If you or a loved one were involved in a scooter accident in California, and sustained injuries as a result, trust the experienced Los Angeles personal injury firm MI ABOGADO®. We will help you hold any and all negligent parties accountable for their actions and fight for the maximum possible settlement.
Scooters, also known as motorized scooters, electric scooters, or e-scooters, have become increasingly popular in cities across the globe as an affordable, convenient, environmentally friendly, and fun way to get from place to place. With a low cost and a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour, a thirty-minute walk becomes a six-minute scooter ride, which costs around $5. In 2019, The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) granted permits to 8 scooter companies to operate 37,000 scooters across the city, and that number of scooters on California roads is significantly higher when you factor in all the cities with scooters across the state of California.
However, these scooters put riders, pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers at increased risk. Determining who is responsible after a scooter accident can be complex, with many factors at play, and with large companies with dedicated legal teams involved. It’s vital you secure the services of an aggressive, experienced personal injury lawyer who will fight for you and your best interests so you can see results for your losses.
How MI ABOGADO® Can Help Scooter Accident Victims
MI ABOGADO®, a boutique personal injury law firm based in Los Angeles, accepts cases across the state of California. Contact us today so we can start relentlessly fighting for you and your best interests. We are proud to represent any party who was injured in a scooter accident, not just scooter riders.
What is an Electric Scooter?
An electric scooter is a two-wheeled transportation device with handlebars and a platform to stand on that is powered by an electric motor, allowing for speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. They are “parked” in designated spots across cities globally.
Like rideshare services, scooter rides are all controlled by an app on your smartphone. You use the app to locate a nearby scooter and scan a code to unlock it before beginning your ride. At the end of your ride, the app shows you where you can leave the scooter, and locks it, making it available to the next rider.
There are certain rules scooter riders need to follow. Because operating a scooter involves more driving than riding, all riders must have a valid driver’s license. Scooters cannot be used on sidewalks and must keep to bicycle paths, trails, or bikeways. Each scooter can only have one person on it at a time, and the rider must dismount and cross the roadway on foot when making left turns. Riders cannot operate a scooter while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and riding while impaired can lead to a DUI charge and a ticket of around $350.
Common Causes of Scooter Accidents in California
Like any sort of roadway accident, many causes can result in a scooter accident. Some of the more common causes include:
- Scooter malfunction
- Rider error
- Road hazards, including construction
- Debris on the road
- Third-party error, including pedestrians, vehicle drivers, and bicyclists
- Scooter colliding with an open car door
- Pedestrian tripping over a scooter
- Poor weather conditions
Who Can Be Held Liable After a Scooter Accident?
Recovering after a scooter accident can be difficult, as scooter companies are not required to provide liability insurance, and scooter riders don’t have to be insured.
California has a two-year statute of limitations, or deadline, to bring a personal injury claim. That time frame begins when the accident occurred or when the injury was discovered. If the claim is being brought against a government agency, however, the injured party has six months to provide notice.
Because there are so many different causes, there are also many different parties who could be held accountable for a scooter accident. These include:
- The scooter company or product manufacturer, if the cause was scooter malfunction. Collecting from scooter companies can be complicated though, as riders are usually asked to sign a waiver and a consent form not to hold the company liable in an accident. However, with the assistance of a seasoned personal injury attorney, you may still be able to recover. Scooter manufacturers can be held liable for defective products.
- The scooter rider. When a rider hits someone while using a scooter, or if another party crashes attempting to avoid a collision with the scooter rider, the rider may be at fault. Additionally, if the scooter rider left their scooter in a place where a pedestrian could trip over it, they may also be liable.
- A local government entity, or, if on private property, the property owner. If the accident occurred as a result of roadway hazards, the entity who is responsible for keeping the roadway safe can be held liable for failing to properly maintain the roadway.
- A third party on the roadway. Whether a pedestrian, bicyclist, motorist, or otherwise, when another party on the road causes a scooter collision, or the scooter collides attempting to avoid a negligent party, they may be liable for their actions.
- The car owner or operator of the car door. If a third party carelessly opens a car door without checking whether there is any incoming traffic, and a scooter collides with that open door, they can be held liable for their actions.
