Seemingly overnight, our streets and sidewalks have been populated with hundreds of electric scooters. Electric scooters or “e-scooters” are battery powered scooters that are rentable for a period of time via app by scanning a barcode located on the handle of the scooter. The most recognizable names for e-scooters local to the Phoenix Area, Lime and Bird, are supposedly only capable of going around 15 mph, however, they can easily exceed this if the rider is pushing off the pavement at top speed. For comparison, an e-scooter rider traveling down a sidewalk at top speed has the potential to be going faster than an Olympic sprinter. This is a cause for concern because although 20-25 mph may seem slow for vehicles such as cars, scooter riders and pedestrians are much less protected from collisions than passengers in a vehicle like a car.
In a Business Insider and a Consumer Reports investigation, there have been over 1,545 accidents in the past year involving e-scooters. This number is so worrisome that the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) has started their own investigation into the rise of e-scooters as they expand nationwide in order to assess the public health risks associated with e-scooter accidents (The CDC is studying the rise in e-scooter injuries).
Cities and even college campuses across the nation have begun taking action against e-scooters and the health risks they impose. According to Ordinance No.4372, adopted by the city of Scottsdale, e-scooters are no longer permitted to be ridden or parked in/on public spaces and sidewalks. To avoid being fined or vehicle impoundment, e-scooter riders will be forced to ride in the bicycle lane which may put riders at additional risk of accident.
If you are involved in an e-scooter accident, remember to follow these simple steps:
- Stopping
- Checking your health (and seeking medical care if needed)
- Getting information
When either writing information and/or taking pictures, be sure to record who the e-scooter belongs to (company), the ID number, and its current condition.
For more details on what to do if in an accident, be sure to check out: I got into a car accident – what do I do now?
If you are injured in an e-scooter accident, contact the team at Leon Law PLLC for a free case review and consultation to learn more about your legal options. Call (480) 269-1083 or email info@leonlawpllc.com.