Over the past decade, use of motorized scooters has boomed into a travel and recreation industry all its own. According to statistics compiled by tech company Esferasoft:

• The global e-scooter market is projected to reach $41.98 billion by 2030
• Just under 50 million electronic scooters and bicycles were sold internationally in 2019 but this figure is projected to reach 129 million units sold annually by 2028
• If industry projections hold, “By 2023, electric two-wheelers would make up 8% of all two-wheelers on the road. Currently, this number stands at 2.5%”
• “The monthly installs of e-scooter sharing apps like Bird and Lime increased by 580% during 2018-2019” alone. This percentage of installs is expected to increase over the next few years as e-scooter sharing services serve as a greater share of the transportation market and gain popularity

Scooters and electric bikes can be great fun and can transport people from “here to there” in efficient, accessible ways. These units are especially popular in Southern California and similar climates, as sight-seers and travelers are not restricted to using these motorized resources during limited times of year.

Unfortunately, American roads were not built with these hybrid “active transportation/motorized unit” hybrid models in mind. Streets designed primarily for cars, lanes designed primarily for cyclists, and sidewalks designed primarily for pedestrians all lack adequate safety features targeted at scooter users. Additionally, there are few Americans who truly understand what protections are afforded scooter riders under the law and therefore there are many misconceptions about how they should be treated while they are sharing the nation’s roads, bike lanes, and sidewalks. It is partially due to these gaps in practical accessibility and protocol-related awareness for scooter riders that is driving up their accident rates and the rates at which these riders are suffering significant head and neck injuries.

Scooter Riders Increasingly Suffering Significant Accident-Related Trauma

Recent analysis of scooter-related accidents has led the Henry Ford Health System to draw some startling conclusions that should concern scooter riders in Southern California and throughout the nation. Since scooter-based rideshare systems were introduced widely in 2017, emergency room visit rates stemming from the use of these units have been skyrocketing. According to data published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, head and neck injuries account for just under one-third of the injuries reported in the aftermath of motorized scooter accidents.

In the wake of the Henry Ford Health System study, many healthcare providers are calling for national standards related to scooter safety. As popularity for this form of transportation grows, such standards will become an increasingly urgent necessity – especially given how many riders are being injured while traveling unguarded against potentially catastrophic impact in re: cars, trucks, motorcycles, and fixed objects. Similarly, pedestrians and traditional cyclists remain vulnerable to being hit by scooter operators and motorized bike riders. Seeking national safety regulations concerning these vehicles is – at this point – a commonsense approach that should be taken seriously.

Until national safety regulations are put into place for these vehicles, riders should take note that the most common head and neck injuries identified by the study can largely be prevented with proper helmet use. The most common injury types suffered by scooter riders (to the neck and the head) include:

• Internal organs, including brain injuries, 32.5%
• Lacerations, 24.9%
• Contusions and abrasions, 15.6%
• Concussions, 11.1%
• Fractures, 7.8%

Who Is Responsible When Scooter Accidents Occur?

The answer to this question isn’t straightforward because no two scooter accidents ever unfold under exactly the same circumstances. Generally speaking, if a motor vehicle strikes a scooter rider, chances are good that the motorist involves bears at least some of the blame for the collision. Similarly, when a scooter rider strikes a pedestrian, chances are good that the rider bears at least some of the blame for the accident. Why? The individual operating the more destructive machine (or the only machine) involved in an accident generally has a greater responsibility under the law to drive safely and to look out for more vulnerable travelers.

However, there are so many factors that tend to come into play when a scooter accident is analyzed that it is important to refrain from making assumptions until you speak with an experienced attorney about any accidents you may have been involved in. Depending on your circumstances, the scooter manufacturer or even the state agency in charge of safe road maintenance may be held accountable for harm caused by scooter accidents.

Legal Aid Is Available

If you have been injured in a scooter accident – whether you were riding the scooter or were struck by one at the time you sustained harm – please contact our firm today to schedule a risk-free, confidential consultation appointment at no cost. Our firm offers free consultations because the protections afforded to injury victims by state law should be understood by everyone who has need to exercise them. No one should be kept from understanding their rights and options under the law simply because they are not in a financial position to pay for legal guidance.

Even if you’re unsure of whether you have grounds to file a legal claim and even if you believe that your conduct may have contributed to the cause of your injuries, it remains important to explore your legal options as soon as you possibly can. California boasts some of the most generous protections for injury victims in the nation, due to its status as a “pure comparative negligence” state. Due to this designation, you remain entitled to hold others legally and financially responsible for contributing to the cause(s) of your injurious circumstances in negligent, reckless, or intentionally dangerous ways, regardless of whether you also were partially at fault for your collision. In short, don’t wait – schedule a free consultation today. You may be entitled to significant financial compensation and to justice for the harm you have suffered. We look forward to speaking with you and to clarifying your rights and options under the circumstances.