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Electric scooters, e-scooters, mopeds, and other types of small motorized transportation devices have become increasingly common throughout Southern California since they were released en masse in 2017. In busy areas such as downtown San Diego, Pacific Beach, Carlsbad Village, and along other coastal communities, e-scooter and moped riders often use these forms of motorized transportation for commuting, tourism, and short-distance travel. While these vehicles may offer convenience, they can also expose riders to serious injury risks when collisions occur.
How Can an Electric Scooter Lawyer in San Diego Help After an Accident?
At Levinson Law Group, our team of e-scooter accident lawyers represents injury victims throughout San Diego County, including those who have been hurt in scooter, moped, and e-scooter crashes, whether the negligent parties are drivers or manufacturers. Accidents involving scooters, e-scooters, and mopeds often involve younger children and can lead to significant medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term rehabilitation needs. In many situations, injured accident victims may not realize they have legal options available to pursue compensation after an e-scooter accident. An experienced electric scooter lawyer near you from our team can help investigate the accident, identify potentially liable parties, gather evidence, and pursue compensation for damages that are directly connected to the crash. Many of the legal issues involved in scooter and e-scooter injury claims overlap with those seen in bicycle collisions, which is why working with a San Diego bicycle accident lawyer who understands rider accident cases can be beneficial when pursuing compensation after a serious crash.
Common Causes of Scooter, Moped, and E-Scooter Accidents in California
Scooter accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, but unlike drivers inside passenger vehicles, scooter riders have little physical protection during a collision, especially if it is with a vehicle. Even relatively low-speed e-scooter or moped accidents can result in severe injuries or even death. Some of the most common causes of scooter accidents in California include:
- Distracted driving
- Drivers failing to yield
- Unsafe lane changes
- Dooring accidents involving parked vehicles
- Speeding
- Drunk or impaired driving
- Failure to check blind spots
- Unsafe road conditions
- Poorly maintained rental scooters
- Defective brakes or steering components
- Drivers making sudden turns in front of riders
Many scooter crashes occur at intersections or in residential areas where visibility may be limited or where drivers fail to notice that there are riders approaching. Dense traffic in San Diego and Carlsbad areas can also increase the likelihood of e-scooter and moped accidents, especially in tourist-heavy areas where scooters are commonly rented to travel around the area.
A scooter accident lawyer at Levinson Law Group will work diligently to determine exactly how the collision occurred and whether another party acted negligently to cause the crash.
Injuries Commonly Seen in E-Scooter and Moped Accidents
Scooter riders often suffer direct impact injuries when collisions occur, because they may be thrown from the scooter or moped during a collision. Even riders who are wearing helmets and protective gear can experience significant trauma when these accidents involve motor vehicles. A 1-year study conducted in 2020 and published by PubMed revealed that after looking at e-scooter accidents across 9 emergency departments in Southern California, at least 87 e-scooter accidents resulted in necessary intervention by a trauma surgeon.
Common injuries associated with scooter and moped accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Road rash
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee and leg injuries
- Wrist and hand fractures
- Death
Some e-scooter or moped accident injuries may require surgery, physical therapy, long-term medical care, or rehabilitation to recover from. In more difficult situations, accident victims may experience permanent disabilities that affect their ability to work or participate in daily activities. In some instances, victims never fully recover from their injuries, or they are wrongfully killed due to the accident.
An e-scooter or moped accident lawyer at Levinson Law Group may help injured individuals pursue damages that are connected to medical treatment, lost wages, future care needs, and other losses tied to the accident.
California E-Scooter Laws
Due to the mass use of e-scooters on public roadways across the state, California has implemented laws regulating the use of electric scooters and mopeds when on public roadways. These rules can affect who is liable and insurance policies after an accident occurs. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, electric scooters are generally defined as two-wheeled devices that are powered by electric motors that can travel up to certain speed limits.
Some important California e-scooter laws when operating on public roadways include:
- Riders generally must possess a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit
- Riders under 18 years old are required to wear helmets
- E-scooters generally cannot exceed 15 mph on roadways
- Riders are often prohibited from operating their e-scooters or mopeds on sidewalks
- Scooters are generally intended for use on roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less, unless they are being operated in designated bike lanes
- Riders are expected to follow traffic laws similar to bicyclists
Mopeds may fall under different legal classifications depending on the engine size and vehicle capabilities. Some mopeds are required to be registered, have proper licensing, and insurance coverage to operate on roadways. To better understand what is required for your e-scooter or moped to be street legal, contact your nearest California DMV office.
Violations of California scooter laws do not automatically prevent e-scooter injury victims from recovering compensation for their injuries after an accident, but it may reduce the amount of compensation available. Liability in these cases often depends on the specific facts surrounding the crash. A moped accident lawyer from our team at Levinson Law Group may review various types of evidence to determine how fault in these cases can be assigned, including looking at:
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Roadway evidence
- Applicable traffic laws
Rental Scooter Accidents in San Diego and Carlsbad
Rental scooters have become common throughout Southern California, especially for tourists. Companies that operate app-based scooter rentals typically place scooters near beaches, downtown districts, shopping centers, and entertainment areas, while local rental shops require individuals to come to their locations to rent scooters. While rental scooters offer convenience, the accidents that occur involving these devices can raise complicated legal and insurance questions.
Some rental scooter accidents may involve:
- Defective brakes
- Sudden acceleration issues
- Steering malfunctions
- Dead batteries are causing unsafe stops
- Worn tires
- Poor maintenance
- Dangerous placement of scooters on sidewalks or roadways
- Improper directions to scooter drop-off areas
In other situations, riders may be injured by negligent drivers while riding on rental scooters.
Liability in rental scooter cases may depend on multiple factors, including:
- Whether the scooter company properly maintained the equipment
- Whether another driver caused the collision
- Whether hazardous roadway conditions contributed to the crash
An e-scooter accident lawyer near you may investigate maintenance records, rental agreements, inspection procedures, and electronic ride data when evaluating these cases and determining who is at fault for the accident.
Injured by a Scooter While Driving Another Vehicle
Scooter accidents not only affect riders, but they can also affect others on the road around them. Drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and passengers who are inside other vehicles may also suffer injuries during collisions involving e-scooters or mopeds. Some common examples of these accidents may include:
- A scooter rider running a red light
- An e-scooter traveling the wrong direction in traffic
- A moped is weaving between vehicles
- A scooter rider colliding with a pedestrian
- Sudden swerving accidents caused by reckless scooter operation
Speak With an E-Scooter Accident Lawyer in San Diego County Today
At Levinson Law Group, our team of e-scooter and moped accident lawyers represents individuals injured in scooter, e-scooter, and moped accidents throughout San Diego, Carlsbad, and nearby areas. We understand the serious injuries, financial strain, and long-term challenges that e-scooter and moped accident victims and their families can face after these collisions. Our firm assists clients with:
Investigating accidents
- Communicating with insurance companies
- Gathering evidence
- Evaluating damages
- Pursuing compensation related to their injuries
Scooter accident claims in California often involve complicated liability disputes, rental company policies, defective equipment concerns, and aggressive insurance defense tactics to limit compensation given to victims. Whether the accident involved a rental scooter, a negligent driver, a defective scooter component, or a roadway hazard, our team works relentlessly to protect the rights of injured scooter accident victims throughout every stage of the legal process. Don’t hesitate to contact our team today at (619) 436-5000 for a FREE case consultation to learn more about your legal options. Our attorneys also assist individuals involved in other serious two-wheeled vehicle collisions, including those seeking a motorcycle accident lawyer after a crash involving significant injuries, unsafe roadway conditions, or negligent drivers.
