Riding an electric scooter is one of the trendiest ways to get around Queens. Anyone with a credit card and a driver’s license can rent a scooter from Revel, Bird, or some other company located in the borough. Scooters provide a convenient method of transportation, especially for short distances.
As you can imagine, scooters are vulnerable in collisions. Indeed, scooters often face many more hazards than motor vehicles. In addition to cars, bicycles, and motorcycles, pedestrians also pose a safety hazard, especially if you choose to ride on the sidewalk.
At the Law Offices of Gary E. Rosenberg, P.C., we can assist anyone injured in a scooter accident. Obtaining compensation is often much harder than it should be. In addition to identifying fault, you need to document the accident and navigate the insurance process. Let us give you a hand.
An Overview of Scooter Accidents in Queens
There are many hazards that confront scooter users, leading to crashes and accidents. Some of the more common include:
- Scooter & Motor Vehicle Crashes: Negligent and reckless motorists are probably the greatest risk that scooter users face. Some drivers are even annoyed to see scooters in their lane and fail to take safety precautions.
- Scooter & Pedestrian Accidents: Scooters are supposed to be ridden on the road, not on the sidewalk. Nevertheless, many scooters can be found racing along the sidewalk and dodging pedestrians. In other situations, a pedestrian will trip over a scooter that has not been properly returned to a docking station but is abandoned on the sidewalk.
- Scooter & Bicycle Collisions: Scooters and bicycles must share the same cycling lane. Unfortunately, congestion and negligence can lead to wrecks. In other accidents, a cyclist or scooter user might take defensive action to avoid a collision but end up going off the road.
- Open Door Accidents: A person sitting in a parked car might open their door without looking over their shoulder. Consequently, they don’t see the scooter approaching. Since many scooter users hug the shoulder, they are at risk of riding straight into the opened door.
- Defective Scooters: Sometimes an accident stems from a defect on the scooter. For example, it might fail to stop in time or be difficult to maneuver. Poor design or construction can cause some defects. Other defects are the fault of a failure to maintain a scooter or the entire fleet.
- Road Defects: A scooter is vulnerable to being overturned when it hits potholes or debris in the road. Poor road maintenance or negligence tied to road construction can lead to injuries.
These are some of the most common scooter accidents. If you were hurt, contact our attorney for a case analysis.
Common Scooter Accident Injuries
A scooter user is uniquely vulnerable to any type of collision. In fact, many scooter users don’t even wear a helmet, which can make an accident even worse.
Studies have shown that the most common scooter accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Concussions
- Head injuries
- Cuts or lacerations
- Fractures
- Organ damage
Other serious injuries include abrasions, especially when exposed flesh is scraped along the sidewalk or road. A scooter rider can suffer permanent scarring, as well as infection.
There is also the emotional side to any scooter accident. Many people will be afraid to get onto a scooter again following a traumatic wreck. They might even be afraid to ride a bicycle or walk near traffic. These accidents leave scars that are invisible to the eye.
Receiving Compensation as a Scooter Rider
Attorney Rosenberg can help scooter accident victims seek compensation when someone is to blame for their injury:
- Suing a motorist for negligent driving which causes a crash
- Suing the scooter company for failing to maintain their scooters
- Bringing a claim against the scooter manufacturer for defects
- Seeking compensation against a pedestrian or cyclist for hitting the scooter
Obtaining compensation is difficult. For one thing, you probably can’t make a claim on your no-fault insurance policy, which is required for New York motorists to purchase. Revel has classified their scooters as motorcycles, and motorcycles are excluded from no-fault insurance.
Instead, you will need to allege fault against a defendant. For example, you can make a claim on a negligent driver’s liability coverage or sue the scooter company on their business liability insurance. If the city’s poor roads contributed to a crash, you might bring a claim against the municipality.
Compensation When Hit by a Scooter
If you were hurt by a scooter, you might also seek compensation. You can sue the person who struck you. In many cases, the scooter company (like Revel) will cover some compensation for bodily injury and property damage. Currently, they cover up to $25,000 in bodily injury per person and up to $10,000 in property damage.
You might also sue other parties, depending on the crash. For example, if a defect made a scooter unsafe to ride, anyone struck by the scooter could also sue the manufacturer. Contact a Queens scooter accident lawyer to fully analyze all possible claims.
Time Limits for Filing a Lawsuit
New York places deadlines on filing personal injury lawsuits. The deadline is contained in the relevant statute of limitations. For personal injury cases, you get three years to file a lawsuit. If you are too late, your case is dismissed and you are barred from re-filing later.
Contact us quickly so we can protect your rights. Three years probably sounds like a long time. But many badly injured people quickly lose track of time, and you could bump up against the deadline without even knowing it. We can quickly file a lawsuit in an appropriate court.
Give Us a Call to Speak with a Scooter Accident Lawyer in Queens
Scooters are a new and exciting mode of transportation. In many ways, however, scooter accidents are no different than other motor vehicle collisions. We analyze them using the same legal concepts like fault and negligence to determine who is to blame. Once we identify fault, we can help accident victims seek compensation for their injuries.
Call our law office today. We offer a free consultation.