Motorized scooters have become an incredibly popular form of transportation across the country. This is particularly true in urban neighborhoods and cities. In Los Angeles, scooters are even available for rent. Scooters offer an alternative to large vehicles while also providing speed. Most scooters can reach up to 15 MPH. Unfortunately, scooter accidents have become problematic in Los Angeles. Doctors in the emergency department at Los Angeles Cedars-Sinai report that there has been a sharp rise “in patients seeking treatment for head, wrist, elbow and hip injuries related to scooter use.”
Scooters themselves may be no more dangerous than a motorcycle or bike. However, there are reasons that the number of scooter accidents in Los Angeles has outpaced accidents with similar vehicles in recent months.
No License Required: If you want to operate a motorcycle or moped in California, you need a special driver’s license. In order to get this license, you have to demonstrate that you know how to operate the vehicle safely. Scooters are essentially small mopeds. In fact, experts say that the differences between the two vehicles are quite limited. However, you don’t need a license to ride a scooter. As a result, many inexperienced and unqualified individuals are operating these scooters on Los Angeles roads.
No Mandate for Safety Equipment: Motorcyclists, cyclists, and moped users are encouraged, and sometimes even required, to wear certain safety gear. Scooter riders are not. In fact, most scooter riders hit the open road without so much as a helmet or safety pad. When an accident happens, the risk of a serious or fatal injury increases.
Distractions: Scooter riders also tend to be distracted. Hospital officials note that scooter riders are “prone to wearing earbuds.” As a result, they are less likely to be aware of their surroundings. Earbuds limit the ability to hear traffic and others around them.
Riding on Sidewalks: Scooters are typically operated on sidewalks. This poses a threat to pedestrians. Distracted scooter operators are likely to run into and hurt pedestrians. If scooters operate on the road, they are more likely to be struck by a car.
Abandoned Scooters: When you rent a scooter in Los Angeles there is no specific docking station. As a result, many scooters are simply abandoned along the streets and sidewalks. This creates a hazard for other scooter riders and everyone else on the road.
If you are injured in a Los Angeles scooter accident it is important to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. You may be entitled to compensation if someone else’s negligence contributed to your accident. Negligence occurs when someone owes you a duty of care but does something to put you in jeopardy. You may be able to file a scooter accident lawsuit against:
A successful lawsuit can allow you to recover monetary damages for the harm you have suffered. Damages can include money for:
At Glotzer & Leib, LLP, our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers can help you recover compensation even if you share fault for your scooter accident. In California, fault is not necessarily a bar to recovery. You can get money as long as someone else was also to blame.
However, your recovery will be reduced if you share fault. For example, if you are 25 percent to blame, your damages will be reduced by 25 percent. If someone else was also injured, you may be liable for 25 percent of their damages.
As your attorneys, we will work to reduce your role in the accident. A thorough investigation can help to uncover evidence that proves others are mostly to blame. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.
Have you been injured in a Los Angeles scooter accident? Contact Glotzer & Leib, LLP to learn about your legal rights and options. Our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys are here to help you get the money you deserve. Call to schedule your free case evaluation today.
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