Fresno Scooter Accident Lawyer

Popular shared e-scooter companies, such as Bird and Lime, are often found in many cities across California, including Fresno. The purpose of a shared e-scooter is to allow people to have easy access to affordable transportation services. However, the city of Fresno has had its bad experiences of allowing e-scooter companies to share their services with residents.

It was reported that Bird had illegally dropped an overload of e-scooters onto Fresno streets, thus creating more hazards and easy access for inexperienced riders. Unlike Bird, Lime reached out to the city of Fresno to pitch an approach that would allow residents and visitors to have a safe experience when traveling on their e-scooters. An agreement was made for the following:

• 500 e-scooters will be deployed throughout Fresno, particularly in high volume locations, such as Tower and downtown.
• E-scooters will not be permitted to be ridden on sidewalks. 
• E-scooters will be impounded if users leave it on the sidewalk or have it placed in front of an entrance area of a business.
• GPS will be used to help Lime track down its e-scooters and control where they go.
• Geo-fencing will be implemented in areas throughout Fresno, including Fresno State campus and Fashion Fair Mall.

If you were a victim of an e-scooter accident due to a defective scooter or the actions of a negligent rider, you may be eligible for fair compensation. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of scooter accident lawyers are experienced in handling accident claims and they are ready to fight for you.

We are a personal injury law firm with over 20 years of experience and as a result of our dedication, we have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation to our clients who have suffered serious electric scooter injuries. Whether you have been involved in an accident as a scooter rider or need help negotiating a favorable outcome from the insurance companies, our experienced team of accident attorneys are confident that they can help you recover compensation for your sustained injuries.

We run on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no fees until you win. To schedule a FREE consultation, you can get in touch with us by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or by filling out our quick online contact form.

California Scooter Laws

According to California’s DMV, electric scooters are defined as micromobility devices that are allowed to be driven on pathways such as bike lanes. According to California Vehicle Code 21235, electric scooter riders must follow a list of rules and if they are caught violating any of these rules outlined in California law then they would be subjected to a series of fines issued by the on-duty officer.

• A rider cannot operate a motorized scooter without a brake installed.
• A rider cannot operate a motorized scooter without wearing a properly fitted helmet, if the operator is under 18 years of age.
• A rider cannot operate a motorized scooter without a valid driver’s license or instruction permit.
• A rider cannot operate a motorized scooter with any additional passengers.
• A rider cannot operate a motorized scooter while carrying a package or items that prevents them from keeping at least one hand on the handlebars.
• A rider cannot operate a motorized scooter upon a sidewalk.
• A rider cannot operate a motorized scooter on the highway.
• A rider cannot leave a motorized scooter lying on its side on any sidewalk.
• A rider cannot attach the motorized scooter onto themselves or to any other vehicle on the road.

In addition to these rules, electric scooter companies may also ask for additional requirements to ensure that their users are legally able to access their rentable e-scooters.

Electric Scooter Accident Statistics

With the popularization of Bird and Lime scooters, there is a dramatic increase in e-scooter accidents within the past couple of years. According to a micromobility hazard report from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the injury rate for electric scooters has been increasing at a rate of 23% annually from 2017 to 2022.

In fact, it has been deduced that electric scooter accidents have been gradually increasing by rates of almost 20% per year and one of the main reasons behind this increase is due to the lack of experience and knowledge new riders have when they ride these scooters. Despite many efforts to properly train and educate new riders on proper scooter etiquette, accidents still happen due to a variety of reasons such as negligence and recklessness and depending on the nature of the accident, riders can become the liable parties and would need legal assistance.

Are E-Scooters Dangerous?

E-scooters can be dangerous, especially if the rider has little to no experience in using one. While shared e-scooter services like Bird and Lime continue to place multiple e-scooters throughout cities across California, it could be quite risky to use as it can result in serious accidents and injuries. Although this service can provide a lot of convenience and affordability for those who cannot use other means of transportation like cars, those who ride electric scooters should still exercise caution.

Common Injuries In a Scooter Accident

In the United States, many cities provide shared e-scooter services, but those who use these services are required to follow the rules of the road, which means that they should only be riding e-scooters in permitted areas and at safe speeds that do not exceed the posted speed limit. However, not many people take these laws into consideration.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 3 out of 5 e-scooter riders were injured while riding on a sidewalk. Roughly 60% of riders suffered from minor injuries, such as cuts or bruises, while 9% were taken to the hospital to receive further medical care for their critical injuries. While the severity of a scooter accident injury will vary, it is important to familiarize oneself with what kind of injuries a person can sustain.

