Electric scooter rentals throughout Miami are becoming more popular. With companies like Lime and Bird offering electric scooter rentals to speed up travel and reduce reliance on cars and fossil fuels, Miami is becoming “greener.” However, many drivers are not accustomed to driving around these scooters, and scooter riders are at risk for car accidents and other serious injuries while riding a scooter.
If you or a loved one was injured riding an electric scooter from a rental company or a scooter you own, contact the Miami electric scooter injury lawyers at Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA. Prosper Shaked represents injury victims in lawsuits against the parties responsible for their injuries, such as the driver of a car in a scooter accident. For a free legal consultation on your scooter injury case, contact our law offices today at (305) 694-2676.
Common Causes of Scooter Injuries in Miami
If you rent a scooter to get around, you hope that travel will be simple and easy. In many cases, inattentive drivers and pedestrians can put you in dangerous situations, potentially leading to serious car accidents. Other injuries from scooters are also possible.
Car accidents are one of the biggest risks to rental scooter riders in Miami. Miami drivers may be accustomed to foot traffic and even bike traffic, but many drivers are not attentive enough to watch out for electric scooters and other small vehicles. In many cases, this inattention is what leads to car accidents, whether from texting and driving or other distracted driving. Drivers who violate other traffic laws – such as speeding, running a red light, or driving under the influence – also put you at serious risk of injury.
People using rental scooters may also experience injuries from malfunctions with the scooter. Scooter rental companies are expected to properly maintain and repair their equipment so that riders can stay safe. In many cases, waivers that you sign as part of signing up for electric scooter rental say that the company is not responsible for any malfunctions of problems with the equipment, such as faulty brakes or accelerators that could put you at risk of injury from being unable to stop or sudden jerks that knock you off the scooter.
If you own your own scooter, you may be able to sue the manufacturer for malfunctions that cause injuries. Electric scooters use some type of battery to store the power for driving the scooter. In most scooters, there are no issues with these power cells or charging stations – but sometimes manufacturers allow dangerous designs or scooters with manufacturing defects to hit the market. If you purchased a defective scooter that caught on fire while charging or had other defects that caused you serious injuries, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
Suing Drivers for Car Accidents on a Rental Scooter
While your first instinct might be to sue the rental scooter company or the scooter manufacturer for accidents, these cases do not often work. Waivers and difficult legal hurdles may prevent you from suing these parties for injuries, but any time you are involved in an accident with a negligent driver, you can sue that driver for the injuries they caused you. These accident cases are often worth substantial compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering.
In Florida, car insurance uses a “no-fault” system. In some cases, this requires you to file your injury case through the car insurance company rather than in court. However, a scooter is not a car, and there is no expectation that you would have auto insurance. Even if someone tries to convince you that you do have to file your case through insurance, know that you can typically take your case to court if you suffered any serious injuries or your injuries were worth more than $10,000.
When you take your scooter accident injury case to court, you need to prove that the at-fault driver was the one who caused the accident. Typically, this means pointing to traffic violations and other errors behind the wheel to prove their responsibility for the crash. For instance, a driver who runs a red light or fails to yield to a scooter rider is likely responsible for the crash.
In addition to proving the driver’s fault in the crash, you must also prove the damages you faced. In any injury case, you should seek medical attention. Severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones can result from many scooter crashes. These injuries may require intensive medical care that can result in costly medical bills. These damages should be covered in full in a lawsuit, and your medical records, bills, and financial records can help prove the cost of these damages to a jury.
In addition to the damages for medical bills, you can typically claim damages for any other harms you suffered because of the accident. This can include the cost of any lost wages if the injury was severe enough to cause you to miss work. Pay stubs and bank records can help prove these damages. Regardless of the extent of your lost wages and medical expenses, your case likely includes pain and suffering damages which you can also claim in court. These damages are more complicated to prove, but your attorney can help you with your case.
Call Our Miami Scooter Rental Lawyers for a Free Case Consultation
If you suffered serious injuries in an accident while riding on an electric rental scooter in the Miami area, call Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA today. Our Miami scooter rental lawyer may be able to file your scooter accident case against the negligent driver that caused your injuries and fight to get you the compensation you need to pay for medical expenses, reimburse you for lost wages, and cover the pain and suffering in your accident case. For a free legal consultation, call our law offices today at (305) 694-2676.