Electric Scooter Accident Injury Lawyers

How an Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer Can Help?

As an injured victim, it may be difficult to go up against an insurance company for an electric scooter accident claim. When you are injured, you may be too busy focusing on your injuries instead of legal matters. Additionally, you may also have difficulty establishing the correct responsible party or proving liability for the incident. A knowledgeable e-scooter accident injury lawyer can handle the complex legal processes on your behalf and ensure that you don’t miss any important deadlines. A lawyer can advise you of your legal rights and help obtain the maximum compensation possible for your injuries through settlement negotiations.

Why Choose Mesriani Law Group?

While there may be numerous legal counsel options for electric scooter injury claims, choosing the right representation for your specific situation is essential to obtaining successful results. At Mesriani Law Group, we provide our clients with the following:

No Win No Fee Policy

At Mesriani Law Group, we have a No Win No Fee guarantee. You don’t pay us anything if we don’t win your case.

Proven Track Record

Mesriani Law Group was founded in 1996 and since then, it has maintained its outstanding reputation of recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for its clients.

Experienced Electric Scooter Accident Attorneys

Rodney Mesriani and his team of highly skilled and accomplished lawyers have over two decades of experience among them and are thoroughly dedicated to fighting for victims of electric scooter accidents.

Satisfied Clientele

Mesriani Law Group represents clients all over Southern California and have been given the highest ratings as seen in Yelp, AVVO, Google, and alike. Direct communication and superior customer service is what our firm is known for.

Multilingual Staff

The firm’s multilingual team also speaks Farsi, Spanish, and Tagalog. Our professional and gracious staff are pleased to answer any queries you may have.

Available 24/7

We are available 24/7 to give consultation over the phone and if our clients are unable to meet at our office, we are amenable to meet you at your convenience.

What is an Electric Scooter? 

If you’ve been around Los Angeles or any other large metropolitan city in California, you’ve probably seen or have ridden an electric scooter. An electric scooter, or e-scooter is a motorized stand-up scooter powered by an electric motor. Considered a form of micromobility, e-scooters are typically designed with a large deck in the middle where the rider stands. Riders can operate an e-scooter with any class of a California driver’s license. The maximum speed for riding an electric scooter is 15 mph and they must be ridden on a bicycle path, trail or bikeway. Electric scooters cannot be operated on sidewalks.

It’s important to note that electric scooters are the same as a regular scooter. A scooter is a lightweight, two-wheel device with a flat platform between the wheels. The rider stands on the flat platform and pushes themselves forward by kicking off the ground to gain speed.

On the other hand, an e-scooter does not require the rider to kick off the ground for momentum. Rather, an e-scooter is motorized by an electric motor. Another major difference is that an e-scooter can travel much faster (up to 15 mph) compared to a regular scooter. Unfortunately, this also means that any accident involving an electric scooter can cause greater damage due to the faster speed.

In Los Angeles, Bird, Lime, and Lyft are popular electric scooter options. They have become increasingly popular over the years due to their convenience, ease of use, and speed. Riders can easily rent a Bird or Lime e-scooter using an app on their smartphone. A ride can cost as little as $1 to unlock and 10 to 35 cents per minute.

How Do Scooter Share Programs Work?

Similar to car ridesharing services, scooter share programs are managed through an app on your smartphone. To use an e-scooter, the rider starts by opening up the app on their phone to locate availably scooters nearby. Some e-scooter companies like Bird also allows you to reserve a scooter up to 30 minutes in advance.

Next, the rider can select the scooter, scans the QR code on the scooter to unlock it, hop on, and ride to their destination. Once they have arrived, the rider will park the vehicle in a designated area, lock it, and leave it for the next rider.

The Dangers of Riding Electric Scooters

The number of publicly available electric scooters have increased significantly over the past few years. Although e-scooters can be a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to get around, they can also pose serious safety hazards. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, injuries from micro mobility products including e-scooters increased 70% in the last four years. The data showed:

• From 2017 to 2020, there were over 190,000 emergency room visits due to micro mobility products.
• Much of the increase was attributed to emergency room visits involving e-scooters, which increased from 7,700 in 2017, to 14,500 in 2018, to 27,700 in 2019, and 25,400 in 2020.
• The most common injuries happened to the upper and lower limbs, but also to the head and neck.

