Scooter accidents can be caused by a number of factors. Sometimes, scooterists themselves can be partly at fault for scooter accidents, while at other times, negligent drivers cause accidents. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that scooter accidents occur in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
When Do Scooterists Cause Accidents?
- Inexperienced riders — Scooter services like Lime and Bird are relatively new to the market, and many scooter riders will not have much or any experience using electric scooters. Riders may not know the rules of the road as they relate to scooters, or may not properly abide by them. For instance, many scooter riders don’t know that they’re required to ride in bike lanes where they exist, and ride on sidewalks, putting pedestrians in danger.
- Intoxicated riders — Sometimes, individuals who have had a fun night out drinking and listening to live music in downtown Atlanta may choose to take a scooter home when they should order a rideshare. Operating a scooter while intoxicated is not only dangerous to other vehicles on the road; it’s incredibly dangerous to the rider, who may not be wearing the proper safety gear.
- Distracted riders — Riding scooters while distracted is also dangerous to both other vehicles and to scooterists themselves. Distracted scootering may include using a smartphone to text or adjust music while operating a scooter, daydreaming, or otherwise not focusing on operating the scooter.
How Drivers Can Cause Accidents
Distracted driving — Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of traffic-related accidents in the United States. A driver who is distracted may not notice a scooter that they are sharing the road with, which can be especially dangerous in areas where there is no bike lane. Distracted driving can include:
- Texting
- Talking on the phone
- Talking to other passengers
- Changing the music, using navigation apps, or other in-dash systems
- Eating and drinking
- Grooming
- Daydreaming
Reckless driving and speeding — Reckless driving and speeding are especially dangerous around scooter riders. Drivers who speed are more likely to lose control of their vehicle, and less likely to react quickly enough to avoid a collision if they suddenly come upon a pedestrian on a scooter.
Tailgating — Tailgating is a type of reckless driving. Like bicyclists, scooterists have a perfect right to share the road with other vehicles. When there isn’t a bike lane, scooters are permitted to share the road with other cars. Sometimes, drivers are not particularly courteous toward bikers and scooterists, who move more slowly than automobiles. Some drivers may tailgate scooter riders or even try to run them off the road. This can have devastating consequences for scooter riders.
Drunk driving — Driving while intoxicated impairs a driver’s ability to focus on driving and make sound decisions. A drunk driver may not even notice that they are sharing the road with a pedestrian on a scooter, particularly at night. Driving while intoxicated also reduces a driver’s ability to react when they suddenly come upon a scooter rider, and as a result, they may not be able to slow down or stop in time to avoid a collision.
Collisions with Objects
Sometimes, scooter accidents occur when a scooterist collides with an object at rest. In the Duluth area, one common obstruction scooterists encounter is open car doors. Scooters riding in the bike lane may come into contact with a parked driver who suddenly opens their door without noticing the approaching scooter, which can cause collisions.
Common Injuries in Scooter Accidents
Unlike drivers, scooterists do not have the luxury of safety features to protect them in the event of a collision. Drivers are able to rely on seat belts, airbags, and the physical framework of their vehicle to protect them in the event of a crash, but scooterists are usually directly impacted by a collision, which can cause much more serious injuries. Some common injuries in scooter accident cases include:
- Traumatic brain injuries — Traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, hematomas, and skull fractures, can be incredibly serious and even fatal if left untreated. Scooterists are especially vulnerable to this if they are not wearing a helmet.
- Spinal damage — Damage to the spine can be permanently debilitating. If the spinal cord is broken in the course of a crash, this can lead to paralysis below the site of the injury, rendering the scooterist permanently immobile.
- Soft-tissue injuries — Soft-tissue injuries are not always immediately noticeable after a scooter accident, but they can cause significant pain and require months to recover from.
- Broken/fractured bones — Because scooter riders commonly bear the brunt of a collision, broken and fractured bones are a common injury sustained by many scooterists who are caught in an accident. These injuries can take months to recover from and can require extensive surgeries and physical therapy to repair.
- Road rash — Road rash may occur when a scooterist slides across an area of pavement after being impacted in a collision. Cuts, scrapes, and lacerations may also occur due to debris. If the scooterist is exposed to hazardous chemicals or fire, they may also sustain burns, which can cause permanent disfigurement.
Compensation for Scooter Accidents
If you’re a scooter rider in Georgia who was injured in an accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation for expenses associated with medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering caused by the accident.
For-profit insurance companies will use every tool in their arsenal to attempt to reduce or deny your claim, so working with a skilled attorney to help you negotiate a fair settlement is crucial.
How Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC Can Help
If you’ve been the victim of a scooter accident in the Atlanta area caused by someone else’s negligence, know that you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries and other losses. The experienced Atlanta scooter injury attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC could help by investigating the accident, gathering important evidence, determining who the at-fault party or parties are, and building a strong case for compensation. Contact us today for a FREE case evaluation.
