San Francisco Scooter Accident Lawyer

Electric scooter sales have taken over American markets in 2018 and some of these manufacturers are located here in San Francisco, California. Helbiz, Bird, Lime, and Spin are the largest electric scooter companies in San Francisco and have maintained their popularity in the city averaging around 386,000 rides in 2021 alone. However, despite the e-scooter’s popularity, convenience, and affordability, they do have some downsides such as reckless e-scooter riders, sidewalk clutter, and the rise of scooter accidents.

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 financial compensation. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our team of scooter accident lawyers are experienced in handling a variety of scooter accidents and they are ready to fight for you.

We are a personal injury law firm that has recovered over $1.6 billion in financial compensation to our clients who have suffered serious electric scooter injuries and we will continue to do our duty and help our clients who have been wronged. Whether you have been involved in an accident as a scooter rider or as a pedestrian, our experienced team of accident attorneys have seen them all and 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.

What Is an Electric Scooter?

According to California’s DMV, an electric scooter is defined as a micro mobility device that has two wheels, a motor, handlebars, and a floorboard that you can stand on while riding it. The DMV also states that you can only drive motorized scooters on a bicycle path, trail, or bikeway, and scooter users should not drive them on a sidewalk, and exceed a speed of 15 mph.

In fact, CVC 21235 outlines a list of rules of what electric scooter riders should not do in order to lower the possible chances of a scooter user of getting into an accident with other motorists and pedestrians. To operate a motorized scooter legally, the scooter must have a functioning brake for skidding on dry pavement and operators must have a valid driver’s license or permit to ride or rent an electric scooter. In addition, driving an electric scooter with passengers or carrying items on the handlebar is prohibited.

While these are some of the basic rules required in San Francisco and to a larger extent, all of California. Electric scooter companies also ask for additional requirements in order for users to access their rentable e-scooters and e-bikes, so if you are interested in utilizing their services, be sure to check that you can fulfill all of their requirements.

What Is the Injury Rate for Electric Scooters?

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has conducted a micromobility hazard report and discovered that the injury rate for electric scooters has been increasing at a rate of 23% annually from 2017 to 2022. In the same report, they have deduced that electric scooter accidents have been gradually increasing by rates of almost 20% per year. 

They have also discovered that the leading cause of e-scooter accidents is largely due to visibility issues, distracted driving, and holding onto a package while operating a motorized scooter. With that in mind, it is more important than ever to pay attention and have as minimal amount of luggage as possible when using a motorized scooter or else you risk getting into a serious accident.

Common E-Scooter Accident Injuries 

From what is typically seen in San Francisco, head injuries, road rash, broken bones, and spinal cord injuries are some of the most common scooter injuries. While the severity of each injury will vary on a case-by-case basis, these e-scooter injuries can happen to anyone, so if you have been severely injured in a scooter crash, it is important to seek immediate medical attention so that your condition doesn’t worsen. However, if you are filing a personal injury claim, it is important to understand the differences between each injury to get a better understanding of your situation.

Head or Brain Injury

Head injuries are referred to as a brain dysfunction that is caused by a forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head. The severity of a head injury will be dependent on the accident scene, but a study conducted in 2021 has indicated that, in 2017, 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.

Common symptoms that are associated with a head or brain injury includes headaches, irritability, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, lack of balance, sensitivity to noise or light, swelling, bruising, loss of consciousness, nausea, eye dilation, clear fluids emerging from the ears or nose, or difficulty sleeping. So if you have been involved in an electric scooter accident and believe to be suffering any of the symptoms, then it is recommended that you visit the emergency room immediately before your condition gets worse.

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 riding at high speeds and is thrown off of their e-scooter, they will likely face a severe road burn. Any kind of accident will result in a degree of road burn, but the severity will be dependent on the speed. As such, symptoms include swelling, redness, pain, warmth in the wounded area, pus, body aches, chills, or an unpleasant smelling drainage. If you do not properly treat the burn, infections or permanent scarring may occur, so it is important to treat it as soon as possible.

Fractured Bones

According to an article from USA Today, there were a total of 40,000 e-scooter-related injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, cuts, and bruises, from 2014 to 2018. As riders are sharing an e-scooter across the U.S., people are not being given the proper protection needed to prevent serious injuries from occurring. To know whether you have suffered a fractured bone, you will likely feel sudden pain, difficulty bearing weight, swelling in the wounded area, noticeable deformity, bruising, redness, warmth on the wounded area, or having difficulties moving the wounded area or nearby joints.

