Electric scooters (“E-scooters”) have become a trendy and convenient method of transportation. They are cheap and easy to use. All you have to do is choose a scooter located throughout the Valley and start moving with the use of a smartphone app.
However, e-scooters have one major safety issue. Riders must ride their scooter in the streets along with car traffic because city ordinances do not allow scooter riders to use pedestrian sidewalks. For example, the City of Tempe had to deal with a significant spike in the number of accidents involving e-scooters. In fact, in 2019, the Tempe Fire Department reported 119 scooter-related accidents. Most of the injuries were minor scrapes or bruises, although there were also more serious injuries, including breaks and sprains. Some accidents involved falls, crashing the scooter, and there was at least one collision with a pedestrian. This obvious risk is precisely why most cities that have allowed e-scooters on their streets have subsequently imposed some regulation to make them safer.
What Precautions Have Local Governments Implemented?
The Tempe City Council took action in the form of new scooter regulations. Those regulations included instituting licensing fees, education on local and state laws, and education on scooter operation. The Tempe Fire Department also set up a new organizational system for scooter-related calls so they could more easily track and gather data on e-scooter accidents.
So, What are the Risks of E-Scooter Use?
For those who choose to use one of these small vehicles, one has to understand the inherent risks in operating it. With e-scooters, there is a risk to both drivers and pedestrians. E-scooter riders have a responsibility to make sure they are as safe as possible. So far, police departments in cities with e-scooters have seen reports of scooter riders riding at night without lights, riding the wrong way down streets, and even overloading scooters with too many people on a single scooter.
While e-scooter companies claim to be actively encouraging riders to use the scooters safely, they do depend on the rider to a certain degree. In order to use a Bird, Lime or Razor scooter, you must be over 18 and have a valid driver's license. You are also required to view a safety video on their app before they will connect you with a scooter. All three companies operating in Phoenix - Bird, Lime or Razor - claim they have invested several million dollars each to promote safety education to their riders.
After an E-scooter Accident, What Should You Do?
If you decide to rent an e-scooter to get you to your next destination and you are involved in an accident, please contact the lawyers at Impact Legal as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation. We will do everything we can to help you get the compensation you deserve. In addition to a free consultation, all cases are taken on a contingency basis, which means you will pay nothing until we win your case. Call us now at 602-345-1818 to start things off with your free consultation.