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Electric Scooter Accidents

The presence of rentable, dockless electric scooters, or e-scooters, has gone from nonexistent to virtually everywhere in just a few years. Now, millions of people use these rental scooters, which are available to rent in cities in 28 states and over 50 cities globally. Because this form of transportation is so widely used and accessible to just about anyone, there is, unfortunately, no shortage of injuries associated with them. Lime Scooters, specifically, can reach around 15 mph. These speeds, combined with lack of helmets, pedestrians, cars, and any bumps on the pathway, are enough to cause injuries of varying degrees of severity Lime, currently, the largest e-scooter company, has been supplying electric scooters since 2018. More than 1,500 injuries have been recorded and, according to Consumer Reports, about eight deaths have occurred since 2018.

Electric Scooter Accidents

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Lime electric scooter accident, you may be entitled to filing a lawsuit and recovering compensation for your injuries. Contact Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers today at 800-PERKINS to schedule a free and confidential consultation. Our experienced and compassionate electric scooter accident attorneys will explain all of your legal options and help you begin the road to recovery.

What Is Lime?

Lime is a rental company providing “smart mobility for the modern world,” as their mission statement reads, in their most popular forms of Lime-E electric-assist bikes and Lime-S electric scooters. Lime was founded in early 2017 and started pushing out its e-scooters the next year. They quickly became popular, flooding sidewalks and streets, especially in densely populated cities. Cheap, accessible, exciting, and efficient, they were marketed toward a fun-loving, spontaneous audience.

Users can download the Lime app onto their smartphones, scan their driver’s license, and connect to their bank accounts. They then use their GPS to see which scooters are closest to them, scanning the barcode on the top of the handlebars to connect to the scooter and activate it. The app and scooter connect to track the user’s location and duration throughout their ride to charge them accordingly. These scooters use either hand brakes or a brake on the back to step on to slow down. Whenever the user is done using it, they can simply end the ride, which, in turn, locks, the scooter and leave it wherever they are for the next person to find.

The Many Dangers Of E-Scooters

While these scooters may seem fun and not of any particular danger, it does not take much for them to become hazardous, or potentially fatal. Drivers or pedestrians not using the scooters are at risk of being injured as well. Accidents are prone due to a number of reasons. These reasons include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • High speeds. This will affect mostly a pedestrian or the user of the scooter hitting a car or object in their way. If traveling at the max speed of 15 mph, the pedestrian who is struck may suffer serious injuries.
  • Not braking in time or braking too hard. This can cause collisions if the brakes were applied too late, or if too hard, can cause the user to fly over the handlebars headfirst. This most often results in head trauma and more serious injuries.
  • Incorrect or reckless steering. This may cause unnecessary collisions, affecting pedestrians or the scooter user.
  • A reckless operation can cause the scooter to skid and the user to lose control.
  • Pedestrians crowding the sidewalks. In cities, sidewalks and crosswalks may be crowded and congested. This increases the chance of dangerous collisions, especially if users are traveling at the max speed and being reckless.
  • Cars, motorcycles or bikes in the streets. While scooters may not affect larger, more protected motor vehicles on the road, it may cause serious or fatal injuries for cyclists or the scooter users themselves if involved in a crash with another vehicle.
  • E-scooters being left on sidewalks or roadways. When users are done with their ride, they may leave the scooters virtually anywhere they choose. While there is a stand for them to remain upright, many times they are carelessly left strewn on sidewalks or on the sides of the street where they can run into or tripped over.
  • Bumps, rocks, or cracks on the surface of the sidewalk or road. Curbs, a raised sidewalk, a small rock or even gaping cracks can cause the scooters to be jostled or go careening out of control, which is dangerous for both users and other people around them, especially if traveling at high speeds.
  • Other objects on or near pathways. Poles, trees, benches, planters, and trash cans can cause issues if not seen by the user and ran into. These injuries may be especially serious the faster the scooter is going.
  • No helmets or other safety measures included with the scooter. Motorcyclists and cyclists often wear helmets due to potentially fatal head trauma that can occur in the event of an accident. While Lime suggests wearing helmets when riding their e-scooters, they do not provide any themselves. Users have to bring their own. However, because many users spontaneously decide to ride one, many are without a helmet or other protective gear when riding.

 

These are all common factors that play a part in e-scooter accidents, most of which companies like Lime do not have any control of, and therefore cannot regulate it. Therefore, an accident revolving around these scooters may not be your fault. If you were injured in an accident while using a Lime-S electric scooter or because of someone else using them, we are ready to help you.

Have you been injured in an accident or fall? Do You have question and want to know your legal options. Call 203-437-6190 for a free consultation and remember there is NO FEE unless WE Win.

Why You Need A Lawyer

Because e-scooters are usually the fault of the person operating them and there are a hundred different ways an accident can occur, it is oftentimes difficult to determine who exactly is liable and why. E-scooter rentals are a new means of transportation and no laws or regulations specific to e-scooters have been erected as of 2019. And while Lime has guidelines and loose “rules” for their users, there is currently no enforcement of these rules by Lime, allowing users to do as they please. Due to this, it may be the city, the scooter user, the company, or the driver of a vehicle that is at fault for your accident. A lawyer who has dealt with electric scooter injury cases before has the knowledge necessary to be able to specifically assess why your injury occurred and who is to blame for it. They will also be able to expertly represent you and your fight in court and have the resources needed to get the most compensation possible out of your case while doing so.

Who Is Liable?

Liability gets slightly unclear in e-scooter accident cases. Below is a list of scenarios showing who will most likely be held liable for causing the accident: • User vs. Pedestrian: User • Pedestrian vs. User: Pedestrian • User vs. Motor vehicle operator: Whoever was not following the laws of the road, or comparative negligence may come into play • User/Pedestrian/Driver vs. Malfunctioned Scooter: The company Lime itself • Unmanned Scooter vs. Pedestrian: The company Lime itself, or, in some situations, the city in which the accident occurred • Hazardous conditions vs. User: The city, or property owner, in which the accident occurred For more specific information on who may liable in your case, we offer a free consultation that you can use to find more information regarding your unique accident.

Why You Should Hire Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers

Our attorneys here at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers have a combined 100 years of legal experience in fighting for clients’ rights. We have won millions of dollars for them as well. Because of this, we have extensive knowledge representing injury claims and are confident that we can secure a win for you too. We understand that being injured can be scary and confusing. Our lawyers are here for you and will fight until the end for you and the monetary compensation that your accident and injuries are entitled to. We believe that justice is deserved by every injured individual and the attorneys at Perkins will not rest until we secure that for you, too.

Ask Us For More Information

If you have any questions, feel free to chat with us. Our lawyers here at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers are ready to give you their all. Contact us now if you or a loved one has been in an e-scooter accident and want more information on how to begin to file a case, or to hire a lawyer and get started today. We offer a free initial consultation that you can begin by filling out the form above or, or you can call us at 800-PERKINS as well.

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If you are in need of a devoted and aggressive attorney, contact Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free initial consultation and case evaluation.

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