How Safe is an Electric Scooter?

Most electric scooters aren’t very safe, for the reasons outlined below. The electric scooter crash fatality rate is sixty times higher than the enclosed vehicle fatality rate. These micro-mobility devices have gained widespread support for a number of reasons. Their low carbon footprint, which is an attractive aspect in urban areas, may be the biggest one. Electric motors convert electrical energy into motion with much less waste than gas-powered engines.

However, there’s a dark side. Their growth and accessibility has been associated with a sharp uptick in deaths, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), internal organ injuries, and extremity fractures. The deceptive speed of such devices also can be deadly, to both riders and pedestrians. The low noise of their electric motors also can be a danger to others. Many riders weave in and out of traffic and sidewalks.

Because of these hazards, a Carlsbad electric scooter accident lawyer can obtain substantial compensation for victims. This compensation normally includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Most personal injury cases settle out of court. However, electric scooter accident cases are usually very complex. So, these cases usually don’t settle quickly.

Causes of Electric Scooter Accidents

Rider error causes some electric scooter accidents. Usually, anyone with a valid credit card can rent an electric scooter and ride it unsupervised, even if they’ve never ridden such a vehicle before. The good news is that rider error electric scooter wrecks normally aren’t too serious. Most people grip the handles to break their falls.

Driver error-related electric scooter crashes are another matter. Most riders are completely unprotected. They don’t wear helmets or padding. As a result, in a crash, they bear the full force of an oncoming vehicle.

All vehicle operators, whether they’re riding electric scooters or driving cars, have a duty of care. Tortfeasors (negligent drivers) violate their duty of care when they drive:

• Aggressively: Speed is the most common, and most dangerous, kind of aggressive driving. A few extra ticks on the speedometer multiples the risk of a wreck as well as the force in a collision. Other kinds of aggressive driving include turning unsafely and ignoring a traffic control device.
• While Impaired: Reckless speeding increased during the pandemic, mostly because roads empties and traffic enforcement ceased. Drunk driving increased as well, for the same reasons. Alcohol adversely affects motor skills and impairs judgment. Many drugs, both legal and illegal ones, have the same effect. Other kinds of driver impairment include driving while fatigued and while sick.

Poor scooter maintenance also causes many crashes. These vehicles undergo a lot of wear and tear, are parked in the open exposed to the elements, and not inspected very frequently.

Liability Issues

Frequently, these electric scooter accident causes overlap. For example, Felix might be weaving in and out of traffic on his electric scooter when Sally runs a red light and hits him.

In these situations, jurors must divide responsibility on a percentage basis according to the evidence presented. So, the more evidence of Sally’s misconduct a Carlsbad personal injury lawyer presents, the lower Felix’s percentage of fault.

California law is also very victim-friendly in this area. The Golden State is a pure comparative fault state. Even if the victim was 99 percent responsible for a wreck, the tortfeasor is still liable for a proportionate share of damages.

Very few defenses are available in an inadequate maintenance claim. Usually, companies are strictly liable for any injuries their defective products cause.

Connect With a Savvy San Diego County Lawyer

Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Carlsbad, contact the Pursley Law Firm. Virtual, home, and hospital visits are available.

Source:

anesthesiologynews.com/Commentary/Article/01-24/Exploring-the-Rise-in-Severe-Injuries-Associated-With-Electric-Scooters/72720