’s also worth noting that homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies won’t cover electric scooter accidents. Still, other options are available, including auto insurance coverage for scooter riders struck by a car.
Another thing to consider when building an electric scooter accident case is whether the involved party has insurance. If you file a lawsuit against an uninsured driver, pedestrian, or rider, it can be more difficult to recover compensation. In this case, we recommend discussing your options with an experienced lawyer.
The first step to earning compensation for your injury is to schedule a quick consultation with an e-scooter accident attorney at Adamson Ahdoot. It’s free, and you’ll never have to pay consultation and litigation fees. We only collect a recovery fee and only if we win your case.
Call us today at (800) 310-1606 to schedule your free consultation today
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