The Dangers of E-Scooters in California
As e-scooters have skyrocketed in popularity across California, many of us have had the same annoying experience. You’re walking downtown, shopping or sipping a coffee, when an e-scooter whizzes by you, nearly clipping your elbow. Yes, the apps say to observe all local laws—including those that state you cannot ride e-scooters on a sidewalk—but that doesn’t stop riders from using their rented scooters however they choose.
Since e-scooters are still relatively new and the rules for their safe usage aren’t widespread knowledge yet, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that accidents are a significant issue. If you’re the victim of an electronic scooter accident, don’t wait a second more to seek the legal help you deserve. The team at DeWitt Algorri & Algorri is ready to fight for you and pursue the compensation you deserve. Reach out now and call us at 1-855-WINNING (946-6464) to schedule your free consultation.
Electronic Scooters: More Accessible Than Ever
National reports show that e-scooter usage is on the rise. By July 2022, there were 158 cities with e-scooter systems in place. That’s almost twice as many as there were by the end of 2019. In total, this amounted to over 52 million e-scooter rides in 2021. This trend isn’t slowing down at all, and both personal ownership of e-scooters and use of rental electronic scooters is expected to ramp up in coming years.
This is especially true in Southern California. California was one of the first states to adopt electronic scooters with open arms. Wherever you go in a major city, you’re never too far from an electronic scooter rental center. With a click on your phone app, you can be up and rolling in seconds.
But the fact that e-scooters are widely available doesn’t mean that they’re being used safely. That’s evident in accident statistics.
Pedestrian Collisions
One of the big risks of electronic scooters is pedestrian accidents. Per state law, riders cannot exceed a speed of 15 miles per hour. That’s still fast enough to do serious damage if you hit a pedestrian. You do need a driver’s license to ride an e-scooter, but it can be any class of license.
E-scooters can only legally be used on bicycle paths, trails, and bikeways. They are not to be used on sidewalks, but if you’ve ever walked in any of the biggest cities in our region, you’ll know that it simply doesn’t happen. People will zig and zag in and out of foot traffic on sidewalks, often coming within inches of striking a pedestrian.
Unfortunately, these accidents often leave pedestrians with medical bills and questions. Do e-scooter riders have insurance? What about the companies that rent them out? Do pedestrians have any way of seeking compensation, especially if the rider just rode away?
Car Accidents
In addition to causing accidents with pedestrians, e-scooter riders may also be involved in vehicle accidents. Even if riders use helmets like they should, they’re still at significant risk of injury if they are struck by a vehicle. Per JAMA Surgery, e-scooter accidents increased 222% between 2014 and 2018. The majority of those injured were men. During the study, the head was the most commonly injured body part, and the most common types of injuries were fractures, contusions, abrasions, and lacerations.
Accidents may be caused both by riders and drivers. If riders aren’t cognizant of their surroundings, they may cut off a vehicle or cross in front of a vehicle without thinking about it. Drivers, especially those who are not used to driving around e-scooter users, may also fail to leave enough space while passing riders.
Protecting Yourself After an E-Scooter Accident
Your first call after an e-scooter accident should be to a personal injury lawyer. You may be able to seek compensation from the other person involved in the accident, whether they were a scooter rider or driver. This is still a relatively new phenomenon when compared to other types of accidents, so make sure to call a law firm with experience in e-scooter collisions.
Choose DeWitt Algorri & Algorri for Your Claim
You won’t find a more aggressive fighter than the personal injury lawyers at DeWitt Algorri & Algorri. We care deeply for our clients and we put everything we have into helping them get full and fair compensation. Let us bring that passion to your personal injury case. Contact us online or call us at 1-855-WINNING (946-6464) to schedule a consultation now.
Mark Algorri has successfully represented individuals and their families in matters involving serious and catastrophic injuries, insurance claims denials, and wrongful deaths, achieving a success rate of 99 percent for our clients.
