Scooters are fun and easy operate, but people can be injured if they do not follow certain rules that are meant to protect the rider and others on the road. Laws for the operation of an electric scooter include:

• You must be at least 18 years old to use an electric scooter
• You must have a current driver’s license
• You must wear a helmet while you are on the scooter
• Make sure to obey all traffic rules and signals
• Do not ride the scooter on the sidewalk
• Stay on bike lanes or areas designated for bikes
• Only one individual can be on the scooter at any time
• At least one hand must be on the scooter at all times
• Do not operate the scooter while under the influence or alcohol or drugs
• Scooters cannot be parked in the street or the middle of the sidewalk

It’s essential to follow all the rules and make sure that you did not cause or contribute to an accident. After all, you cannot file a lawsuit for monetary damages if you are the one who engaged in careless or reckless conduct.

There are many reasons for accidents involving scooters, including negligence by the person that’s operating the vehicle. Alternatively, someone using a scooter may be hit by a careless driver while out on the road or in a parking lot. Lack of maintenance by the rental company can also lead to an accident, even if the rider is following all the rules. Or, the scooter was being maintained, but the manufacturer produced an unsafe / defective product, and this is what caused the accident.

It’s essential that scooter manufacturers adhere to all safety regulations and ensure that they are releasing a safe product on the market. A product liability lawsuit may be the right course of action if you were injured because of issues like short circuiting, brake failure, and the scooter base disconnecting or coming loose from the rest of the unit.

We also talked about vehicle maintenance by the scooter company, but it’s important to note that repairs are usually done by a separate company. So, we also to look at the technician that fixed the scooter and whether they made the correct repairs, failed to diagnose a problem, used substandard parts, etc. Another third party that may be liable for scooter accidents is public entities, like the city department that’s in charge of street signs and road conditions. City agencies may also be responsible for tree branches that fall off and hit scooter riders if they are in charge of maintaining the tree.

This is a lot to absorb, but it goes to show you the complexity of figuring out who is liable for your injuries and who you can go after in a lawsuit.

Scooter accidents can cause severe injuries to the rider, and perhaps other that were nearby, like a pedestrian walking down the sidewalk. You are required to wear a helmet to ride a scooter, but this is only protection for your head. Even with a helmet, a crash can still leave you with significant head trauma that results in permanent health issues. Take a look at just some of the injuries you can sustain:

• Bone fractures
• Joint dislocations
• Neck or spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Missing or broken teeth
• Wrist or ankle sprain
• Torn ACL / MCL and other knee injuries
• Hip fracture
• Disc herniation
• Permanent nerve damage
• Ruptured spleen
• Infections from deep cuts and puncture wounds
• Loss of function in one or more limbs

Please go to a hospital right away to receive treatment for your injuries and establish a medical record. Without documentation that clearly shows the harm resulting from the accident, you will not be allowed to go ahead with an injury claim. Additionally, you can end up being disabled or lose your life if these injuries get worse due to lack of medical treatment. After you have been to the doctor’s, contact our office to speak with a scooter accident lawyer in San Jose.

By filing a lawsuit against the liable entity, you can receive medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and other valuable compensation. But you must ensure that you file a claim within the statute of limitations. In California, you have 2 years to seek monetary damages from the party that injured you. The starting point for the 2-year window is typically the date of your accident, but you should confirm this information with a personal injury lawyer to make sure that you are working with the correct deadline.

The statute of limitations can also be less than 2 years if you need to sue a public entity, like the City of Los Angeles. By law, claims for compensation from a government entity must be filed with the appropriate agency no less than 6 months from when the accident occurred.

—What to Do After a Bird/Lime Scooter Accident?

— Long Beach Bird Electric Scooter Injury Attorney