If used correctly, e-scooters are relatively safe. Unfortunately, inexperienced riders, those who ride at maximum speeds, or fail to wear a helmet, may end up hurt. Additionally, there’s also the added risk of distracted drivers on the road or drivers with road rage that may end up crashing into electric scooter drivers. Some drivers break safety traffic laws by making unsafe lane changes, ignoring the right or way, speeding, or following e-scooter riders too closely. An accident involving an e-scooter and motor vehicle can cause serious or life-threatening injuries such as head, neck, or back injuries and broken bones.

What Should You Do If You Have Been in an Electric Scooter Accident?

While there are traffic and safety rules meant to keep riders and others on the road safe, sometimes accidents happen. If you were involved in electric scooter accident in Los Angeles or anywhere else in California, here’s what you need to do:

• If necessary, remove yourself from any immediate danger.
• Check for any injuries on yourself and any other parties involved. If you feel pain in your head, neck, or back, try to stay still and call 911 as soon as possible.
• Some injuries may not be immediately visible or take time to appear. Even if you don’t feel hurt right away, we still recommend that you seek medical attention. Have a medical professional check to see if you have any internal injuries.
• If you did not sustain any major injuries, call the police and provide a statement. Only state facts of the accident and do not try to give your opinion about what happened. Some insurance companies may try to downplay or completely deny your claim if the information you provide is untrue or inconsistent. It’s important to call law enforcement after an accident so they can take down a police report. This document may be beneficial to your e-scooter injury claim because it contains essential information such as contact information for all drivers, their insurance company information, and witnesses to the crash.
• Take photos of the accident scene including pictures of your physical injuries and any property damage. Photos will help prove your case and ensure that you receive fair compensation for any injuries or damage sustained from the accident. If you are unable to take photos because you are hurt, ask a witness to take photos for you.
• After taking enough photos, move your e-scooter out of the road, away from traffic, and to a safe location.
• Write down important details of the accident scene. Make sure you obtain the driver’s contact information such as their full name, driver’s license number, address, and telephone number. Don’t forget to write down their insurance information as well including the license plate and vehicle identification numbers. Ask to see a driver’s license and vehicle registration to verify that the information is accurate. It’s also a good idea to take a photo of the vehicle and license plate, if possible. If there are any witnesses on the scene, collect their name and contact information. A witness testimony will be an important part of your case and help ensure you obtain full compensation for any injuries or damages.
• Call a Los Angeles electric scooter accident lawyer as soon as possible. Depending on the specific situation, a lawyer can help advise you with the next best legal steps. There is a strict deadline for filing personal injury claims in California. Once the deadline has passed, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to seek any compensation for your losses.

Our experienced electric scooter attorneys at Mesriani Law Group have successfully obtained maximum compensation for accident victims throughout California. We offer free consultation and accept clients on a contingency basis. That means if we don’t win your case, you don’t pay us anything.

Common Causes of Electric Scooter Accidents

Electric scooters are an innovative and environmentally friendly way to get around Los Angeles. With its accessibility and ease of use, e-scooters encourages people to use them as an everyday mean of transportation. Unfortunately, even when riders follow safety traffic laws, accidents can still happen. Some of the most common causes of electric scooter accidents include:

• Car doors opening
• Construction or work crews
• Damaged pavement
• Dangerous left turns
• Driver blind spots
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Inexperienced riders
• Intersection collisions
• Losing control of the scooter
• Pedestrians
• Mechanical malfunctions
• Negligent car drivers
• Scooters riders under the influence of a substance
• Scooter vandalism
• Splitting lanes with another motorist
• Unsafe road conditions

E-scooter companies like Bird, Lime, and Lyft are responsible for collecting and charging scooters. They’re also responsible for ensuring that the scooters are regularly repaired and well-maintained. Failure to do so on their part may lead to scooter accidents leaving victims with serious injuries or even death.

