Lawsuits are being filed against electric scooter companies, such as Lime and Bird, by people were injured in car accidents or suffered head injuries, broken bones, paralysis, or death.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting scooter induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by a scooter due to someone else’s negligence, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Accident & Personal Injury Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: 41 Deaths Linked to E-Scooters and Micro-Mobility Products
From 2017 to 2019, at least 41 deaths 133,000 severe injuries were linked to e-scooter accidents and other micro-mobility devices, according to the U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
E-Scooters Behind Rise in Extreme Injuries & Deaths
What is the Problem?
Electric scooters offer a convenience, cost-effective way to make short trips in urban areas — but the number of accidents is growing rapidly.
Scooters can reach speeds of 15 miles per hour on a flat surface, or even faster going downhill, which is plenty of speed to cause injuries if a rider falls off, hits a car, brakes fail, or the scooter malfunctions.
“As one doctor put it, hitting your head on a scooter fall is about the same trauma as being hit in the head with a baseball bat.”
The problem is that even at slow speeds, a crash involving an electric scooter can cause devastating injuries. Any impact with a vehicle can easily cause broken bones, brain damage, paralysis, or death.
Study Finds Drugs & Alcohol Being Epidemic of E-Scooter Accidents
Alcohol, drugs, and not wearing helmets are behind most serious e-scooter accidents, according to a study published in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open by researchers in San Diego, California, and Austin, Texas — two cities that have seen a meteoric rise in the use of Bird, Lime, and other e-scooter injuries & deaths.
The study looked at 103 people who were hospitalized with e-scooter injuries. Of those people, 98% were not wearing helmets. Over 50% of them suffered severe brain bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage), or broken bones in their arms, legs, or face that needed surgery. About 40% had a blood-alcohol level over the legal driving limit, and nearly 50% had drugs in their system, such as THC (marijuana) or methamphetamine.
Common Types of Scooter Injuries
- Brain injuries
- Bleeding in the brain (intracranial hemorrhage)
- Facial fractures
- Organ damage
- Bone fractures in arms and legs
- Broken wrist, ankle, toes, and fingers
- Torn ligaments and tendons
- Face lacerations
- Teeth damage
- Eye injury and vision loss
- Scarring
- Paralysis
- Permanent disability
- Death
Pedestrians Injured by Scooter
Pedestrians who trip over a parked scooter may be able to file a lawsuit and seek compensation for their injuries. Pedestrians who are hit and injured by someone on a scooter may be able to seek compensation from the scooter rider’s homeowner or rental insurance.
Car Accidents with Scooters
Car accidents with scooters are likely to cause serious injuries or death. Accidents can be caused by the negligence of a distracted driver, but also a scooter rider who is weaving in and out of traffic.
Broken Scooter Accidents
Scooters are used hard, and it is not uncommon for them to break, or be damaged by vandals. For example, the wheels can go flat, the brakes can fail, or the baseboard can break off the steering column.
Lime Scooter Recalls
In November 2018, Lime scooters were recalled because they can break in half during use. In October 2018, Lime also recalled 2,000 scooters because the battery could catch on fire.
Can I File a Lawsuit Against the City?
Injured scooter riders might be able to file a lawsuit against the city if they were injured as a result of poorly maintained streets. Several injury lawsuits have been filed in Los Angeles by pedestrians who tripped over scooters, people who were injured while riding scooters, and people who were injured when scooters crashed into them.
Scooter Class Action Lawsuit
The city of San Diego is facing a class action lawsuit from disabled people who say too many scooters are blocking access to city streets and sidewalks, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Do I have a Scooter Injury Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting scooter induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured due to someone else’s negligence while riding an electric scooter, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Accident & Personal Injury Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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