Electric scooter related injuries resulting in hospitalizations have more than tripled over five years nationwide according to a recent report by UCSF. “We know for sure there has been an explosion of riders in the past couple of years” said study author Dr. Benjamin Breyer who went on to say “We see that more in a big increase in the number of injuries” and added “Injuries are probably worse and (people) are riding at higher speeds.”
Nearly one in three of these injuries are head injuries and according the Breyer “they have the potential to be catastrophic and produce lifelong disabilities. They can be very severe. I think some of that is probably related to fewer scooter riders wear helmets.” California does not require riders to wear a helmet on an electric scooter that can go up to 15 miles per hour although the companies and government encourages such use.
The most common injuries were fractures, abrasions and lacerations and were most common in the 18 to 34 year old demographic. There has been a marked increase in injuries since businesses renting two-wheelers in cities around the world have popped up and ridership has increased. Cities with higher densities and hills have the potential for more trauma. Cities are being more cautious in their acceptance of scooters citing illegal sidewalk riding, parking obstructing pedestrians and general safety risks among the concerns.
A few e-scooter companies hold safety workshops and one of the companies is testing software that detect if a rider is on the sidewalk or parked improperly. Scoot recently introduced an in-app feature that lets riders earn point for future rides by taking a selfie in a helmet. Spin updates its software to include rules of the road that riders must acknowledge before starting. The industry goal is to make e-scooters safer than cars and to reduce serious injuries. We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when they refuse to follow the law. We help with serious issues that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth. We have almost 60 years of experience in our plaintiff’s only law firm. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We Can Help!