Common Electric Scooter Injuries

Since electric scooter riders share the road with drivers, it puts them at risk of high-speed crashes. The severity of the injury will depend on the accident, but some of the most common electric scooter injuries include:

• Abrasions
• Brain injuries
• Contusions
• Concussion
• Dental injuries
• Head trauma
• Intracranial hemorrhage
• Skull fractures
• Upper and lower extremity injuries

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, head injuries are the most common type of injury in patients with electric scooter-related trauma. Nearly 30% of patients admitted to the emergency department were diagnosed with head and neck trauma. The injuries included skull, face, and neck factures, dental injuries, concussion, soft tissue injuries, and intracranial hemorrhage. Furthermore, 8 to 10% of all scooter injury patients admitted to the emergency department were diagnosed with major head injuries such as skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhage.

Types of Electric Scooter Accidents

As the popularity of electric scooters increase, so does the number of accidents. Some of the most common types of electric scooter accidents include:

• Single e-scooter rider accidents – A majority of electric scooter accidents happen when a rider loses control of the scooter. However, the rider isn’t always necessarily to blame for single scooter accidents. For example, a rider could follow all safety laws but hit a crack in the road that causes them to lose control and fall.
• Scooter and pedestrian accidents – An accident between a scooter rider and pedestrian can cause serious injury. Depending on the circumstances, either party could be responsible for injuries. For example:
  • Scenario 1: When a pedestrian could be liable – Joe is waiting to cross the street. He checks for oncoming cars but failed to see Kathy riding on her e-scooter in a bike lane, where she is allowed. Joe steps onto the street and gets hit by Kathy who is riding her e-scooter. In this scenario, Joe may be held liable for the accident because he did not see the Kathy, the e-scooter rider.
  • Scenario 2: When an e-scooter ride could be liable – John is riding his e-scooter on a sidewalk, as the law permits. However, he is riding at 15 miles per hour, which is too fast for a crowded sidewalk. Susan exits a restaurant nearby, steps onto the sidewalk, and gets hit by John, who was riding too fast to stop. In this scenario, John could be liable for any injuries sustained by Susan.
• Pedestrian tripping over an e-scooter accidents – After reaching their destinations, many riders simply discard their e-scooters in an inconvenient place that may cause a pedestrian to trip and fall. A pedestrian who trips over a scooter and gets hurt may be entitled to compensation for their injuries under specific circumstances. The circumstances in which liability are placed on others when someone trips require negligence on the part of the other parties involved. Here are a few situations where someone could be made liable for an e-scooter accident:
  • An e-scooter rider could be liable if he or she leaves a scooter on the street that cause someone else’s injury.
  • An e-scooter company could be liable if a scooter was left on the street for an unnecessarily long time, causing someone’s injury.
  • A premises owner if the trip and fall happened on their property.
• Scooter and car accidents – Accidents involving an e-scooter and a car can cause serious injury to the scooter rider. Here is a common scenario: Bob is riding his e-scooter in a bike lane. Tom, a driver who has parked his car, opens his car door into the path of Bob, who gets struck by the car door and gets injured. In this scenario, Tom may be liable for the accident because in most cities, drivers are required to check their side mirrors before opening a car door.
• Scooter accidents caused by poor sidewalk conditions – Some scooter riders can get injured by riding on a sidewalk left in poor or dangerous conditions. The city, adjacent property owner, or another party who is responsible for maintaining the sidewalk may be liable for negligence that causes personal injuries.
• Defective e-scooter accidents – While a lot of scooter accidents are caused by someone else’s wrongdoing, there are also many accidents due to defective or broken scooters.

How to Prevent Electric Scooter Accidents

One of the best ways to prevent electric scooter accidents is to obey all traffic safety laws. Here are some help tips that can help keep you safe while riding on the streets:

• Always wear a proper helmet while riding an e-scooter
• Keep an eye out for pedestrians
• Avoid weaving in and out of traffic
• Make sure that you stay out of car blind spots while riding on the road
• Always pay attention to your surroundings, especially at intersections
• Make yourself visible by using your headlight and wearing brightly colored clothing
• Ride withing your ability and take a training course prior to riding if necessary
• Don’t speed or cut corners too quickly
• Slow down before looking back or turning
• Always keep your eyes on the road
• Keep both hands on the handlebars
• Do not ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Additionally, it’s a good idea to conduct a safety check prior to riding. Do a visual inspection of your e-scooter by walking around and looking for any signs of unusual wear or damage. Make sure the wheels are properly intact and the batteries and lights are sufficiently powered. At the beginning of your ride, test out the brakes and throttle to make sure they are working properly. If you detect any issues, don’t use it and find another e-scooter.

