2,000 Scooters Now Available to Rent Around Sacramento
Bird scooters arrived in Sacramento on February 25 to the delight of those looking for a simpler, cost-effective way to get around town. Lime launched its line of scooters in the city in July of last year, and Jump has been around since February 2019. It is estimated that Bird is offering 250 of its black scooters for rent at various locations and providing equitable access to people who are low income.
E-Scooters and E-Bikes Popular in Sacramento County
There are more than 2,000 electrically-powered scooters and bikes available for rent in Sacramento, which has become a popular mode of transportation. Rates for the new Bird scooters run 1 dollar for the initial rental and an additional 29 cents per minute. All in all, it allows residents to get around in style while foregoing more traditional forms of transportation.
Safety Concerns
Across the nation, concerns over safety when using an e-scooter have been rising. Eight people have died, according to Consumer Reports, along with 1,500 rider injuries. Since many injured riders do not go to the emergency room or urgent clinics, this number is thought to be low. Overall, accidents have doubled, bringing about calls for restrictions, along with safety measures. A study released in January 2020 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. The data showed an increase in emergency and hospital patients hurt when riding an e-scooter from a ride-sharing program since its inception.
Injuries Piling Up
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission examined data from 2014 to 2018 and found that riders suffered 39,100 injuries. In 2017 and 2018, there were 22,677 injuries. Hospital admissions doubled from 2017 to 2018.
Head Injuries on Bird Scooters
Serious injuries that happen on e-scooters frequently involve head injury. In California, riders are not required to wear a helmet, so the risk of a traumatic brain injury is high. A study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Austin, Texas, showed that 50 percent of riders suffered head injuries. About 10 percent of e-scooter riders were involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, and about 20 percent said the scooter they were riding malfunctioned.
Helmet Use
Many experts believe that the scooter companies are obligated to encourage the use of helmets. The agreements users sign when renting a scooter specifically state that the rental company is without fault when an accident happens. Facing a backlash from injured riders, Bird announced that it would hand out 50,000 free helmets, yet they are not provided when the unit is rented. Reports allege that Bird was instrumental in passing a law that freed riders from using a helmet in California.
Malfunctioning Scooters
Riders who are injured by a Bird scooter due to defective brakes or accelerators often abandon the unit when they are taken to the ER. This leaves them in a precarious situation when they wish to file a defective product lawsuit. This prevents them from showing the court that the vehicle was defective. Other than taking the vehicle to the hospital with them, their ability to file a claim is hampered.
Pedestrian Injuries With a Bird Scooter
Many pedestrians are injured by e-scooters. This primarily happens when the scooters are illegally used on the sidewalk. With the recent explosion of Bird scooters in Sacramento, sidewalks are becoming even more congested. In addition, riders often abandon the scooter on the sidewalk, leading to trip and fall injuries. An injured pedestrian has the option of suing the rider since Bird relinquishes any responsibility for the accident. If the accident was due to a manufacturing defect, a lawsuit can be filed against the manufacturer.
What an Attorney Can Do to Help
An attorney who handles e-scooter accidents is able to help when the incident is the fault of a negligent rider or a faulty manufacturer. Our law firm sends our investigators to the scene of the accident to collect evidence that may help our client’s case. We look for video footage of the accident on business security cameras or other sources. We also obtain footage from traffic surveillance cameras. Our investigators look for previous accidents that involved scooter defects and speak to medical experts. Once the data is accumulated, we release it to our legal team to build a solid claim for our client.
Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento electric scooter accident lawyer. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice if you’ve been injured on a scooter. You can also reach me online.
I’ve helped Sacramentans for more than 38 years obtain the compensation they deserve in car accidents, motorcycle and bicycle crashes.
Learn more about my practice on the following pages:
I am a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Photo Attribution: Photo by Denniz Futalan from Pexels
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