Rideshare scooters from Lime, Lyft, and Bird have made their way to the streets of Tennessee, offering a low-cost, fun way to travel through the city. Anyone with a smartphone can download an app and ride away within minutes — with zero training or protection. Unfortunately, these scooters have a dangerous side that has been leaving people of all ages injured or dead across the country. If you have been injured in a rideshare motor-scooter accident, you will need the advice of an experience personal injury attorney to guide you though the next steps to take to recover as much as possible for you.

Rideshare Motor Scooter Injuries

Hospitals across the nation have reported an increase in scooter-related injuries and even deaths, as these scooters become more available. Injuries involving these types of scooters include:

  • Scrapes and abrasions
  • Lacerations
  • Bruises
  • Sprains
  • Broken Bones
  • Concussions
  • Traumatic Head Injuries
  • Death

While rideshare scooter companies recommend the use of helmets, these companies do not provide helmets (your car provides seat belts and air bags) most riders do not wear them, or any other protective gear, making them vulnerable to serious injuries.

Rideshare Motor Scooter Accident Causes

As more scooters arrive in cities each week, the risk of accidents increases. Motor scooters naturally have a small footprint, making them less visible on the road. They also travel at higher speeds, making them a danger for pedestrians when ridden on sidewalks. Common accidents involving motor scooters include:

  • Rider falling off during acceleration
  • Colliding with pedestrians and cyclists
  • Colliding with automobiles
  • Wheels getting caught in potholes and other road hazards
  • Careless riding
  • Intoxicated riding
  • Scooter malfunction
  • Tripping over motor scooters left on sidewalks

While new and fun to ride for some, rideshare scooters have clearly not worked out the issues they cause, making them a hazard to riders and non-riders alike.

Who is Liable for Injuries Caused by Rideshare Motor Scooters?

If you obtained injuries as a result of a rideshare scooter, you should be able to seek compensation for your injuries. The question is – “Who is liable?”. The answer depends on the circumstances.

For example, if you are injured by an un-manned scooter, you might seek compensation from the owner of the scooter. If, on the other hand, you were injured when a scooter-rider collided with you at an intersection, you might seek compensation from the rider, particularly if the rider was not following traffic rules, such as riding on the sidewalk, or failing to yield.

If you are riding a rideshare scooter and are obeying all traffic rules, but get hit by an automobile, you may seek compensation from the driver of the automobile.

What about injuries sustained while riding a scooter that malfunctions? Well, like any product liability case, the liability should fall on the manufacturer of the scooter for putting a defective product into use that caused an injury.

A personal injury attorney can help determine liability for rideshare motor scooter accidents. If you have been injured on a rideshare scooter, contact the personal injury attorneys at Cummings Law today. We have the expertise you need to get you the compensation you deserve.

 

Posted in: Motor-Scooter Accidents

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