Electric Scooter Regulations

With over 4 million people living in the city of Los Angeles and over 18 million people in the greater Los Angeles area, bad traffic is something many residents are familiar with. While riding an e-scooter is a great means of micromobilty, it can also be dangerous. To help prevent accidents and keep riders safe, here are seven California e-scooter laws you should know about:

1. Minors are required to wear a helmet. (California Vehicle Code (CVC) 21235)
2. The maximum speed is 15 miles per hour using a bike lane. (CVC 22411)
3. E-scooters must be ridden in bike lanes (such as bike paths or bikeways) when they are available. However, there are several exceptions to this law including when the rider is passenger another vehicle or pedestrian, when making a left turn, when the rider is avoiding a hazard in the bike lane, and when the rider is turning to the right. (CVC 21229)
4. Passengers are not allowed on the scooter; E-scooters cannot be ridden on the sidewalk; and rider must have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit. (CVC 21235)
5. When dismounting and walking for left-hand turns the rider must stop after the intersection on the right curb, dismount or go down the scooter, and cross the roadway on foot. (CVC 21228)
6. It is a violation to ride an electric scooter on a crosswalk. Sidewalks are also considered crosswalks which are street intersections that are approximately at right angles. (CVC 275).
7. Electric scooters must obey all traffic rules as a motor vehicle. E-scooters and motor vehicles have the same rights and responsibilities. (CVC 21221)

In addition to these laws, there are several things that you can do it preserve your rights and strengthen your claim in case of an accident including:

• Wearing a helmet, regardless of age.
• Always ride in a designated bike lane on the street, not on the sidewalk.
• Don’t carry a large package or anything that requires you to take one hand off of the handlebar.
• Don’t leave the e-scooter on its side on the sidewalk.
• Park the e-scooter properly so that it’s not blocking pedestrian traffic.
• Don’t attach yourself or the e-scooter to another vehicle.

No one ever wants to get into an accident, but unfortunately, they sometimes happen. Do your best to keep yourself and others on the road safe by following all traffic safety laws. However, if you have been injured while riding an e-scooter due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact a Los Angeles electric scooter accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your potential claim.

Who is Liable After an Electric Scooter Accident?

An injured e-scooter rider may be eligible for damages if he or she can prove that their injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence. The four elements required to prove negligence include:

1. Duty – The defendant had a duty of care. There is a duty of care when the law recognizes a relationship between two parties and due to this relationship, one party has a responsibility to exercise the same level of care that another reasonable person would in similar situation.
2. Breach of duty – The defendant breached that duty of care when he or she fails to meet an applicable standard of care. In other words, a defendant breached a duty of care when he or she did or did not do something that an average person would do in a similar situation.
3. Causation – The plaintiff must show that the defendant’s breach of duty was the cause of his or her injuries and losses.
4. Damages or harm – The final element of negligence requires the plaintiff to show that he or she suffered injury or loss from the accident. It must an injury or loss that a reasonable person in a similar circumstance could expect and monetary compensation may be the only form of relief.

An experienced Los Angeles electric scooter accident injury attorney can help prove these elements of negligence and built a strong case on your behalf. If you were injured due to someone else’s wrongdoing, the liable party could include:

• The electric scooter company – An e-scooter company such as Bird, Lime, or Lyft could be held liable if their scooter is defective or broke any state regulations.
• The product manufacturer – A product manufacturer of electric scooters could be liable if the company produced a part that is defective and caused an accident.
• The driver – Another drive could be held liable for an accident if he or she engaged in negligent or reckless behavior that caused the crash.
• A government agency – If your accident was caused by a poorly maintain road, sidewalk, curb, or defective traffic light, a government agency could be held liable for your injuries.

