E-scooters are suddenly everywhere. In recent years, what was once considered a child’s toy has been equipped with an electric motor, capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. Scooters have been transformed into micromobility devices, now available for rental in nearly every city in the United States, as well as for sale by nearly all major retailers. An e-scooter is a fast, fun way to get around town, and e-scooter rental apps make the devices easy to find, convenient to drop off, and simple to operate. However, with this rise in popularity, accidents have also become more common, and those injured may need to seek advice from a St. Louis e-scooter accident attorney.
What Causes Most E-Scooter Accidents When the Rider Is Not At-Fault?
Unfortunately, studies reveal that accidents and injuries from micromobility devices have escalated since the rise of the e-scooter, with the number of E-scooter-related injuries rising by 45% each year since 2017. E-scooter users must carefully follow the directions on their device and adhere to traffic laws. For instance, like most cities, St. Louis prohibits e-scooter riders from using the sidewalks, limiting them to bicycle lanes or to sharing the roads with cars and trucks. Unfortunately, even the most careful e-scooter rider cannot control the actions of drivers, frequently resulting in serious accidents. The most common causes of e-scooter accidents caused by parties other than the e-scooter rider include the following:
- Distracted drivers
- Speeding drivers
- Failing to leave adequate space between a vehicle and an e-scooter
- Impaired drivers
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Following too closely
- Left-turn accidents
- Right-hooking, or passing an e-scooter and then making a right turn into the path of the e-scooter
- Aggressive driving
- Road hazards, such as potholes, cracked pavement, uneven pavement, or loose sand or gravel
- Inadequate lighting
- Dangerous intersection designs
- Faulty e-scooter or dangerous scooter design
When a careless, reckless, or drunk driver causes injury to an e-scooter rider, the injuries are often severe due to the rider’s direct exposure to the vehicle, the roadway, and obstacles. The at-fault driver is liable for the e-scooter rider’s damages, like medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering under Missouri’s fault-based insurance laws. A city or county entity, such as a negligent road maintenance agency, may be liable for damages if it causes or contributes to an e-scooter accident.
What Types of Accidents are Caused By E-Scooter Riders?
An e-scooter rider isn’t always the injury victim in an e-scooter accident. Riders sometimes cause accidents and injuries to others by doing the following:
- Riding on sidewalks
- Lane-splitting in traffic
- Riding too fast for traffic conditions or road conditions
- Riding while intoxicated
- Colliding with bicyclists in a bike lane
- Colliding with pedestrians
- Failing to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians
- Failing to yield the right-of-way to a motor vehicle
- Using a phone while scootering
An e-scooter rider who causes injuries to someone else may be held liable for the damages. In some cases, e-scooter users have been found liable for trip-and-fall injuries to others due to improperly dropping off a scooter, which leaves it as an obstacle in the way of pedestrians.
Injuries In E-Scooter Accidents
Unfortunately, studies show that e-scooter users are less likely to wear helmets compared to e-bicycle riders. Risk-taking behaviors, such as riding while under the influence of alcohol and other substances, are also higher in e-scooter users. E-scooter accident and injury numbers may be escalating due to the increasing number of inexperienced and first-time riders as e-scooters gain popularity across all age groups and demographics. If you’ve been involved in an accident, let our St. Louis personal injury attorneys advocate on your behalf. Contact us today.