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There is no question that electric scooters are rising in popularity. In fact, in 2019, it was estimated that there were 136 million electric scooter rides taken. While these scooters were once a form of leisure, they now are gaining popularity for daily transportation.
However, while this is great for riders and the environment, it has also opened up the risks of accidents for those riding them. Electric scooters may be driven on sidewalks in some places, whereas others must share the road similar to a bicycle. This means that the likelihood of injury is even more vast.
If you or a loved one were hurt while riding an electric scooter because of someone else’s negligence, the personal injury lawyers of Regan Zambri Long are here to help.
Electric scooters or “e-scooters” are an evolving method of transportation in the Washington DC area. Anyone that has traveled around the city has noticed these scooters zooming past them or lying on the sidewalks.
Rental motorized scooter companies have provided a unique way to save time during your daily commute or enjoy the city on a sightseeing trip. Over the past several years, many companies have emerged as leaders in this industry. Notably, Bird, Lime, Spin, Skip, and Jump by Uber all provide rental scooters in the Washington, D.C. area. The increase in popularity and quantity of scooters has also caused an increase in the number of related injuries. Scooters are considered personal mobility devices and regulated under DC code § 50–2201.04a .
Scooters are a great way to get around the city in a timely and environmentally friendly way. However, they pose several injury risks. If you use an electric scooter, you need to be aware of the injury risks associated with riding a scooter.
In general, some of the most common e-scooter injuries are:
As reported by forbes.com, researchers from the University of California – San Francisco published a report in the JAMA Surgery about the rise in electric scooter accidents. They found that there is an alarmingly high proportion of people with head injuries. The team also found that you are much more likely to suffer a head injury when riding a scooter than a on bicycle. Helmets are strongly encouraged for riders.
Electric scooter accidents can be caused by many different reasons. New riders are at risk of injury because of the difficulty of riding these scooters. The wheels are small, and the wheelbase is short, making for an unstable ride.
Even experienced riders are at risk. Sidewalks and roads pose many threats. Sidewalks are littered with trash bins, poles, bumps, and pedestrians. Road risks include swerving cars, trucks, and pedestrian crossings. Remember to always be alert while riding and follow the safety tips below.
If you are going to ride in the city, here are some things you should know:
While you cannot control the actions of others, you can take measures to protect yourself from serious injuries should you be involved in an accident while on your electric scooter. Safety tips for electric scooter riders that can save your life include:
Just like cyclists need to share the road with motor vehicle drivers, so too do electric scooter drivers. To stay safe on roadways, electric scooter riders need to:
If you follow all the legally required safety precautions set by your state and city, and those that have proven beneficial to riders and still get hurt, know you do have options to recover losses
Please be considerate of where you leave your scooter. You do not want others to trip over a scooter. Several incidents of people tripping over scooters and breaking bones have been reported. Californiacitynews.org reported that an 88-year-old woman filed a lawsuit against Lyft after she tripped over an electric scooter and fractured her hip and elbow.
After your ride remember to:
Being injured on an electric scooter can be a scary experience, especially if it was you against a passenger vehicle. However, if you are injured while riding a scooter, there are steps you can take to preserve your safety and your claim.
Even if you are unsure of the severity of your injuries, you need to get medical attention right away. You or someone at the scene should call 911. When medical personnel arrive, allow them to do an exam on you. If they suggest you go to the hospital, you should.
Getting medical treatment right away following your electric scooter accident will be an integral part of your personal injury claim. Failing to get medical attention and then later developing injuries can hurt your case, as the insurance companies or other parties may say those injuries were not a result of the accident.
Just like any accident, it is important that you call the police and file a police report. This allows you to have formal documentation of the collision which can later be used to establish fault. Remember, you do not have to give an official statement to the police, just report the facts as you know them.
Know that anything you say can and will be used against you, even if you were not at fault. Because of this, do not make assumptions about what occurred.
To make a personal injury claim in the future, you need to have all the evidence and information at the ready. You should have documentation of the following:
While you are never required to get a lawyer, it can be beneficial to get the legal advice of a personal injury lawyer. A lawyer can help you:
If you were injured while riding an electric scooter because of the negligence of another, you need to be able to collect the compensation needed to move forward from the accident to recover. Because e-scooters are open, you are much more likely to suffer serious injuries if you are involved in a collision with a car.
Recoverable compensation in electric scooter accidents include economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include:
Non-economic damages include:
To recover damages, you need to have documentation that proves the extent of your injuries, the expenses you incurred, and the long-term implications of the accident.
Finding the right personal injury lawyer after your electric scooter accident can be complicated. But not every law firm has the experience to handle the delicate nature of e-scooter accidents.
At Regan Zambri Long, our personal injury attorneys can help you:
At Regan Zambri Long PLLC, we have more than 100 years of combined experience in providing legal aid to our fellow community members. If you or someone you know has been injured in an electric scooter accident, contact our personal injury team immediately for a no-obligation, free case evaluation.
We work on a contingency basis which means that you pay nothing until a settlement or verdict is reached. Don’t delay. Contact Regan Zambri Long today.
Tagged commute, scooter accidents, Scooters, transportation 