Were You in an Electric Scooter Crash?

Posted in Personal Injury on November 21, 2019

Electric scooters have risen in popularity across the United States, particularly in and around major cities. Even here in Tennessee, you have likely seen plenty of rental electric scooters darting around. However, these scooters have led to many injuries and even some fatalities in municipalities across the country. Where they were being touted as environmentally friendly and convenient ways for people do get around, many city leaders began to wonder if they should ban them or not.

That is precisely what happened in Nashville over the summer. After a fatal crash involving a scooter operator and an SUV, Nashville announced that all publicly-accessible electric scooters operating within the city will be banned and removed “immediately.” This happened despite the fact that police determined the scooter operator to be at fault in the incident. The city remains open to the possibility of shared mobility devices in the future, as long as safety is seriously taken into consideration.

Who is liable in a scooter accident?

However, many people in and around Nashville were injured before this ban took place. Others continue to be injured due to electric rental scooters. It is not uncommon for a victim to suffer from the following injuries after a scooter crash:

  • Broken and dislocated bones
  • Severe lacerations
  • Internal organ damage
  • Internal bleeding
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Whiplash injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Concussions

Each of these injuries requires medical care. Some can lead to massive medical bills or long-term disabilities for victims. In some cases, a scooter injury victim cannot work while they recover, causing them to lose the income they need to support themselves or their families.

Various parties could be held liable in these cases:

  • Drivers. All too often, scooter crashes are the result of a driver’s careless or negligent actions. This could include a failure to yield the right-of-way or a driver speeding through an intersection. It could also include drivers who are impaired or distracted at the time of the crash.
  • Scooter companies. Manufacturers of scooters who sell defective or malfunctioning devices, or rental companies who fail to properly maintain the scooters, can be held liable for injuries and damages that result from a crash.
  • Scooter operators. Scooter operators can also be held liable if their negligent operation causes harm to a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or another motorist. In the incident that led to the Nashville scooter ban, the scooter operator was intoxicated. Even though they were on the smaller vehicle, they were still at-fault for the crash.

You need to act quickly

In Tennessee, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim is only one year from the date the incident occurs. The clock starts counting down the second a scooter crash occurs. If you or a loved one have been injured in a scooter crash that was caused by the careless or negligent actions of another person, you should seek legal assistance immediately. A Tennessee personal injury attorney will examine your case and determine the best path forward. You could be entitled to significant compensation, including the following:

  • Your medical expenses related to the scooter crash
  • Lost wages and benefits if you are unable to work
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of personal enjoyment damages
  • Possible punitive damages in the case of gross negligence