Electric scooters have gained popularity in cities around the country. With companies such as Bird, Lime, and Bolt, getting around is easier than ever. Many city dwellers appreciate shared electric scooters for their convenience. You can simply hop on once you come across one, ride it for however long you need, and leave it on the street once you arrive at your destination. Although there are many benefits to electric scooters, they can be involved in many accidents as well. For legal help with your shared e-scooter accident, speak with a skilled San Mateo County, California scooter accident lawyer today.
What Causes Electric Scooter Accidents?
Electric scooter accidents can happen for a variety of reasons and involve a variety of people. A rider may have an accident that just involved them, or they might face a collision with a pedestrian, bike, car, or other vehicle. Any of these accidents can yield serious injury for the scooter driver or another party.
Accidents can be a result of negligence on the part of a scooter driver, car driver, biker, or pedestrian. They can also be neither party’s fault and have resulted from some unforeseeable hazard. Because the scooters are electric they can also be prone to malfunctioning and failure which can result in accidents. Although it may not seem like it, accidents involving these scooters can cause fairly severe damage and injury, especially for the rider. The following are some injuries that can be sustained in an electric scooter accident.
- Bruising
- Lacerations
- Road rash/burns
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spine or neck injury
- Concussion
- Facial or eye injury
Who Can Be Considered Liable?
There is a wide array of people or entities that may be deemed liable after an electric scooter accident. The person who is deemed responsible will vary from case to case since every accident is unique. The scooter driver, another e-scooter driver, a pedestrian, a car driver, the scooter company, or even the local government can face liability and legal consequences depending on the circumstances of the accident.
Anyone who directly contributed to the accident can be responsible. For example, if the scooter rider was in the bike lane and a car swerved and hit them then the car driver will be liable. If the scooter driver was on a restricted sidewalk for pedestrians only and strikes a pedestrian the scooter driver will be liable.
However, there are many instances where the e-scooter company could face liability. If the accident occurred because of a malfunction with the scooter, the company can be held responsible. They can also face partial liability for certain factors such as if the driver sustained a brain injury because of not wearing a helmet. The company may or may not have warned its users to wear a helmet, but it surely did not provide one with the rental.
Electric scooter accidents can also largely occur due to the state of the road and sidewalks. If bumpy roads, potholes, or unpaved walkways were the cause of your accident the local government could face liability due to lack of maintenance.