Common Scooter Accident Injuries
There has been significant debate as to whether scooter riders should be required to wear a helmet. While it is, without a doubt, much safer to ride a scooter with a helmet, it simply isn’t realistic to carry around a helmet every day that you might find yourself riding on an electric scooter. California has abolished the helmet requirement for adults over 18 years of age but has left it up to each city’s discretion as to whether or not to follow suit. Regardless of location, any rider under the age of 18 must wear a helmet.
Some common injuries sustained as a result of scooter accidents include:
- Bruising
- Cuts, scrapes, and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Road rash
- Head injuries, including skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries
- Tissue damage
- Internal injuries
- Crush injuries
- Whiplash
- Facial, eye, or dental injuries
Who MI ABOGADO® Is
The personal injury law firm MI ABOGADO®, after serving over a quarter of a million clients, with 96% seeing results, is no stranger to any type of personal injury case, scooter accidents included. We have been recognized by many prestigious organizations for our experience and advocacy in the field.
After working in a big law firm setting, Attorney Javaheri made the switch and founded MI ABOGADO®, where, unlike the big law firms, he limits the number of cases he takes to ensure he can be available to every client that trusts MI ABOGADO® with their case. We make it our mission to deliver responsive, effective, and timely advocacy.
How Los Angeles Personal Injury Law Firm MI ABOGADO® Can Help You with Your Scooter Accident Claim
We believe that, following a scooter accident, you need to focus on you, your recovery, and your future. Leave it to us to take care of the rest, fighting relentlessly for the maximum settlement possible. Our comprehensive services start with a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding your accident. We’ll collect the evidence, talk to witnesses, and figure out who needs to be held accountable for their negligence. From there, we build the strongest possible case for maximum recovery.
At this point, negotiations will begin. We’ll take on the parties, their lawyers, and any insurance companies involved, along with those big scooter companies. Our goal is to reach a settlement at this stage, to save you the stress, aggravation, and uncertainty of taking your case to trial. We will fight for a settlement that reflects the harms and losses you’ve suffered, and if we can’t secure one, we’ll take your case to court, arguing before a judge and jury so you can see justice.
Contact Our Experienced Los Angeles Scooter Accident Attorney Today
The team at MI ABOGADO® understands that after sustaining injuries in a scooter accident, you’re likely struggling to stay afloat. That’s why we don’t take any fees upfront. We don’t get paid unless you do. We are so confident in our services that we will not take a cent from you until we win you your rightful settlement.
Our team is based in Los Angeles, but we have a vast network of trusted professionals and have implemented sophisticated technology, allowing us to take cases from San Diego to San Jose.
Contact us today for your free, confidential, no-obligation consultation or second opinion. The sooner you get in touch, the sooner you can see results for your harm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common scooter accidents?
The most common scooter accidents include collisions with motor vehicles, pedestrian accidents, and single-vehicle accidents caused by obstacles, uneven surfaces, or operator error. These accidents can result in a variety of injuries, ranging from minor cuts and bruises to serious head, neck, and spinal injuries.
How common are scooter accidents?
Scooter accidents have become increasingly common in recent years, particularly in urban areas where scooters are popular for short-distance transportation. However, the exact number of accidents is difficult to determine, as many accidents go unreported or are not captured in official statistics.
Can I sue the scooter company for an accident?
Depending on the specific circumstances of the accident, you may be able to sue the scooter company for an accident. Scooter companies have a duty to maintain and repair their vehicles, provide adequate warnings and instructions to users, and ensure that their scooters are safe for use on public roads and sidewalks. If the scooter company breached this duty and their negligence caused or contributed to your accident, you may be able to recover compensation from them.
What happens if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
If you were not wearing a helmet at the time of your scooter accident, your recovery may be limited or reduced, depending on the laws in your state and the specific facts of your case. In California, all riders and passengers on motorized scooters are required to wear a helmet, and failure to do so can result in fines and penalties. However, even if you were not wearing a helmet, you may still be able to recover some damages if the other party was partially or fully at fault for the accident.
What if I am partially at fault?
If you are partially at fault for a scooter accident, your recovery may be reduced or limited under the principle of comparative negligence. Under comparative negligence, your damages may be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you. For example, if you were 20% at fault for the accident and your damages were $100,000, your recovery would be limited to $80,000.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a scooter accident, contact our law firm today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. We can help you understand your legal options, protect your rights, and maximize your recovery.