Head or Brain Injury

It should come as no surprise that head injuries are some of the most common types of injuries in a scooter accident case. In a study conducted in 2021 head and neck injuries accounted for about 28% of all e-scooter accident injuries in the United States. Out of that percentage, about 32% of injured riders suffered from brain injuries, while 11% have suffered concussion.

As head and brain injuries are defined as a brain dysfunction caused by a forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head, it is vital that accident victims seek medical attention as soon as possible. While common symptoms associated with a head or brain injury such as headaches, irritability, confusion, and lightheadedness can be temporary, it can also be a sign for a more severe or underlying condition.

Road Rash

A road rash or sometimes referred to as a ‘road burn’ is a type of friction burn when skin scrapes against the road. If a scooter rider is thrown off their scooter or is hit by a moving vehicle, they will likely suffer a serious burn injury.

As such, it is vital that they seek medical treatment, especially if their symptoms include swelling, redness, and any physical discomfort. If you do not treat the burn properly, infections or permanent scarring may occur, so it is important to treat it as soon as possible and seek a skilled attorney to get fair and just compensation for the accident in question.

Fractured Bones

An article from USA Today has reported that there were a total of 40,000 e-scooter-related injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, cuts, and bruises, from 2014 to 2018. As broken bones are considered to be some of the most common injuries sustained in a scooter accident, those affected in the accident scene will likely experience such as sudden pain, swelling, noticeable deformity, and difficulty moving the wounded area.

Whether the cause of the injury was due to motor vehicles or from someone else’s negligence, it is vital that those affected file personal injury claims as soon as possible and begin gathering evidence like medical records and witness statements in order to have legal options available and a fair shot of recovering a fair settlement.

Spinal Cord Injury

If a scooter rider forcefully lands on their back, they will likely damage their back or some parts of their spinal cord. As the spine has a limited ability to absorb impact, the likelihood of suffering a long-term back injury is very high. In addition, due the spine’s role in sending and receiving signals to other parts of the body, any damage to the spine can result in permanent long term symptoms that is sure to decrease a person’s quality of life.

How Much Compensation Can I Receive for a Scooter Crash

The compensation amount for all scooter crashes and personal injury cases will vary from situation to situation and will be based on the severity of the accident as well as any other details of the case. For example, if a scooter accident resulted in the victim suffering a severe head injury that brought them intense and long-term physical pain, affected their working ability, and accumulated a variety of medical expenses, then they may be eligible to seek compensation around the six to seven figure range.

However, for a moderate scooter accident case, they can potentially range anywhere within the five figures to cover any medical bills, property damage, lost wages, etc. If you are unsure about the value of your personal injury claim, you can input your information using the personal injury settlement calculator or consult with an experienced attorney to get a better understanding of your situation.

Cost of Hiring a Scooter Accident Attorney

Personal injury lawyers can charge either through an hourly rate or a flat fee, but most will tend to operate on a contingency fee structure, which means that clients won’t have to make upfront payments unless their attorney wins their case. Should the scooter accident lawyer win their client’s case, they would charge a flat fee that can range anywhere between 25% to 40%.

This is beneficial for any accident victims who have suffered a variety of injuries and are placed in a financially difficult situation. However, if you are worried about the value or validity of your scooter accident case, most lawyers offer a free consultation to help accident victims understand what kind of case they may have.

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here to Help

If you have sustained injuries in an e-scooter accident as a result of someone’s negligence or deliberate acts of malice, you have the right to hold the guilty party responsible for your losses. A Fresno e-scooter accident attorney at West Coast Trial Lawyers will help you recover compensation for your losses.

With over 20 years of experience, our team of scooter accident lawyers have a proven track record of securing compensation for our clients while they focus on recovering. As a result of our dedication, we have recovered over $1.7 billion in financial compensation for our clients and we will continue to do our duty to guide them throughout the legal process and fight for their rights.

To schedule a free consultation at our Fresno personal injury law firm, please contact our 24/7 legal team by calling (213) 927-3700 or by filling out our quick online contact form.