Spinal Cord Injury

If an e-scooter rider forcefully lands on their back, they will likely damage an area of their spinal cord, such as the cervical segment, thoracic segment, or lumbar segment. As back injuries occur due to the spine’s limited ability to absorb impact, the level of pain and recovery for this type of injury will vary depending on the impact of the fall and what area was mostly affected by it. Symptoms to watch out for include muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, loss of feeling below the wounded area, loss of control of the bowel or bladder, or back pain. Spinal cord injury victims may also face temporary or permanent paralysis.

How to Avoid an E-Scooter Accident

If you are worried about getting into an electric scooter accident, there are some safety measures and precautions you can take to avoid an electric scooter accident. One of the most important things you can do to decrease the likelihood of involving yourself in an e-scooter accident is to pay attention to the road. As most e-scooter accidents tend to occur when the rider isn’t paying attention, just by being a little more attentive to your surroundings can drastically improve your chances of avoiding an accident.

Wearing protective gear can generally prevent e-scooter accidents from occurring, especially for shared e-scooters since they do not provide any gear. Just by wearing a helmet or elbow/knee pads you can protect yourself from TBI’s and road burns in case of an accident. Lastly, testing out rentable scooters before starting your ride is always recommended because there have been cases where shared e-scooters have been placed on the sidewalks without any warnings of the product being defective. So it is always a good idea to test it out before entrusting it to safely take you to your destination.

How Much Compensation Can I Receive for a Scooter Crash

Depending on the severity of the scooter accident and the state of the scooter driver, the awarded compensation can vary on a case-by-case basis. For instance, scooter accidents where the victim has sustained severe injuries such as a traumatic head or spinal cord injury may be eligible anywhere between the six to seven figure range, due to the associated medical bills and long-term medical care and surgery required.

However, for more moderate scooter accidents, they can typically range anywhere within the five figure range to cover any medical bills and property damage. If you are unsure about the total value of your scooter accident, then it is recommended to consult with an experienced electric scooter accident lawyer.

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here to Help

If you were involved in an electric scooter accident due to someone else’s negligence, then you may be eligible to file an e-scooter accident claim and recover compensation for your damages. As filing personal injury claims can be a difficult process for those unfamiliar with the legal process, it is important to seek out the professional expertise of an accident lawyer who has handled a San Francisco scooter accident,

At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we are a personal injury law firm that specializes in handling these types of claims and our team of scooter accident lawyers are ready to fight for you. With over 20 years of legal experience, our attorneys are well versed in California law and they are confident in their ability to get you the financial compensation you deserve for your losses.

With over $1.6 billion recovered for our clients, we handle every electric scooter accident case with the integrity and respect it deserves. In addition, our team of lawyers are available 24/7 to answer any legal questions or concerns you may have regarding your case and will be there every step of the way to guide you throughout the legal process.

To schedule a FREE consultation, we welcome you to reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling us at (213) 927-3700 or completing our easy online contact form.

Frequently Asked Questions About Electric Scooter Accidents

What Happens if You Fall off a Scooter?

If you simply fall off a scooter due to your own actions, then you are not eligible to file any personal injury claims because there is no responsible party. However, if a negligent or ill-intentioned party has made you fall off the scooter and sustained injuries, then you may be eligible to file a claim. If you are unsure if you have a potential case, then it is recommended to consult with a scooter accident attorney, and chances are they offer a free case evaluation for any potential cases.

How Much Does A Scooter Accident Attorney Cost?

Most personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency basis, which means that you won’t have to pay any legal fees until you either win your lawsuit or accept a settlement offer from opposing counsel. Should either scenario occur, then a personal injury lawyer can charge anywhere between 25%-40%, but they tend to average around a competitive rate of 33%. However, it is vital that you ask your lawyer about their rates before hiring them for a case.

Are Electric Scooters Street Legal in California?

Electric scooters are street legal in California, and scooter riders are expected to follow all basic traffic laws when they are riding them. Electric scooters can be driven on a bicycle path, trail, or bikeway. However, you cannot drive them on a sidewalk nor exceed a speed of 15 mph. Any failure to follow these rules will result in a traffic violation and a ticket.