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E-Scooter Accident Lawyer

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At Delfino, Green & Green, we know recovering from any accident is easier said than done—especially when you sustain serious injuries. We’re here to make sure you have access to the resources you need to recover. Contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

If you live in the Bay Area, you know that traffic is no joke. With highly congested streets and limited parking, driving a car—especially when only traveling a relatively short distance—just doesn’t make sense. Although micromobility products like the e-scooter offer an attractive, affordable alternative to traditional motor vehicles, they’re not without risk.

The issue with adding a motorized component to a scooter is that like the traditional bicycle, it simply wasn’t designed to travel at high speeds. If it were, it would almost certainly include additional safety components and may even have an entirely different structure. As a result, e-scooter accidents are on the rise, not only in the Bay Area, but nationwide.

lady sitting on the pavement next to an E-Scooter after an E-Scooter Accident

If you suffered serious injuries in an e-scooter accident caused by someone else, you shouldn’t have to foot the bill for your recovery. And luckily, you don’t have to. When you partner with an experienced e-scooter accident attorney, you can pursue damages from the at-fault party through an e-scooter accident lawsuit.

This article will explain everything you need to know about e-scooter accidents, including common causes, possible injuries and the top reasons to consider hiring a lawyer.

Need help now? As a trusted personal injury law firm in San Francisco, we’ve been able to secure compensation for countless accident victims. We may be able to help you, too. Contact us online or give us a call at (415) 442-4646 to get started.

Please contact us online or call us today at 415-442-4646 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced San Francisco E-Scooter Accident Lawyer

Common Causes of Scooter Accidents

If you’ve ever ridden an e-scooter (commonly called a “bird” or “lime”) it isn’t hard to imagine having an accident. Despite moving and accelerating quickly, e-scooters are upheld by just two relatively small wheels that are incapable of surmounting large potholes, rocks and other obstacles. Although almost anything can result in an accident, there are a few common culprits. Here are some of the prevalent causes of e-scooter accidents:

  • Road hazards, including uneven roads, poorly maintained roadways, construction zones, debris and more
  • Reckless driving, including distracted driving, driving while inebriated, making dangerous left-hand turns, speeding, failing to obey traffic laws, lane splitting and driving without sufficient knowledge or experience
  • Electric scooter malfunctions caused by manufacturing errors, poorly executed repairs and lack of maintenance

Regardless of what caused the accident, one thing is clear: Any e-scooter wreck can result in catastrophic injuries for the operator. We’ll explore the nature of those injuries in the next section.

Common E-Scooter Injuries

E-scooters are a relatively new mode of transportation, and as a result, data on the number of yearly injuries is limited. However, data indicates that injuries involving micromobility devices (namely e-scooters, e-bikes and hoverboards) are on the rise.

According to a report issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were more than 77,000 reported injuries involving a micromobility device from 2017 to 2021—a 127 percent spike from previous years. E-scooters accounted for the highest increase and accounted for 68 deaths in that time period. Here are some of the most common e-scooter injuries we see:

  • Head injuries, including concussions and more serious traumatic brain injuries
  • Broken bones, especially fractured ribs, shoulders, wrists, arms and legs
  • Spinal cord injuries, including a range of neck and back injuries
  • Soft tissues injuries
  • Lacerations, cuts and abrasions

Depending on the nature of your e-scooter accident injuries, you may require on-going medical treatments, physical therapy and even surgery. If you’re like most people, you can’t afford to acquire the amount of medical debt any of those treatments would incur. That’s why it’s a good idea to speak with an experienced e-scooter accident attorney about your options for recovering compensation.

motion blur picture of an unrecognizable person with an electric scooter on a city street. High speed

Top Reasons to Hire An E-Scooter Accident Lawyer

Hiring an isn’t as daunting of a task as it sounds. In fact, the vast majority of personal injury attorneys, including the lawyers at Delfino, Green & Green, work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we don’t get paid until and unless you do. Combined with our free case evaluations, our legal offerings are as low-risk as you can get.

Ultimately, though, it’s important to hire a lawyer after an e-scooter accident because it’s impossible to say how this accident might affect you down the road. You may not understand the full extent of your injuries or how they will affect your ability to earn money in the future. Your medical treatments may put you in financial jeopardy or cause you to lose your job entirely. Why should you continue to suffer from an accident that someone else caused?

