What to Do If You or a Loved One is Injured While Riding a Scooter
Today we discuss if you get Injured While Riding a Scooter. The sight of adults using scooters to make their way through traffic-clogged streets has become a common sight in cities across America.
Companies such as Lime and Bird make scooters available to rent through an app on your smartphone. Scooters have certainly come a long way from the homemade creations children built in the 20th century from wood scraps and old roller skates to propel themselves along city sidewalks.
Today, modern, commercially produced versions of the wood-and-roller-skate kick scooters have been joined by ones powered by engines running on batteries or gasoline.
Their popularity has come with a significant increase in the number of accidents and injuries. Scooter riders need to learn how to, pedestrians, and other riders and understand what to do if injured while riding.
Other parties, including pedestrians, scooter riders, and property owners, may also be liable when their negligence causes you to be injured in a scooter accident. A consultation with a may help to identify parties who may be liable.
Steve has been writing legal-centric articles for several years now. He started working with the personal injury attorney law firm Herrig & Vogt in 2019 as the Content Marketing Manager, which has allowed him to expand on his writing in personal injury, family law, and much more. Steve strives to offer the public advice on various laws covering a variety of practices.
Common causes of scooter accidents
Maneuvering a scooter around pedestrians, cars and motor vehicles, and other scooters can be challenging for even an experienced rider.
- Collisions with cars and other types of motor vehicles.
- Mechanical defect in the scooter.
- Potholes, debris, and other road hazards.
- Car doors open into the path of a scooter.
- Collisions with other scooters, including rented scooters left on the ground.
- Collisions with bicycle riders and pedestrians.
Parties who may be liable for causing you to be injured while riding a scooter include:
- Scooter-rental company: Lime, Bird, and other companies that rent scooters may be responsible for accidents caused by a mechanical malfunction that causes an injury. They may also be responsible for allowing their scooters to clutter sidewalks.
- Drivers of motor vehicles: You may have a claim against the operator of a car, truck, or other motor vehicles that collide with you.
- Scooter manufacturer: The manufacturer and seller may be liable if a defect or malfunction in the scooter you are riding causes you to be injured.
- Municipality: Cities, counties, and other municipalities may be held responsible when potholes or other defects in a roadway cause you to be injured while riding a scooter.
Injuries suffered while riding scooters
One study found that 50% of the injuries suffered by scooter riders involved the head, which should encourage all riders to wear a helmet. Other trauma reported by riders included:
- Fractured bones
- Concussions and traumatic brain injury
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations and bruises
- Sprains and strains
If you suspect you may be injured after a fall or accident while riding a scooter, you should have it evaluated by a physician.
What To Do If You Or A Loved One Is Injured While Riding A Scooter
If you or someone you love suffers an injury in a scooter accident, you should do the following:
- Call 911, remain calm, and await the arrival of paramedics to evaluate your condition.
- Avoid discussing your injuries or how the accident occurred with anyone at the scene other than police and paramedics.
- If you are physically able to do so, obtain the names and contact information of all parties involved in the accident as well as any witnesses who may have seen or heard what happened.
- Take photos of the accident scene, including pictures of the scooter and other vehicles, or ask someone else to do it for you.
Contact a personal injury attorney as soon after the accident as possible. The legal advice and guidance of the attorney may offer options for pursuing a claim for damages against the parties at fault for causing you to be injured.
