The use of motor scooters in Virginia has become even more popular. While the increase of eco-friendly vehicles on the road is a good thing, using a motor scooter on the roadway is dangerous. Motor scooter accidents are often incredibly dangerous, especially when they involve a collision with a large passenger vehicle. Many motor scooter drivers don’t have enough experience to operate them safely. When not driven safely, motor scooters can cause serious injuries or even death.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in a Virginia motor scooter accident, Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC can help. Our full-service personal injury law firm has been serving the Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. metropolitan area with distinction for over four decades. We understand how difficult it is for motor vehicle accident victims to recover from their injuries while facing concerns about mounting medical bills and needed time off of work. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how we can advocate on your behalf.
Electric Motor Scooters Can Be Incredibly Dangerous
Researchers and doctors are beginning to speak out about the dangers of electronic scooter injuries. University of California researches conducted a 2019 study about the most common motor scooter injuries. They found that motor scooter riders are most frequently admitted to hospital emergency rules due to the following types of injuries:
- Fractures (31.7 percent)
- Head injuries (40.2 percent)
- Soft-tissue injuries (27.7 percent)
Suffering a traumatic brain injury is always a risk when it comes to riding electronic motor scooters. The Austin Public Health and Transportation and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also found that 15 percent of all victims of motor scooter accidents suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study also found that between September 5 and November 30, 2019, 271 people sustained injuries from e-scooter accidents that required hospital visits in Austin-area hospitals.
Virginia Motor Scooter Accidents Can Cause Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries can cause devastating complications that make it difficult for people to engage in everyday activities, including working a job. In addition to traumatic brain injuries, motor scooter accidents can cause the following serious personal injuries:
- Penetration injuries
- Contusions
- Concussions
- Multiple bone fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries, including whiplash
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Paralysis
- Bruising
Why Are Motor Scooters So Dangerous?
Many people are surprised to learn how dangerous motor scooters can be, especially for inexperienced operators. People often think that if they know how to drive a car, they will be able to safely operate an e-scooter, but this is not always the case. Operating a motor scooter requires a specific skill set.
Additionally, most motor scooter companies do not provide riders with helmets or regulate their speed. As with riding a bicycle or motorcycle, a rider’s risk of serious injury increases significantly when he or she isn’t wearing a helmet.
Common Causes of Motor Scooter Accidents
Many e-scooter companies operate in highly populated areas, like downtown Alexandria or in Washington, D.C. The more pedestrians, e-scooter riders, and motor vehicle drivers in a location, the higher the risk of collisions, especially at busy times. In many cases, e-scooter users are not aware of the safety concerns and dangers of motor scooters. The following are common causes of motor scooter accidents:
- Defectively designed scooters can be unstable and easy to overturn
- Uneven pavement or roadside clutter can cause a rider to be ejected from the scooter
- Motor scooters lack built-in or external safety features
- Motor scooters are popular with inexperienced and young riders who ride recklessly
- Many riders aren’t aware of the regulations and laws related to electric scooters
- Motor vehicle drivers aren’t used to watching for e-scooter riders
- Speeding, intoxicated, or distracted motorists can collide with motor scooter riders
- Negligent scooter riders can collide with pedestrians
- Cities fail to offer bike paths, lanes, or places for scooters
Reckless, Underage Scooter Operators
Research has shown that teenagers under the age of 18 have stolen driver’s licenses or used fake ID’s to rent and recklessly drive scooters. This has become a severe problem in many e-scooter hot spots, especially in highly populated cities. E-scooter companies have a duty to ensure that only drivers with valid driver’s licenses can rent their scooters. If an underage scooter operator caused the accident that resulted in your injuries, you might be entitled to compensation from the e-scooter company.
Bringing a Motor Scooter Lawsuit
The first step in bringing a motor scooter accident lawsuit is to determine who is at fault. In some cases, the city in which the accident happened is at fault for the motor scooter accident. For example, when a motor scooterist collides with a pothole and flies off the scooter, causing injuries, the city may be liable. Bringing a lawsuit against government entities and municipalities is complicated. At Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC, we understand how to bring a lawsuit against a city or municipality successfully.
In other cases, a negligent scooterist collides with a pedestrian, or a motor vehicle, causing injuries. The scooterist may have been intoxicated, drunk, or distracted when he or she caused the accident. Or the scooterist may have been inexperienced or operating the scooter at excessive speeds.
In some cases, negligent motorists who are not paying attention collide with a motor scooter driver. In these types of accidents, the scooter operator usually suffers the most severe injuries because they lack exterior protection. Finally, suppose the motor scooter itself is poorly designed or poorly maintained, causing the scooter to fail. In that case, the victim can seek compensation from the scooter manufacturer or the company that rents out scooters to customers.
Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Today
At Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC, our scooter accident lawyers can help you obtain financial compensation for the financial losses you’ve suffered. The sooner you speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer, the better. Contact our Northern Virginia personal injury law firm today to schedule your initial consultation.