Most people have heard about rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. Few are aware of the fact that electric scooter rideshare services are also available. In particular, the electric scooter company Lime has emerged as a successful business in the Tempe area and beyond. Although electric scooters like those offered by Lime are a blast to ride, they have the potential to backfire in a big way.
Electric scooter accidents are particularly painful as the rider has no protection. Electric scooter riders really are at the mercy of automobile drivers as well as bicyclists, pedestrians and others on roads and sidewalks.
If you are hurt while riding a rental scooter, harmed by a defective scooter or suffer any type of loss resulting from an electric scooter crash, reach out to our Tempe electric scooter accident legal team for representation. We will fiercely advocate on your behalf in and out of court to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Electric Scooters are More Dangerous Than They Seem
Take a close look at electric scooter riders the next time you spot one around Tempe. If you look closely, you will see these they have minimal protection while riding around town. Though some electric scooter renters and owners wear helmets, they rarely wear any other form of protection in the event of a fall or crash.
A 38-year-old Tempe resident was killed while riding an electric scooter. The scooter rider was struck by a sport utility vehicle at the intersection of Priest Drive and 16th Street. The victim later died from serious injuries at the hospital.
It appears as though the driver of the sport utility vehicle was inebriated at the time he struck the scooter rider. If the victim were operating a traditional motor vehicle, he might have survived the accident.
This is just one of many examples of electric scooter accidents that have ended, ruined or significantly altered lives.
Electric Scooter Accidents are on the Rise
Electric scooters are nearing a mainstream tipping point. These cute little machines are affordable, fun and chic. Cash-strapped millennials and members of Generation Z have gravitated toward electric scooters, mopeds and ridesharing services. The shift began as traditional automobiles costs rise and become quite expensive.
Add in the fact that the average youngster has to pay an exorbitant amount of money to obtain auto insurance and it is easy to understand why electric scooters are popular.
The rise in electric scooter accidents is not completely attributable to their increasing popularity. Electric scooters travel around 15 miles per hour. This rate of speed might not seem fast at first glance yet it is quite speedy when you are standing upright on a scooter’s flat base without any form of protection.
Electric scooters pose a threat to the rider as well as bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and even some vehicles. An electric scooter traveling at 15 – 20 miles per hour really can cause significant damage to an automobile.
The Causes of Electric Scooter Accidents
Careless riding is not the sole cause of electric scooter accidents. Some electric scooters have mechanical defects. As an example, some electric scooter brakes have the potential lock up, causing the rider to fall and suffer painful injuries.
Anything from road hazards to third-parties who fail to provide due care (negligence) and slick surfaces can cause a nasty accident.
Some electric scooter rental companies are so busy that they do not have enough time between riders to verify the scooters are still safe and fully functional. This unfortunate truth makes it so that companies have no idea anything is wrong with their scooters. That is until someone suffers a painful injury.
A fall from a scooter or a crash with another vehicle has the potential to cause a concussion. Riders could also suffer broken bones, strains, sprains, spinal cord damage and even death.
Injured in a Tempe Electric Scooter Accident? Contact Us
If you are hurt in any way or suffer any type of loss in a Tempe electric scooter accident, reach out to our legal team. We welcome all parties injured in electric scooter accidents, even if fault for the accident is unclear. If another person, group or institution is even slightly responsible for the accident, it still might be possible to obtain compensation.
Contact us today to get the ball rolling on your personal injury case. Give the best attorneys in Arizona a call at 844-977-1900 to schedule a free consultation. You can also get in touch with us via our LiveChat feature.