805-962-1930 Santa Barbara Scooter Accident Lawyer
Electric scooters have become a central component in the lives of commuters in Santa Barbara and the rest of Southern California. Once a novelty mode of transportation, electric scooters are now nearly guaranteed to be operated in areas where many pedestrians transit or congregate. They’re a simple and relatively inexpensive option for navigating busy city streets.
While retail outlets for these scooters are abundant, so are the risks associated with riding them.
The trend has been that as the popularity of electric scooters rises, so too does the number of scooter accidents. The dangers to scooter riders are ever present, and the threat of serious injuries looms greater as scooter riders often don’t comply with helmet requirements.
If you or someone close to you has been injured in a scooter accident in Santa Barbara, contact a motorcycle accident lawyer. We’ll help you to explore your legal options and how you may be able to have your medical bills covered.
Our veteran motorized scooter accident attorneys are a top-notch source for formal legal advice and strategy. Our personal injury law firm is here to help electric bicycle injury victims get the support they deserve. If your loved one experienced a wrongful death in a scooter-related accident, call us right away.
Electric Scooter Accident Statistics in California
The rate of scooter accidents has steadily risen year by year. UCLA researchers have stated that the rate of injuries related to motorized scooter accidents has eclipsed the rate of serious injuries caused by motorcycle accidents. That means motorcycle crash victims are no longer the most injured drivers. Scooter accident victims are now the top most injured people.
There have even been studies published by surgeons that highlight the dangerous correlation between scooter accident-related incidents, and an increase in demand for surgeries related to head trauma. The serious nature of this issue coupled with the related statistical trends makes for a sobering reality of just how necessary a personal injury lawyer for scooter incidents can be.
Common Causes of Scooter Accidents in Santa Barbara, California
Part of what makes electric scooters great is their eco-friendliness, compactness, and low maintenance requirements. Unfortunately for scooter riders, none of those qualities do anything to decrease the chances that they’ll become involved in a scooter accident. Scooter riders can be shining examples of compliance with traffic laws and regulations, and still get injured.
Here are the top causes of personal injury to scooter drivers:
- Collisions with car doors
- Construction related hazards
- Compromised pavement
- Left-turn related collisions
- Blind spot incidents
- Driving drunk
- Driving under the influence of illicit substances
- Lack of scooter driving experience
- Collisions at intersections
- Loss of command of the scooter
- Pedestrian related mishaps
- Mechanical failure
- Negligent drivers of autos
- Lane splitting
- Hazardous road conditions
Scooter retailers play a role here also. It’s the responsibility of companies like Lime Scooters and Bird Scooters to collect and charge the scooters and ensure the maintenance and repair of the fleet. Mishaps on their part can easily cause injury and even death.
What Are the Most Common Injuries in a Scooter Accident?
Electric scooters share the road with other drivers and their autos. Because drivers’ bodies are so exposed, common injuries from motorized scooter accidents are like those of the worst type of car accident. Many other types of motor vehicles offer some protection, but with an electric scooter, this isn’t the case. This is why electric scooter accidents tend to be gruesome.
Here are some of the most common injuries seen in scooter accidents:
- Abrasions
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Contusions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Dental injuries
- Skull fractures
- Upper and lower extremity injuries
- Rupture of the internal organs
The U.S. National Library of Medicine says head injuries are the most common injury from scooter accidents. They also say around 30% of patients admitted to the emergency department suffered head or neck trauma. This means that a scooter operator runs an increased risk of experiencing brain injuries and that 8-10% had skull fractures or hemorrhaging of the brain.
How a Scooter Accident Lawyer Can Help?
The prevalence of scooters on the roads, and the incidents associated with them, are a relatively new phenomenon. However, a seasoned scooter accident lawyer will have been vetted through a firm that’s dealt with the following:
- Moped accidents
- Reckless drivers
- Wrongful deaths
- Motorcycle accident cases
- Negligent drivers
- Pedestrian accidents
Injured people need rest to recover. While victims are on the mend, their scooter accident lawyer will step in and handle the many important tasks associated with their personal injury claim. Through the expertise of personal injury lawyers and their knowledge of California law, lots of responsibility and pressure are taken off of the ailing party and carried by the lawyer.
Here is a list of things scooter accident lawyers are known to help with:
- Dealing with insurance adjusters
- Negotiations with the insurance company
- Calculating medical expenses
- Finding the at-fault party
- Calculating lost wages
- Calculating property damage
- Ensuring that victims get the proper medical treatment
Not having an accident lawyer puts any healing victim at a severe disadvantage to recover maximum compensation. No seriously injured person is in a condition to negotiate with an insurance company, monitor medical expenses, audit their health insurance provider, process their lost earning capacity, and navigate California law. That’s a recipe for defeat.
It’s of the utmost importance that accident victims team up with qualified legal professionals. Injuries like the ones seen in electric scooter incidents present great challenges to a person’s mobility, emotional and mental health, and ability to live their lives as they did before the trauma. Only after they’ve healed can they be what they were and beyond.
E-Scooter Laws to Know
California Vehicle Code §21235(c)- Helmets
Minors must wear bicycle helmets when on electric scooters. Adults don’t have to wear helmets. They can enjoy scooters without them. Companies such as Lime, Bird, and Spin recommend always using a helmet. When you ride without one, you’re always gambling with your health.
Violating this section of the Vehicle Code can lead to a ticket of approximately $200. Lots of tickets like this have been given out in California in the past few years.
CVC §22411- Speed Limits
Just like other motor vehicles, there’s a speed limit for scooters. CVC §22411 is the speed limit law for electric scooters in California. 15 mph is the limit. Anything north of that will result in a ticket, which could cost up to $250.
Scooter companies like Lime and Bird have their scooters rigged for a maximum output of 15 mph. However, downhill situations can result in faster speeds.
CVC §21229- Bike Lanes
This law treats a scooter as it would any electric bike or pedal bike. Operators must use the bike lanes when available or face a fine.
The Legal Advantage in Santa Barbara Scooter Incidents
To increase the chances that serious injuries suffered in accidents involving e-scooters don’t permanently alter the lives of you or a loved one, reach out to us today. We’re here to do our best to help recovering people get the best shot at returning to pre-crash form and beyond.
Our law firm wants to see the quality of life of crash victims fully restored.
Consulting with one of our qualified attorneys will help you know if you have a personal injury claim that can be filed. Consultation is free, so there’s nothing to lose. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.