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Scooter Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured in an electric scooter accident, an Advocate can help you recover.

A Scooter Accident Attorney Can Help Your Case

These days, electric scooters rented from scooter companies like Bird, Lime, and Spin can be found in major cities and smaller towns all throughout the country. While they’re a popular and fun mode of transportation, they have also led to a large increase in scooter accidents. When riding on the road, scooter riders are at risk of collision with motor vehicles (both those in motion and parked). If riders choose to ride on the sidewalk, they may find themselves dodging pedestrians and fixed objects.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a motorized scooter, The Advocates can help. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have assisted thousands of accident victims in recovering damages. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Injury

Immediately after your accident, check for injuries

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery

Treatment

Seek medical attention as soon as you can

Property Damage

Get any property damage assessed and repaired

Treatment Completed

Once you've completed treatment, your case can move forward

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex. Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.

Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees when you hire The Advocates.

Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. You will not pay us unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.

In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.

In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.

A Team of Legal Professionals Assigned to Your Case

For 30 years, the personal injury lawyers with The Advocates have helped victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you. 

We can help you:

  • Understand the claims process
  • Investigate your accident
  • Build your case
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters
  • Understand your medical bills

You only pay if we win your case!

Talking to a Professional

Talk to a professional

Scooter Accident Statistics

Man rides electric scooter on the sidewalk

Where are scooter accidents most likely to occur?

  • Most e-scooter accidents happen on sidewalks, even in areas where riding on sidewalks is prohibited. While 15 miles per hour may not seem very fast, it is much faster than pedestrians are moving. It can be easy to inadvertently collide with another person on the sidewalk
  • Cars and scooters are most likely to collide when a scooter rider enters the street from a sidewalk or crosses the entrance of a driveway
  • When scooters are parked or left lying in the middle of the sidewalk, they become a hazard to pedestrians, particularly those who are blind or otherwise disabled
  • Scooters left parked on the shoulder of the street are dangerous to bicyclists, who often travel near the side of the road

Common causes of scooter accidents

Some common causes of e-scooter accidents include:

  • Drivers failing to see scooter
  • Improper turns
  • Failure to obey signs and signals
  • Mechanical failures
  • Road hazards
  • Being “doored” by a car
  • Distracted riding
  • Impaired riding
Motion blur of child riding a scooter
common injuries that occur in scooter accidents

Common scooter accident injuries 

Injuries from scooter accidents can have a great range in severity, depending on the nature of the accident. Some of the most common scooter injuries include:

  • Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Lacerations, bruising, and road rash
  • Broken teeth

Scooter Accident FAQs

Bicycle helmet on a white background

Are helmets required on e-scooters?

In general, scooter companies encourage riders to wear a helmet, but it is not required by the app.

Some areas (such as the state of California) require all scooter riders to wear a helmet. In these places, the scooter app may ask you to take a picture of yourself wearing a helmet before you can begin your ride.

Some scooter riding apps, such as Lyft, offer free or discounted helmets to riders living in areas where helmets are required by law.

Always familiarize yourself with state and local laws before beginning a ride.This will both decrease the risk of a scooter crash, and keep you safe from being penalized for breaking the law.

Can e-scooters ride on the sidewalk?

Laws regarding where e-scooters may be ridden vary from state to state and city to city. For example, in Colorado, scooters may not be ridden on roadways, but are permitted on sidewalks. In California, scooters are not allowed to be ridden on the sidewalk.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found in a study that scooter riders were twice as likely as bicyclists to be injured when riding on the sidewalk. In contrast, however, bicyclists were three times as likely to be hit by a motor vehicle. Many cities are working on rules and guidelines for scooter use in order to help keep everyone safe.

The most important thing you can do to remain safe while riding scooters is to follow the laws of the area in which you are riding. By failing to follow the rules, you may surprise motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians around you. Riding unpredictably can lead to accidents, property damage, and serious injuries.

Man in flannel rides scooter across the courtyard area
Rear wheel of an electric scooter

Who is liable for my injuries?

The at-fault party in your accident will depend on the nature of the scooter crash. If you were riding a scooter and were hit by a motor vehicle, be sure to get the following information from the driver:

  • Contact information
  • Insurance information
  • License plate number

Be sure to also take pictures of the accident scene and seek medical attention as soon as possible. You should also file a police report, as your insurance provider may require one before you can file a claim.

If your accident was caused by a mechanical failure on the scooter, then the scooter company (Uber, Lyft, Bird, etc) may be liable. 

Regardless of who was at-fault in your accident, their insurance company isn’t likely to make it easy for you to receive maximum compensation for your damages. An electric scooter accident lawyer can help you get the settlement you deserve for your personal injury claim.

How long do I have to file a scooter accident claim?

Trying to navigate the legal process alone can be stressful and detrimental to your recovery. A personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal options and next best steps, but it is in your best interest to begin the process as soon as possible. Every state has a statute of limitations on personal injury cases. Once the deadline passes, you will lose your right of action.

Attorney discusses accident case with client
Woman with injured wrist signs contact with other hand

What damages can I seek after my scooter accident?

Every accident is different, and so is every personal injury case. The type of scooter accident you are involved in will determine the damages you can seek. Your attorney can provide legal advice and help you determine the compensation you may receive, such as:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages, including loss of future earnings
  • Physical and emotional distress
  • Funeral expenses (in the case of wrongful death)

When Should I Hire a Scooter Accident Attorney?

If you were injured in an accident with a Bird scooter or other e-scooter, you will need to gather evidence for your claim, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and possibly take your case to court. The claims process can quickly become long and complex.

The at-fault party’s insurance company will likely do whatever they can to avoid offering you a fair settlement. They may attempt to diminish the severity of your injuries, or deny liability altogether. When an insurance provider is unwilling to play fair, it can extend the life of your case by months or even years.

The Advocates’ scooter accident lawyers have decades of experience negotiating with insurance providers and fighting for our clients’ right to fair compensation under the law. We will go up against the at-fault party’s insurance company to get you a fair settlement offer and help you get on the road to recovery.

Your team with The Advocates will be by your side from the moment you contact us to the day your case is settled. Our number one priority is fighting for your rights under the law to ensure your peace of mind. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. You deserve a worry-free recovery. You deserve an Advocate.

FREE CASE EVALUATION

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