What Are The Risks Of Electric Scooters?
Electric scooters are a convenient and eco-friendly mode of transportation that has grown in popularity in recent years. While e-scooters are relatively safe to operate, like any other vehicle on the road, they still present several dangers. Here are some of the potential risks associated with electric scooters:
- Risk of rider injury: Riders are at risk of falls and collisions, which can lead to scrapes, bruises, fractures or more severe injuries. Riders could also be seriously injured simply by losing their balance. The lack of a protective frame around the rider increases the chance of serious injury should any accident occur.
- Risk of motor vehicular accidents: Riders of electric scooters are vulnerable because they lack the protective enclosure that vehicles such as cars provide. In the event of a collision, the force can easily eject riders from the scooter, causing them to suffer catastrophic injuries, such as head trauma. Riders may also be less visible to drivers of cars and trucks, which makes them more susceptible to accidents.
- Risk of pedestrian injury: Electric scooters can pose a risk to pedestrians on sidewalks, particularly if riders are moving fast or the sidewalks are full of people.
- Risk of mechanical failures: Like any automated device, electric scooters can suffer from failures such as brake malfunctions or battery issues, leading to dangerous situations. There have been reports of battery fires in some electric scooters, possibly caused by faulty or damaged batteries from the manufacturing process.
- Road hazards: Potholes, uneven surfaces and roads in disrepair can cause a rider to lose control and crash.
Even though electric scooters can help reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, Florida roads may not yet be ready for these low-cost motor vehicles. Many riders lack the necessary experience to safely operate electric scooters, and other road users may be unsure of how to safely share the road with them.
What Are The Injuries Associated With Standing Electric Scooter Use?
Electric scooter riders commonly experience minor injuries such as scrapes, cuts and bruises from falling off the scooter. However, there is also a risk of more severe injuries, including the following:
- Fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Life-threatening internal damage
- Spinal cord injuries
Riders should always wear helmets and other protective gear, like knee and elbow pads, to minimize the risk of injury. However, these may not help much against a collision with a car or an SUV, and in the same way, a pedestrian is at a disadvantage in an encounter with an electric scooter.
If you have been in an accident involving an electric scooter, talk to attorney Patrick J. Tighe right away. He has extensive experience with personal injury claims involving various motor vehicles and other forms of transportation.
Are Electric Scooters Safe To Ride?
Electric scooters are safe to ride, but like any vehicle, they also come with certain risks. Hospitalizations for scooter injuries, grouping electric and nonelectric scooters, tripled from 2016 to 2020. Scooter injuries were more common in people under 18 and more likely to result in surgery than those involving bicycles. Injuries associated with scooters often involve paralysis or long bone fractures, with similar rates of traumatic brain injuries between scooter and bicycle incidents. Electric scooter injuries can be severe or fatal, so if you are planning on riding one, wear protective gear.
Who Can Be Held Liable In An E-scooter Accident?
In the event of an electric scooter accident, several parties could be liable for the damages, depending on the circumstances. Aside from the rider, the following parties may also be legally accountable for the accident:
- Manufacturer or the electric scooter rental company: If the accident was due to a malfunction or defect of the scooter itself, the company that manufactured or rented out the scooter might be liable under product liability laws.
- Another driver: If a vehicle driver’s actions contributed to the accident, such as by driving distractedly or failing to yield the right of way, that driver could be liable.
- Municipality responsible for roads: If poor road conditions or improper signage played a role in the accident, victims may have a legal claim against the local government or property owner responsible for maintaining the area where the accident occurred.
Attorney Tighe will do what he can to investigate your accident and see who actually caused it.
Contact An Experienced Florida Personal Injury Lawyer Today
At X1Law, P.A., the experienced and skilled personal injury lawyer has been advocating for clients affected by vehicle accidents in Florida. He can provide legal guidance and support for individuals harmed while operating an electric scooter and those who have suffered injuries due to an accident involving an e-scooter.
As electric scooters become a more familiar sight on Florida’s roads, incidents involving these vehicles may rise. Attorney Tighe is prepared to assist those facing the aftermath of such accidents. Please call him for a free consultation at 561-363-3947 or contact him online.