If you or a loved-one have been injured in a shared electric scooter accident you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. After an accident you should consider hiring a personal injury attorney. You can call an attorney for a free consultation. The personal injury attorneys at Fernandez & Hernandez know what to do if you or a loved-one have been injured in an e-scooter accident.
Although e-scooters have created some problems in Tampa, they are here to stay. Some people love them and some people not so much. But are they safe?
E-scooters can travel up to 15 mph. Most riders rent the scooters through an app on their smart phone. There are a few no-ride zones, including the Riverwalk, Bayshore Boulevard and East Seventh Street in Ybor City.
How can you rent a scooter?
- Download the app from an App Store or the vendor’s website.
- Create an account in the app using your email address.
- Use the app to scan the QR code on the scooter.
- When you’re done, park and end the trip in the app.
Do I need a driver’s license to rent a motorized scooter in the City?
Shared electric scooter operators within the City of Tampa must be 16 years or older and are required to have a valid driver’s license or permit. Helmets are optional.
E-scooters have caused problems in Tampa. Many scooters have been seen in no-ride zones, including the Riverwalk, Bayshore Boulevard and in Ybor City. The app prohibits people from riding in the no-ride zones and will slow the e-scooter gradually to a full stop when a rider enters one of those zones. Some riders have been parking the scooters carelessly and blocking sidewalks and entryways. Tampa requires scooters to be placed in pre-determined corrals every day. People can ride a scooters to any location and park it anywhere that is not blocking walkways and traffic.
E-scooters can cause injuries, for example:
- Some non-riders such as pedestrians and cyclists have been injured,
- About half of the accidents have resulted in head injuries,
- Many accidents have resulted in injuries to the arms, shoulders, wrists, hands, legs, knees, ankles and feet.
A third of the people injured on e-scooters were riding for the first time. Most of those injured were not experienced riders. Riders are not required to wear a helmet. Although e-scooters can travel up to 15 mph, one can hit 20 miles an hour when speeding down a hill.
Many pedestrians and cyclists have been injured by reckless, negligent and distracted e-scooter drivers. For example, sometime an e-scooter will hit and injure someone walking or riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. Many kids have been injured by e-scooters.
Several serious accidents have occurred in Tampa, including a serious crash involving a scooter and a tractor-trailer. A rider was seriously hurt by a tractor-trailer along North 20th Street in Tampa. The rider was taken to the hospital where he later passed away.
YouTube Star Emily Hartridge was recently killed in an E-scooter collision in Britain. The London Metropolitan Police reported that she was involved in a fatal crash between an e-scooter and a truck and was pronounced dead at the scene. She was best known for her weekly “10 Reasons Why…” videos.
The rapid expansion of e-scooters has created some safety and liability concerns in Florida. New laws allowing e-scooters in bicycle lanes have reduced some safety concerns but collisions are still happening. Both riders and non-riders are being injured in e-scooter accidents.
Getting injured in an e-scooter accident may lead to physical and emotional pain, disabilities, lost wages, medical bills, and property damages. If you suffered from someone else’s negligence, you deserve compensation. The Personal Injury attorneys at the Fernandez & Hernandez know what to do to help you and your family following an e-scooter accident.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an e-scooter accident and need help getting compensation for your injuries, call Tampa Personal Injury Attorney, Martin J. Hernandez of Fernandez & Hernandez at 813.755.9500.
