Electric scooters are a new trend in over 70 cities across the nation, and doctors are more aware then anyone. Hospitals across the country have seen an influx of electric scooter related injuries as the eco-friendly trend continues to soar. The question is now, who is liable for the injuries caused on an electric scooter? Unfortunately, it depends on who is at fault in the accident.
Types of accidents
To determine who is at fault in a scooter accident, it helps to understand the different types of accidents that might occur. Generally, there are four types of accidents that occur:
- Scooter rider hit by car
- Scooter rider hits another pedestrian
- Scooter rider injured by holes or cracks in street or sidewalk
- Scooter malfunctions and injures rider
In these accidents, either the scooter company, the city or state, the driver of the car or the scooter rider could be liable for damages.
Common injuries that occur
Electric scooters might be cheap— generally a $1 dollar flat fee and $0.15 cents per minute— but riding might not be as easy as it appears. Doctors have found the most common injuries that occur from electric scooter accidents are head injuries, broken bones and road rash. If you are riding an electric scooter, doctors encourage you to wear a helmet, riding in the bike lanes and practicing with an experienced electric scooter rider before your first time on your own.
Determining who is at fault can be complex and it can be helpful to someone with personal injury experience on your side, especially if you are dealing with the aftermath of an injury.