In some e-scooter accident cases, there may be than one responsible party for the accident. E-scooter accidents are complex and may require an experienced California electric scooter accident injury attorney to determine the correct liable parties to file a personal injury claim against. Mesriani Law Group has been helping victims of electric scooter accidents throughout Los Angeles obtain compensation for their losses. If you have been involved in an e-scooter accident, contact our law firm today for a free consultation. 

Electric Scooter User Agreements

An electric scooter user agreement is an important element that can be used to determine liability in an electric scooter accident. All e-scooter riders are required to sign this user agreement which are legally binding between the e-scooter rider and the e-scooter company.

One of the most important things to note about the user agreements is the amount of liability for the e-scooter company in the event of an accident. For example, below are some highlights from Bird’s user agreement:

• All applicable laws and regulations (including, without limitation, those applicable to traffic, pedestrians, parking, and charging vehicles) must be obeyed, including any helmet laws in your area.
• Upon conclusion of your ride, the vehicle must not be parked at a prohibited parking spot (i.e., unauthorized private property, in a locked area, blocking the right of way, or in any other unapproved non-public space).
• You must promptly report any damaged or malfunctioning vehicles to operator via the app or e-mail.
• Rider is sole user.
• Rider is at least 18 years old
• Rider is a competent vehicle operator.
• Rider must follow laws regarding use and/or operation of vehicle.

User agreements are often very long and complex documents. Unfortunately, any rider who breaks any term in a signed user agreement document is held responsible for any injuries incurred during an accident.

How to Prove Liability in an Electric Scooter Accident Claim

If you were injured in an electric scooter accident, there are several things you will need to build a strong case against the party at-fault. In the event of an accident, items you will need to prove liability include:

• The other driver’s information – If your accident involved another vehicle, write down contact and vehicle information of the other driver. Important details to write down include the driver’s full name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, vehicle license plate, and insurance information. If possible, take a photo of the driver’s license, vehicle license plate, and vehicle registration.
• Photos – To prove liability, you will need pictures to prove that the accident happened and of any injuries you sustained, and any damage to your property. Use your phone or another camera to take photos of any visible injuries you may have and to any damage to your property including your helmet and e-scooter. If you are too hurt to take pictures, ask someone to take them for you.
• A police report – It is important to call 911 when you’ve been in an accident so the police can file an accident report. Be sure you get the police report number so you can request a copy of the police report when it’s ready. This report will include details about the accident and the extent of the damage to your property and scooter. Make sure you tell only the truth to the police and avoid making any unclear statements because it can affect your insurance claim.
• Witness statements – If there are any witnesses on the scene, it’s a good idea to get their contact information also. When it comes to insurance claims, having witnesses back up your story can be extremely helpful.

Electric Scooter Rider Negligence

Sadly, rider negligence happened numerous times in large cities across the country including Los Angeles. A common scenario of rider negligence is when an e-scooter rider fails to follow electric scooter laws and causes an accident. For example, a rider disobeys the law by speeding on the scooter and crashes into a nearby pedestrian.

Injured victims can seek legal action by retaining the services of a e-scooter attorney who can hold the rider responsible. In some situations, the e-scooter company may be held liable as well. An experienced electric scooter accident attorney can identify all of the responsible parties and help get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Compensation for Electric Scooter Injury Claims

Unfortunately, many e-scooter accidents are the result of someone else’s negligence or intentional act of malice. Regardless, injured victims may be entitled to compensatory damages such as:

• Past medical bills
• Anticipated future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Property loss
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of support or companionship
• Loss of consortium
• Reduced earning capacity
• Wrongful death (if applicable)

Call Today to Talk to an Experienced Electric Scooter Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident involving an electric scooter in Los Angeles or anywhere in California, we can help. Our expert legal team has extensive experience pursuing personal injury claims with a proven track record of obtaining the best possible results for our clients. We take time to understand the facts surrounding each electric scooter accident and will determine if you have a viable personal injury claim. Our knowledgeable and experienced attorneys will fight for your right to obtain fair compensation to cover necessary costs such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Mesriani Law Group accepts clients on a contingency basis and that means if we don’t win your case, you don’t pay us anything. Contact our law office today for your free consultation.