San Diego scooter accident lawyers

Scooters were initially a transportation method for young people, as evidenced by the Razor craze in the 1990s. The vehicles did drop off for some years, though, only to feature a reemergence in electric form. Now, electric scooters are present in numerous big cities and are used by people of all ages. Riders have gravitated towards the vehicles because of the low costs as compared to taking other forms of public transportation, such as buses and trains. The scooters are even cheaper than rideshare vehicles, which have also taken the country (and world) by storm. In San Diego, the scooters are seemingly present on every corner, and you can always spot someone riding in downtown areas or near the beach. The amount of scooters on the ride means that there is a higher chance than ever for accidents to occur. If you need an electric scooter accident attorney in San Diego, call the Downtown LA Law Group today for help moving forward with your claim.

Scooter Information

Bird and Lime are two companies that have produced hundreds of scooters for people to temporarily rent. The scooters are electric and must be charged in between uses. One of the innovative aspects of the companies is that the scooters can be charged by regular individuals who apply with the program; they will drive around the city, pick up scooters, charge them at their homes, and drop them off at specific locations in the morning. This means that scooters are only available during specific times of day. The scooters can travel up to 15 mph and are meant for one rider at a time. The majority of scooters cost around $1 to unlock and then incur a per-minute charge of slightly less than 25 cents. For many, this is a great cheap option that allows them to spend less than $5 to cover a fair amount of distance.

Scooter Laws

California State Law has certain limitations and regulations for those who wish to ride scooters. Individuals who do not adhere to these laws can be punished with fines and jail time. For one, scooter riders must be over the age of 18 years old and possess a valid driver’s license to ride. They are prohibited from driving recklessly and from placing others in danger. This means that riders cannot operate scooters while drinking or under the influence of any substances. They also cannot operate them under certain medication. Riders must keep one hand on the scooter at all times, ride during the day or ensure that the scooter has ample lights and reflectors if riding at night, and must not be ridden with another person. You also must not hitch or hold onto the rears of any moving vehicles. Essentially, all riders must adhere to traffic laws. Therefore, riders need to obey traffic signals and speed limits, yield to pedestrians and anyone with the proper right of way, stop at stop signs and traffic lights, and more. It is required that all scooter riders wear helmets, regardless of age. This is also a regulation that is stated in most scooter companies’ terms of service. Some companies, like Bird, have handed out free helmets to riders. It is illegal for scooters to be ridden on the sidewalk. They must be ridden on the street and can be used in bike lanes. If there are no designated bike lanes, it is required that scooter riders stick to the side of the street to prevent any injuries and accidents. Upon finishing a trip with a scooter, all vehicles must be placed and parked in lawful locations that do not block traffic, walkways, exits, entrances, doorways, and more. It can be a tripping hazard for pedestrians if the scooter is protruding into the sidewalk and it can be dangerous for vehicles if the scooter is sticking out into the street.

Why Scooter Accidents Happen

Scooter accidents can be attributed to the negligence of various parties. An accident can occur because of a scooter rider’s poor choices or errors, or it can happen because a driver was not paying close enough attention. There may also have been issues present with the scooter that were never addressed by the company, or the scooter could have been poorly repaired. A short list of the causes of scooter accidents can be found below. Rider error, which may involve drunken riding, running stop signs, ignoring right of way laws, recklessly turning, riding in the middle of the street, ignoring traffic signals, using a phone while riding, and more

• Drivers, who may not see scooter riders and who can strike them while turning or merging
• Bicyclists, who may try to overtake scooters or lane split and hit them
• Road troubles, like potholes, cracks, lack of barriers, sudden drops, hills, steep curves, and more that could make it hard to operate scooters
• Environmental conditions, like ice, snow, fog, and rain, that may make visibility low and cause other drivers on the road to hit scooter riders
• Scooter defects, like broken tires and brakes, that could make the scooter suddenly stop working during a ride

Pedestrian accidents with scooters can be caused by individuals who leave the scooters on the ground in clear paths for pedestrians, as well. Not every incident may involve the scooter moving; in fact, the majority of pedestrian incidents involve stationary or parked scooters.

Learn more about your options for compensation by calling (855) 339-8879.

Scooter Accident Procedure

If you were in an accident with an electric scooter, you should be sure to take every step necessary to protect yourself, preserve your rights, and have the best foundation for a lawsuit. If you need assistance at any point, you can get in touch with one of our attorneys for help. We’ll gladly walk you through the process. The first step you should take is to ensure that you are safe and not seriously injured. If you need to, you can call the paramedics or go to the hospital for treatment. You should get seen by a professional to check for any damages, since some of the injuries can be masked or show up later. You also should go to the doctor to get medical receipts and notes, which will be provided to the insurance company during the lawsuit. If you do not go to the hospital, the insurance agent can disbelieve your level of injuries or that you were even in an accident. It is important that you take pictures of your injuries and any damages you suffered. You should also have photos of the scooter’s damage, the environment and scene of the accident, the other party and his vehicle, and more. Videos, such as surveillance footage, can also come in handy and benefit you. There may have been eyewitnesses or passengers who saw the incident happen, which means that you can interview them for their statements and testimonies. It is best to have numerous perspectives back up your claim, as some people had viewpoints that showed much more than you could have possibly seen. You should have screenshots of the ride information and copies of the payment from the scooter ride transaction. The more proof you have that you were legally on the scooter and not riding it without paying, the better off your claim will be. In some cases, the cops may show up to conduct an investigation, direct traffic, interview individuals, and more. If you wish, you can request the police report to be copied and sent to you once it has been submitted. You should then contact an attorney who has experience in electric scooter accidents. It is not advised to try and handle your claim yourself. You may have a fair amount of evidence that you aren’t able to organize, or you may not have the time and energy to go through with a case. An attorney can represent you, negotiate a fair deal, write the demand letter, handle all the different filings, and more.

Compensation from a Scooter Accident

Those who have been involved in accidents with scooters should be aware that financial compensation is available. There is the opportunity for victims to receive the following:

• Medical expenses from the past and future
• Property damage for lost or broken belongings
• Lost income from time spent away from work
• Pain and suffering for emotional trauma

The total worth of your claim is determined by an insurance agent. He will look at the degree of the injuries you suffered and how much of an impact they had on your life and career, your ability to work or change jobs, potential disabilities and daily life activities, your age, and more. He will also look at how negligent you were in the incident. If you were partially responsible for the accident, you may not receive the full amount in the settlement.

Learn more about your legal options: call (855) 339-8879 to speak with a representative now.

Let Our Firm Help

The Downtown LA Law Group is the premier law firm for electric scooter accidents. Our attorneys have handled numerous cases against Bird, Lime, and other companies that have not done their due diligence in protecting their customers. Riders should not be worried about what will happen if they are suddenly hit or involved in a crash. There should be ample protection available, and we will make sure that you are fully protected. For a free legal consultation, you can reach our firm any time of day. We will answer your questions and ensure that you understand the implications of your lawsuit, as well as how much it could potentially be worth. If you wish to hire us, we’ll give you our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you won’t have to pay a dime out of pocket for our services. We will only get paid if we win and if we lose we collect no payment whatsoever. The Downtown LA Law Group can provide you with expert San Diego scooter accident lawyers to handle your case. Call us today at (855) 339-8879 for help with your claim.