What Happens If You Are in an Electric Scooter Accident?

As a result of the ever-developing transport industry, new, convenient and cost-effective ways of getting around are being introduced all the time. The most recent ride-sharing advancement is the electric scooter which allows people to move about town quickly and economically.

In general, electric scooters are similar to non-motorized kick scooters except they are motorized and powered through a rechargeable battery pack. They can be left in any public space as long as they aren’t blocking any walkways or designated no-parking zones.

Even if you don’t own a scooter, you can rent one from a scooter company by downloading an app to your smartphone that shows a map of nearby available devices.

Unfortunately, because more electric scooters show up on roads and sidewalks, there has been an increased risk of accidents between scooters, pedestrians and car drivers.

Here is what you should do if you get involved in such an accident.

Know the laws for electric scooters

Although there are no federal laws associated with electric scooters, many states throughout the country have created their own laws to promote scooter safety. Some prominent ones include wearing a helmet if you are under 18, riding on roadways in bike lanes when available with a speed limit up to 35 miles per hour and having a valid driver’s license.

If you don’t adhere to these laws, there is a possibility you may get involved in an accident. In this case, it is advised that you seek legal advice from a professional e scooters accident lawyer to help you through the process and represent your interests in any civil claim that may result from it. 

Determine who is responsible

Electric scooter accidents can happen in many ways but the most common ones include a scooter and a car. The most important thing in such situations is to be able to determine who is responsible for the crash and what type of injuries or damages occurred during the accident.

For example, vehicles often collide with a scooter because the car driver was negligent and didn’t pay attention to the scooter rider. In this case, the driver will have to cover any damages to the scooter as well as any injuries that the scooter rider may have sustained from the accident.

As for the car’s damage, car insurance covers some or all of the costs through liability coverage.

Be aware of the potential hazards of electric scooters

Just like every other vehicle, there are several potential inherent risks of riding electric scooters. Although there are no official reports on the number of injuries caused by e-scooters, there still has been an increased number of scooter-related injuries.

For example, electric scooters aren’t as stable as bicycles, so if you encounter a small bump on the road, there is a great chance it can cause you to lose balance and fall. This can get you some bruises or wounds on your body and you would have to go to the emergency room immediately.

Another potential hazard of electric scooters is that they are generally small and quiet, making them difficult to be seen or heard by other vehicles.

Protect yourself

To avoid getting involved in an electric scooter accident, there are a few proper precautions you can take. Some of the most important include being aware of the surroundings, wearing a hamlet at all times when riding your scooter and trying to stay in bike lanes as much as possible. Following these steps will certainly reduce the risks of scooter accidents as well as the dire consequences that may result from them.

In addition to these precautions, you should also consider taking your scooter’s company User Agreement seriously and looking through the liability coverage they provide in case of an accident.

Final thoughts

Although electric scooters have become one of people’s most favorite and cost-effective means of transportation at the moment, it is still important that scooter riders are being extra careful while riding them. There are several inherent risks of e-scooters everyone must be aware of and know how to protect themselves from injuries and any serious accidents.

To be fully prepared and safe on the road, make sure you refer back to our guide to learn about the basics of riding an electric scooter and how to have the best experience ever.