Are Electric Scooter Companies Liable for Injuries?

by Vikas Bajaj

Electric scooters are experiencing a significant increase in popularity as micro-mobility options begin to pop up in cities around the United States and across the globe. They offer ease of use, simply storage, and an easy rental model that makes this option a no-brainer for people who are hoping to opt-out of public transit, driving or Ubering across congested city centers, or riding a bike that requires much more storage space. Depending on who you ask, scooters might solve many of our cities’ transportation issues, or they may be a major problem that will only get worse. 

Regardless of which side of the electric scooter conversation you fall on, though, you will agree that this popular form of transportation means that there will be new ways that people are hurt commuting across cities, and therefore a new need for updated traffic rules of the road, new legislation for scooter rider rights, and a better understanding of personal injury cases stemming from scooter accidents. For example, are electric scooter companies liable for injuries suffered by people who are riding on these devices? Read more about that below.

Contact The Law Offices of Vikas Bajaj Today To Discuss Your Scooter Accident

The complexity surrounding scooter accident cases is due to a range of issues, particularly the fact that these types of accidents are relatively new when compared to things like car accidents, truck accidents, and bicycle accidents in cities. However, even these long-established accident types are complicated, and the process that a victim must go through to get fair compensation following an accident can be overwhelming. 

If you have been in an electric scooter accident, contact our firm as soon as possible to discuss your situation during a free initial consultation. During this consultation, we will be able to discuss the specifics of your accident and provide you with a better sense of how we can help you move forward with a strong personal injury case and fight for the money that you deserve as a victim in this case. In the early days following a personal injury, you will have a lot that you need to worry about – your legal needs should not be part of those worries. We will help you get some peace of mind about your future options, and explain the importance of working with an experienced law firm to get the most out of your case.

Read more below about when a scooter company could be liable for your injuries, and contact us now to learn about how we can help you with your specific accident as soon as possible.

When Is a Scooter Company Liable For Your Injuries?

If you get into an accident with a driver or pedestrian while riding your scooter that either you or the other person caused, then the scooter company will have nothing to do with your accident, and therefore will not be liable for your injuries. In this case, you will need to explore your options for compensation through the standard electric scooter accident claim route, which is treated like any other accident.

Defective Electric Scooters

However, if your accident was caused by a mechanical or design failure that caused a malfunction – such as a dead battery or brake failure in traffic – then you may be able to seek compensation from the scooter company itself. These types of issues may be known within the company, and we will set out to prove that the electric scooter should have taken appropriate steps to keep you from being injured by the defect, and failed to do so.

Broken Scooters

Things like loose handlebars, broken throttles, and a variety of other mechanical problems that could be avoided or remediated with proper maintenance have the potential to be a serious issue for a rider who activates a scooter and heads on their way trusting that the company has taken the proper precautions. Electric scooter companies have teams of people who travel around the rental areas performing checks and repairs on scooters so that these types of injuries can be avoided, but there is no guarantee that they will address 100% of these problems in time.

Trip and Falls From Electric Scooters

In addition, there is the possibility that your trip and fall over a scooter that another rider left laying across a stairwell or sidewalk, at which point you may also be able to explore your options for filing a lawsuit against the scooter company. Part of the appeal of electric scooters is their compact sizes, but this also means that riders can simply ride up to their destination, end their ride, and just leave it wherever they choose. Cities have had a significant problem with this behavior, especially when compared to e-bike rentals that must be returned to docks.

Simply put, you can seek compensation from the scooter company if your injuries are the result of their own negligence or failures, as opposed to the negligence of another individual who caused your accident. 

How To File a Claim Against an Electric Scooter Company For a Defective Product or Other Liability

The process of initiating a claim against an electric scooter company like Lime or Bird can seem daunting, and rightfully so – from the moment you first reach out to the company to inform them of your injuries, a team of attorneys will spring into action to find the most effective way to either deny your claim outright or pay as little as possible while clearing themselves of any additional legal liability. In order to counteract these legal efforts, you will want to partner with your own attorney as soon as possible to ensure that all of the proper steps are taken in order to maximize your chances of a fair settlement. 

The sooner you contact The Law Offices of Vikas Bajaj, the sooner you will be able to make informed decisions about your upcoming legal case with confidence. We look forward to speaking with you and helping you get the justice that you deserve for your injuries and your suffering.