Since electric scooters from companies like Bird and Lime overtook city streets seemingly overnight in early 2018, state and city legislatures have scrambled to pass appropriate safety measures to regulate them. Some cities in California, like Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, have banned electric scooters altogether while others, like Denver, require electric scooters to be ridden in bike lanes or on roads. Additionally, California is passing legislation that would require scooter companies to carry insurance that protects riders in the event of an accident; another bill would make the scooter company liable if a pedestrian is struck by an electric scooter.
As electric scooters continue to rise in popularity, motorists should keep an eye out for them on the road and understand who would be liable in the event of an accident with an electric scooter.
Liability Laws Surrounding Electric Scooters
Since electric scooters are so new, there are few laws regulating them. In some states and cities, they are allowed to travel on sidewalks. In others, they have to ride in bike lanes or on roads, which means they’d have to follow the same rules of the road that cars and bicycles do.
What’s not very well understood is who would be liable in the event of a car accident involving an electric scooter. The simple answer is that it likely depends on the city in which the accident occurred. If the accident occurred in a city where the scooter was required to travel in bike lanes, and the electric scooter operator did not follow the rules of the road, it’s likely they’d be liable in an accident they caused. Since electric scooters are a relatively recent phenomenon, it’s important to hire an experienced personal injury attorney to help you understand the unique laws surrounding electric scooter accidents and liability. Our experienced personal injury attorneys at Springer & Steinberg will be able to help you navigate through the process.
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving an electric scooter, hire a qualified legal team to fight for your rights. Contact The Law Firm of Springer & Steinberg, P.C. at (303) 861-2800 for a free consultation today!