Georgia loves electric scooters. Unfortunately, riding scooters has risks–to scooter riders, people in other motor vehicles, and pedestrians. Scooters’ small sizes leave their drivers vulnerable to personal injury, and catastrophic injuries are far too common.
Although e-scooters are meant for the road, many riders use them on the sidewalk, creating additional hazards. However, whatever the circumstances of the e-scooter accident, scooter riders may be entitled to compensation for resulting damage and bodily injury.
Claiming Compensation
Insurance companies don’t make it easy for people to claim compensation for e-scooter accidents. Luckily, the seasoned attorneys at Georgia Auto Law have the know-how to help clients navigate the complicated process of claiming for damages.
Here are some of the ways our team helps clients in personal injury cases:
- Investigating the accident’s circumstances and possible causes to determine responsibility.
- Working with law enforcement, visiting the accident scene, and interviewing witnesses.
- Hiring experts to support the case, calculate appropriate compensation, and ensure the client’s contribution to the accident isn’t overplayed.
Our attorneys are renowned for their courtroom skills and often gain compensation without legal action. However, we won’t hesitate to start legal proceedings when they are the only way to achieve a favorable outcome.
Are Scooter Crashes Common?
Unfortunately, Atlanta has suffered more e-scooter accidents than any other major city. The Department of Public Transportation has addressed this, building wider sidewalks and additional bike lanes, limiting scooter riding to the daytime, and creating practice areas and dedicated spaces for e-scooters.
Electric Scooter Accident Causes
Here are some of the most common causes of e-scooter accidents in Atlanta:
- Collision with pedestrians, objects, or other vehicles, such as cars or a truck
- Being hit by an opening car door
- Driving e-scooters while impaired or distracted
- Failure to comply with the laws of the road
- Driving an e-scooter in the dark
- Scooter defects
- Poorly maintained e-scooters
- A badly maintained road or sidewalk
As you can see, many people and entities can be involved in an accident, but it often takes an attorney to prove this.
Consequences of an Electric Scooter Accident
In Atlanta, common personal injury following an electric scooter collision includes:
- Bruising
- Contusions
- Burns
- Bone breaks
- Trauma to the head and neck
- Damage to the brain and spinal cord
- Paralysis
- Limb amputation
- Death
When e-scooter operators ride without a helmet, injuries can be more severe and can impact compensation. A seasoned attorney can help present a strong case for compensation even if injuries are suffered while riding without a helmet.
Possible Responsible Parties in an Electric Scooter Accident
In Atlanta, electric scooter accidents follow the same principles as with any motor vehicle. This means parties other than the driver can share responsibility for the accident. These might include the following:
- Pedestrians
- Cyclists
- Operators of another motor vehicle, such as a car, a motorbike, a truck, or a city bus
- Employers of other responsible parties
- Manufacturers of motor vehicles or helmets
- E-scooter companies, such as Spin, Bird, Wheels, Boaz, Gotchya, Bolt, Jump, and Lime
Responsibility for accidents involving scooters isn’t always obvious, but the experienced attorneys at Georgia Auto Law know how to determine the truth so that clients can claim the compensation they need.
Why Claim Damages in Accidents Involving Electric Scooters
Because electric scooters offer the driver very little protection, an accident involving one can result in serious injury. The extent of the injury isn’t always immediately apparent. What seems like a minor spill can result in disabilities that affect the rider’s ability to work and quickly wipe out a family’s savings.
Here are just some of the burdens placed on scooter riders who are involved in accidents:
- Cost of medical treatment
- Disability, whether temporary or permanent
- Inability to work resulting in lost or lowered wages
- Inability to carry out normal activities, resulting in the need for housekeepers or childcarers
- Damage to property
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Insurance should cover many of these things, but insurance companies and the electric scooter companies they represent often try to lessen their payouts with low offers, even when a wrongful death has occurred. An experienced lawyer understands what the offer should be and helps clients fight to receive what is appropriate. We can also help clients discover other people and entities responsible for the accident.
Contact Us
Attorneys at some other companies try to do it all. At Georgia Auto Law, our team works only on auto cases, enabling us to offer highly skilled services. We are available to our clients 24/7, and if you don’t receive compensation, you don’t owe us anything.
To find out more about Georgia Auto Law and how we can help with e-scooter accidents, call 404-662-4949 today.