Electric scooters are showing up in cities across California, providing a convenient way to get around but also leading to a lot of preventable injuries. As more riders hop on these scooters without much experience or safety gear, injuries are increasing, leading to the need for help from a Van Nuys Lime and Bird eScooter accident lawyer. If you experience an injury on an eScooter, it can be worthwhile to get help to see if you have a case with a Van Nuys bicycle accident lawyer at Venerable Injury Law.
Unsafe Electric Scooter Practices in California
Electric scooters have exploded in popularity across California as an affordable and convenient form of urban transportation. However, many riders engage in unsafe practices that can lead to serious injuries for themselves and others. Scooter riders often violate traffic laws by speeding, ignoring traffic signals, or riding on sidewalks.
A lack of experience combined with the scooters’ relative instability frequently results in falls and collisions. New riders underestimate the learning curve involved in safely operating a stand-up electric scooter and make easily preventable mistakes. Helmet use is also infrequent among scooter riders, exacerbating potential head injuries when accidents occur.
Many riders engage in scooter stunts and tricks in public areas or operate them while intoxicated, dramatically increasing risks. Authorities have increased public education campaigns and are considering implementing more regulations and enforcement to curb dangerous scooter driving habits for the safety of all. However, if you face an injury because of something that wasn’t your fault, a personal injury lawyer in Van Nuys at Venerable Injury Law may be able to help.
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Risks Faced by Bird and Lime Riders in California
Riders of shared electric scooters face considerable safety hazards due to the nature of the vehicles and riding conditions. Scooters reach speeds of 15 mph but have small wheels and narrow platforms, making them prone to cracks and debris sending riders flying. Minimal rider protection also leads to more severe injuries when accidents occur.
The scooter rental model also offers no training, and many riders are first-timers with limited experience managing vehicle instability. Meanwhile, urban landscapes like broken sidewalks, potholes, and traffic create obstacles that easily catch less skilled riders off guard. Poor visibility and lack of designated lanes also raise risks of collisions with pedestrians and vehicles.
A lack of provided safety gear means riders infrequently take their own precautions. The vast majority operate rental scooters without protective pads and clothes that could reduce injury severity. More community education and possibly regulations are likely needed to ensure rider safety keeps pace with the popularity of electric scooters.
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Common Injuries Bird and Lime Riders Face
Electric scooter accidents frequently lead to serious body trauma, given riders’ lack of protection when mishaps occur. Frequent injuries include lacerations, bone fractures, and head wounds as riders hit the pavement or collide with obstacles at high velocity. Without helmets and pads, the human body absorbs the brunt of impacts, which often prove severe or even life-threatening.
In particular, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries result when riders land head-first after falls or flip over the scooter’s small front wheel. Such neurological damage frequently requires extensive rehabilitation and sometimes leads to permanent impairment or disability. Orthopedic injuries to wrists, arms, and collar bones also arise frequently during falls as riders instinctively brace against impact.
More serious accidents with vehicles can lead to blunt force trauma, such as organ damage or internal bleeding. While vehicle collisions are less common, higher speeds magnify damage potential exponentially when they do happen. Without defensive riding techniques and protective gear, electric scooter riders risk severe injury with a single miscalculation or stroke of poor luck.
Liability for eScooters in California
Determining liability for stand-up electric scooter accidents can prove complicated, given the lack of clear legislated guidance around usage. With no direction on proper riding areas, safety precautions, or ability restrictions, the fault is often shared between multiple parties. Riders, rental companies, and local governments may all shoulder some responsibility when crashes occur in a murky regulatory environment.
Generally, injured riders can file claims against rental companies if defective scooters directly caused accidents, but not for failing to provide safety gear. However, if companies knowingly rent to minors or intoxicated people prohibited from riding, liability claims may succeed. Meanwhile, municipalities that fail to provide infrastructure like marked scooter lanes or riders disobeying traffic laws may share some degree of negligence, too.
Ultimately, scooter companies must better educate users on law-abiding, defensive riding techniques while governments urgently enact clearer regulations around usage restrictions and infrastructure needs. In the meantime, liability around crashes remains complex, emphasizing the need for experienced personal injury attorneys. Until clearer legislation and policies are enacted, you should consult a Lime and Bird eScooter accident lawyer in Van Nuys to pursue fair compensation through individual analysis of contributing circumstances.
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Dangers of a Lime and Bird eScooter
According to Consumer Reports, eScooters have been linked to at least 1,500 injuries across the U.S. since late 2017, with accidents involving head trauma, broken bones, fractures, and other serious bodily harm. Hospitals note low helmet usage among injured riders, exacerbating crash severity, while poor rider training and unpredictable urban terrain raise risks for users. Minimal rider protection on the small, narrow scooters leaves people vulnerable in crashes.
Cities have struggled to regulate these scooters, lacking infrastructure like marked lanes while companies operate non-compliantly before clarifying legislation. With easy smartphone access driving impulse rentals, safety takes a backseat as injuries mount amid murky liability due to unclear negligence responsibility. Some riders have alleged mechanical defects as well, with stuck throttles and tire issues factoring into painful crashes.
While e-scooters promise affordable, eco-friendly urban transit, unaddressed safety issues currently outweigh purported benefits. Experts advocate defensive riding techniques. Infrastructure improvements are vital to curb rising injuries until tighter regulations are implemented to prioritize rider well-being over corporate growth.
California’s Laws and Regulations on eScooters
California legislates e-scooters as vehicles unable to exceed 15 mph, requiring reflective elements and headlights to ensure visibility. The law also states that riders under 18 must wear helmets, and all operators need a valid license, while intoxication brings strict sanctions. Preferred infrastructure promotes safety for users and pedestrians alike.
The state permits local regulations on top of base protections, with California mandating locked parking in specific areas to maintain accessible sidewalks. Bike lanes or roads under 25 mph serve as proper riding locations since pedestrians could suffer severe injuries from collisions. Enforcement against blocking rights of way aims to prevent such avoidable harm.
Ultimately, conscientious limitations allow the eco-friendly transport mode to balance public mobility against addressable safety issues. Following designated traffic and infrastructure guidelines while taking personal precautions greatly reduces accident risks for all. Strict regulations preserve accessibility and rider well-being simultaneously.
Work with a Van Nuys Lime and Bird eScooter Accident Attorney
Electric scooters can be an affordable, eco-friendly transit option if enjoyment doesn’t come at the cost of safety. If you do suffer an injury through no fault of your own, our team at Venerable Injury Law can investigate the situation and fight to recover potential compensation for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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