Dockless electric scooters are legal in Florida and it looks like they are here to stay. Micromobility is convenient, cheap, ecofriendly and a very popular transportation option, but it is not without its downsides. Electric scooters are seen as a nuisance to many, and the accidents and injuries come in many forms from pedestrians injured by inexperienced riders and in trip and fall accidents caused by scooters that are improperly parked, to scooter riders being hit by cars when they lose control or scooters malfunction. Scooter accident claims are complex and determining who can be held liable can be complicated. Talk to an experienced injury attorney today to learn more.
Scooter Accident Liability
The unique circumstances of your scooter accident will determine who can be held liable for your injuries. You may have injured as a pedestrian, a scooter rider, a bicyclist or the driver or passenger of a vehicle. You may have been injured on a roadway, on the sidewalk, or on private property. And, your accident may have been the result of driver negligence, scooter rider negligence, a defective scooter, defective roadway or dangerous premises.
Those who may be held liable for electric scooter accidents include:
- Negligent scooter rider who causes a traffic accident, hits a pedestrian or improperly parks
- Negligent driver
- Scooter company, such as Bird, Lime or Bolt
- Scooter manufacturer
- Pedestrian who violates scooter right of way
- Municipality, if caused by roadway defect
- Business or property owner, under premises liability if they created or failed to correct a hazard
Getting Paid for Scooter Accident Injuries
Once we determine who is liable for your injuries, there is still a matter of getting paid.
- If a negligent driver caused your injuries, we turn to their insurance company for compensation
- If your injuries were the result of a poorly maintained scooter, the renal company or its insurance company pays
- If premises liability was involved, we turn to the liability policy of the property or business owner
But what happens when the electric scooter rider is liable? Electric scooter riders are not required to carry liability insurance. The rental companies are not required to carried liability insurance to cover accidents caused by the riders. In these cases, you may be covered by your own auto or home insurance policy or by a policy held by a relative that you live with.
If you have been seriously injured in an electric scooter accident, don’t wait until it’s too late to call the Law Offices of Lee P. Marks, P.A., at 305-444-3343 or contact us online. Your consultation is free.
