Most people in California view electric scooters as a safe way to get around. While these vehicles help people who might not otherwise have a means of transportation, riding on an e-scooter can still be dangerous. In fact, at least 29 people have been killed while riding e-scooters since 2018. This might sound like a small number, but their deaths were still avoidable.
Is it dangerous to ride an e-scooter?
In and of itself, riding a scooter isn’t necessarily dangerous. But if you’re hit by another vehicle, the results could be deadly. While the people in the vehicle are protected by a steel case, you have nothing to protect yourself from the impact. Most of the people who were killed in e-scooter accidents were struck by a vehicle while driving down the road. Wearing a helmet can decrease your risk of head injuries, but the rest of your body will still be vulnerable.
The increased popularity of rentable scooter companies like Bird and Lime has made scooters much more popular than they were a few decades ago. Unfortunately, some of these scooters have defects that put the riders’ lives at risk. In addition, with the popularity of ride sharing services like Lyft and Uber, motor vehicle accidents are on the rise. More people are using their car to make a living, which means you’re even more likely to get in an accident when you’re on the road.
Some people have called for e-scooters to be taken off the road altogether. In the meantime, you should always wear a helmet when you’re riding a scooter to reduce your risk of injury, even if the scooter company doesn’t insist on it. Some cities like Atlanta have set curfews for e-scooter riders.
What should you do if you’re injured in an accident?
An e-scooter might be an unconventional way to get around, but you still have a right to the road just like motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. If you get hit by a vehicle, you may file an insurance claim or launch a lawsuit with the help of an attorney.