You shouldn’t, and you don’t have to. When you partner with an experienced e-scooter accident lawyer, they can investigate your case to determine the at-fault party, calculate your potential settlement amount and seek the full range of damages. With help from an attorney, you may be able to pursue compensation for all of your economic and non-economic losses, including the following:

  • Medical bills related to the accident
  • Cost of future medical treatments and therapies
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost quality of life
  • Loss of companionship
  • Disfigurement and scarring
  • Partial or complete disability

These are just a few of the many damages your attorney can help you pursue through an e-scooter accident claim. All you have to do is make the first move.

Frequently Asked Questions About E-Scooter Accident Attorney

What happens if a scooter hits your car?

If an e-scooter rider collides with your car, liability depends on who was at fault. Insurance and accident reports will play a major role in determining financial responsibility.

Who can file an e-scooter lawsuit?

Anyone injured in an e-scooter accident, including riders, pedestrians, or drivers, may file a lawsuit if negligence by another party or company contributed to the accident.

What type of evidence is helpful in e-scooter cases?

Photos, videos, witness statements, medical records, accident reports, and scooter maintenance logs can all help strengthen your claim.

How soon does an e-scooter claim have to be filed?

In California, most personal injury claims, including e-scooter accidents, must be filed within two years of the accident.

What type of compensation is available for e-scooter accident lawsuits?

You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation, and property damage.

Can an attorney help if I was injured as a scooter passenger?

Yes. Passengers have legal rights and may pursue claims against negligent drivers, scooter companies, or even the scooter operator.

Will my case go to court or settle out of court?

Many e-scooter accident cases settle out of court, but if negotiations fail, your case may proceed to trial.

How long does it take to resolve an e-scooter accident claim?

The timeline depends on the complexity of the case, medical recovery, and negotiations. Some cases settle in months, while others may take over a year.

Do juries take e-scooter injuries seriously?

Yes. While some may see riding as risky, courts recognize that negligence by drivers, companies, or municipalities can lead to serious and life-changing injuries.

Can an accident reconstruction expert be used in an e-scooter crash case?

Yes. Experts can help explain how the accident occurred and support your version of events in court.

What happens if I was injured while helping someone else on their scooter?

You may still have legal options to pursue compensation, depending on the circumstances and whether negligence was involved.

What if I don’t want to sue but can’t afford my medical bills?

Your attorney can negotiate with insurers, pursue claims directly, or explore settlement options without going through a full trial.

What if I was wearing earbuds, am I automatically at fault?

Not necessarily. While it may affect your case, liability still depends on all circumstances, including driver behavior, road conditions, and company negligence.

Can I sue if a scooter company ignored my maintenance complaint?

Yes. If a company like Lime or Bird failed to maintain a scooter and you were injured as a result, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.

What are my legal rights if I was injured while avoiding a pedestrian?

You may still pursue a claim if another party’s negligence, such as poor road design or scooter malfunction, contributed to your crash.

How do I prove I wasn’t being reckless if there were no cameras?

Eyewitness testimony, medical records, and accident reconstruction experts can help establish that you acted responsibly.

Can scooter companies be held liable if brakes failed but I signed a waiver?

Yes. Waivers do not always shield companies from responsibility, especially if negligence or defective equipment caused the accident.

Why are drivers rarely held accountable when they claim they didn’t see me?

Drivers have a duty to stay alert. Failing to see an e-scooter rider is not a valid excuse and may still result in liability.

What if the at-fault party doesn’t have insurance?

You may still recover damages through your own uninsured motorist coverage or by pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the individual.

What if a road hazard, like a pothole, caused my scooter crash?

You may have a claim against the city, county, or property owner responsible for maintaining safe road conditions.

Delfino, Green & Green: Top-Tier Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers in San Francisco

If you’ve sustained serious injuries in an e-scooter accident, don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t have recourse. With help from an experienced electric scooter accident attorney, you can pursue the full range of damages. When you’re ready to hold the at-fault party accountable and protect your future, contact Delfino, Green & Green for a free case consultation.

Ready to get started? Reach out to us online to schedule a free consultation or call our law office at (415) 442-4646 for top-tier legal advice.

Verdicts & Settlements

We’ve recovered millions for our clients

Construction Death

The husband and father of 4 young children was working at a construction site when he died because of another contractor’s negligence. After more than two years of hard fought litigation, our team of experts was able to win a tremendous victory on behalf of our clients and ensure that all of their financial needs will be met. We could not bring back the husband/father for this family, but we were able to protect them from the financial devastation that can and often does result where the primary source of income for the family is taken away. We then worked with our team of financial planners to make sure that this family will always have financial security.

$10,400,000

Bad Faith Insurance Claim

Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith Bad Faith – Pollution Coverage Prior to forming his own firm, Mr. Green worked at one of the largest and most prestigious firms in the U.S. He was the primary attorney on an environmental insurance case that went to trial in San Francisco. After a several week trial, Mr. Green came away with a trial verdict against the insurers with a value of over $10,000,000 in available insurance coverage.

$10,000,000

Traumatic Brain Injury

A 16 year old developmentally disabled kid was hit by a bus while in a crosswalk. He suffered a concussion which turned into post concussive syndrome, where the symptoms of the concussion don’t heal completely. This is also known as a mild Traumatic Brain Injury (“mTBI”). Our firm was hired as trial counsel 6 months before trial because of our expertise in TBIs as well as cutting edge trial techniques. When we first associated into the case, there was a very minimal settlement offer and it did not appear that the Defense was taking the case seriously. Our team of attorneys, experts and staff immediately immersed ourselves in the case as we prepared to demonstrate the catastrophic consequences of this incident. Shortly before trial, the Defense could see that we had put all the pieces together to prove liability and that full justice for our young client required damages in the many millions of dollars. The matter settled for $5,750,000.

$5,750,000

Disability Claim

Disability – Neurological Issues Our client became disabled from neurological issues. Our attorneys were able to work with the client and his physicians to quickly assemble all of the documentation necessary to support out client’s claim of total disability. The insurer agreed that our client was totally disabled and paid his claim.

$2,400,000

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury to Child A three year old child was being carried across the street when she was struck by an oncoming car. The child suffered a serious traumatic brain injury when she hit the ground. Her injuries were so serious she had to be hospitalized for several months. Our firm negotiated a settlement of $2,000,000 by forcing the payment of all of the available insurance from the driver’s automobile insurer ($1,250,000), the entire amount of the homeowners insurance limits available ($500,000), and all of the amounts that the person carrying the little girl was able to recover from the negligent driver ($250,000). We then arranged for another firm to prepare and fund a large Special Needs Trust for the health and welfare of the injured child.

$2,000,000

Heart Condition Disability

Our client became disabled by a heart attack. The insurer refused to pay, claiming that our client was still able to perform his occupation. We met with all of our client’s doctors, obtained reports confirming the client’s inability to perform his prior occupation, and ultimately convinced the insurance company to pay the claim in full.

$1,800,000

Builder’s Risk/Collapse

A contractor suffered a severe collapse at one of his sites. The claim was submitted to the insurer and denied. Mr. Green reviewed all of the facts, researched the law, and brought together the necessary experts to prove that the Contractor’s Builders Risk insurer was responsible for a substantial portion of the loss. He also proved that a subcontractor was negligent and the subcontractor’s insurer also paid a substantial settlement. In total, Mr. Green was able to obtain more than $1,700,000 in compensation for his client.

$1,700,000

Traumatic Brain Injury

Our client suffered a mild Traumatic Brain Injury when heavy object struck her in the head. The responsible party denied all fault and insisted until the very end that our client had not suffered a brain injury and offered nothing to settle the case. Our firm assembled a team of world renowned expert‘s to demonstrate that our client had suffered a mild Traumatic brain injury. The case settled shortly before trial.

$1,000,000

Heart Condition Disability

Our client had worked for the government for many years when she began suffering from a serious heart condition. All of her doctors told her that she could no longer work and if she continued to do so, she would be risking further injury to her heart or even death.

$1,000,000

Traumatic Hand Injury

Our client was working at a manufacturing plant. While operating a piece of machinery, his glove became caught in the machinery and part of his hand was severely injured. Ordinarily, this type of injury would be restricted to remedies available through Worker’s Compensation. However, through the knowledge, ingenuity, and creativity of our team of attorneys, we were also able to obtain a very substantial civil settlement for our client in addition to the workers comp settlement of his case.

$985,000

Aviation Death Settlement

A husband and father of two small children was killed in an aviation accident involving a small aircraft. Our firm represented the widow and two children against the pilot of the aircraft. By hiring experts in aviation (to prove negligence) and economists (to prove damages), and utilizing William Green’s expertise as an instrument-rated pilot, we were able to make a very powerful case and obtain a very favorable settlement that allowed the family to survive financially.

$975,000

Forklift Accident

A construction supervisor went to pick up some materials for a construction job. A worker at the yard neglected to set the parking brake on a piece of heavy equipment a few yards away. While the construction supervisor had his back turned, the machine rolled into him, pinning him against the side of his pick-up truck. He suffered several broken ribs, but that was the least of his injuries. Within several weeks of the accident, he had partially lost his sight. By working with medical experts, our firm was able to directly connect the sight loss to the injuries caused by the machine that rolled into our client. The case settled at Mediation without any need for a trial.

$700,000

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