The influx of electric scooters has also increased the amount of accidents that happen to people riding them. Too many individuals do not treat the scooters properly and wind up placing themselves and others in dangerous situations. The brand of scooter also seemingly does not impact the rate of accidents except insofar as the amount of the scooters that are on the streets that is, there are more Bird scooter accidents than Lime scooter accidents because there are more units distributed by the former. One company, Bolt, co-founded by Usain Bolt of Olympic running fame, is a newer business that provides slightly different scooters to customers. They are still available on the streets, and as such, they are also prime causes of accidents. Normandie Law Firm can provide you with an expert scooter accident attorney if you were injured while riding a Bolt scooter.
What is Bolt?
Bolt is a company that was previously known as Taxify prior to its rebranding and subsequent distribution of scooters. While other companies hire independent workers to go around and charge or repair scooters, Bolt employs its own team of workers who will perform maintenance, charge and swap batteries, and allocate the scooters. The business entered the sector with the goal of switching it up by providing different scooters than are usually seen.
What is different about Bolt scooters?
Normal scooters used by other companies are fairly compact and minimal; they have narrow foot boards and do not have any additional features. Some may have a few lights or LEDS, but this is rare.
Bolt, on the other hand, has a slightly different design. The platform on which the riders stand is not a narrow board, but it provides a piece of plastic splitting the platform into two halves. Riders stand on these two halves and are given a more stable base, which leads to a wider range of vision, more grounded sense of balance, and a lower center of gravity.
Additionally, the scooters have the following features and alterations:
- Swappable battery packs, which means the scooter does not to be taken home and plugged into a charger in order to work; instead, a worker can simply come by, remove the battery, replace it, and leave
- Various stations that can charge the batteries that have depleted, and they can be returned to the scooters after full charges
- A space provided on the foot platform to store backpacks, purses, bags, and other materials
- USB charging ports for phones
- Drink and cup holders
- A system meant to familiarize riders with the brakes
- Fully aluminum frame
- Dual brakes instead of merely the rear brake
- Bright LED lights located in both the front and rear of the scooter
- 10-inch wheels that can safely maneuver the urban environment with little 10 inch wheels to conquer the urban environment
- Long-lasting battery life
- Foot pads to increase control and balance
Despite these differences that are meant to be more attractive riders and make the trips safer, the risks actually increase. Some riders may take an excessive amount of belongings on the scooters and may use their phones while riding, actively drink while operating the scooter, and more. This is extremely dangerous and can result in accidents.
The added amenities also change the cost of the scooter. While most scooters cost $1 to unlock and 15 cents per minute afterward, Bolt scooters are free to unlock and cost 50 cents per minute.
What are laws concerning scooters in Los Angeles?
In Los Angeles, there are a number of laws that pertain to scooters and riders. These laws are meant to protect all involved parties. Riders must always wear helmets and travel in bike lanes, for instance, which keeps them safe. The scooters themselves cannot exceed 20 mph and you cannot ride them on the sidewalk, as many pedestrians would be unable to get out of the way and if any doors open you can easily crash.
There are also various safety regulations for riders. Riders must have a license and be over the age of 18 years old to ride, which is often ignored and difficult to enforce because of the high number of scooters in the area. They must also have at least one hand on the handlebars at all times and must obey all traffic laws. They cannot ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They cannot park the scooter in blocked zones or anywhere that can cause an accident or a trip and fall.
How do Bolt scooter accidents happen?
Bolt scooter accidents can happen for a number of reasons. Many riders may be going too fast in some areas and be unable to react to their surroundings, such as sudden curves or appearances of vehicles. Some doors may also open into the path of the scooter, causing the rider to be thrown over and hurt. The rider has to constantly watch out for potholes, cracks, ditches, debris, and other possible issues that can cause the scooter to lose control, even though it is proclaimed to be more rugged and capable than other scooters.
Some Bolt scooter accidents happen due to the negligence of other parties. It is not uncommon for those in vehicles to not see riders because of darkness or because they are in blind spots. Others are simply not paying enough attention and may try to turn when there is a rider present or will try to pass a scooter that is in the street.
Of course, there is also the possibility that the Bolt scooter was made defectively or with some kind of error. The scooters could have malfunctioning batteries, broken brakes, detached foot platforms, broken handlebars, and many more problems. If any of these issues cause a scooter accident, you could hold Bolt accountable.
It is important that you reach out to a Bolt accident lawyer to determine who was responsible for the scooter crash and your injuries. We will gladly look over your case and figure out the appropriate party to sue.
What steps should I take to file a Bolt scooter accident claim?
To file a Bolt scooter accident lawsuit, you will need sufficient proof. It is recommended that you follow these steps for your claim:
- Go to the hospital at once to get medical attention
- Hold on to medical receipts and doctor’s notes
- Take pictures of your injuries, the scooter, the scene of the accident, potential defects on the vehicle and in the road, and more
- Ask eyewitnesses, other drivers, and bystanders for their testimonies about what happened
- Gather any relevant contact information from involved parties
- Acquire security footage from store fronts or businesses if possible
- File a police report and retain a copy if you were in an accident with a vehicle
- File an incident report with Bolt to let them know of the damage to the scooter and of any potential injuries that you will be contacting them for
It is always recommended that you reach out to a skilled lawyer who can help you with your case. You may not have any experience in filing a lawsuit, let alone against a business like Bolt, and you could be totally lost as to what to do. Our lawyers with experience in Bolt accident claims will be able to move forward with your claim and ensure that you are fairly represented.
What can I win in a Bolt accident lawsuit?
The goal of our attorneys is to win you the maximum compensation available for your Bolt accident injuries. We will stop at nothing to secure you every penny you deserve. The value of your claim will very; if you were responsible for the incident and there was no impact on your health, you likely won’t get paid a large settlement. However, if you were seriously injured and your life and career were compromised, your settlement could be much larger.
We will strive to win you the following damages:
- Medical compensation from the past and future for any surgical treatments, physical therapy, medication, and more
- Lost income if you could not return to work for a period of time, and future wages if you cannot work in the future due to recovery time or treatments
- Property damage for items that were lost or broken
- Pain and suffering to cover the emotional trauma, fear, anxiety, PTSD, and more
You shouldn’t hold yourself responsible and try to pay off these bills without consulting a lawyer and determining if you are even legally liable for these losses. We will work to show that you deserve fair restitution from the opposing party.
Normandie Law Firm and You
Normandie Law Firm has a team of expert scooter accident attorneys with years of combined experience. We have a history of success and our lawyers are highly-rated and reliable. We always shoot for the maximum settlement with our clients. Our aggressive attorneys are relentless and will go to all lengths to win, including going to court to defend your case in front of a judge.
To set up a free legal consultation, you can call our firm today. We will walk you through the lawsuit process, help you with medical treatment, and answer all of your questions. We will also tell you what we think your claim is worth. If you hire us, we will also give you our zero fee guarantee, which says that you won’t pay us a nickel for our help. We will get paid if and only if we win, and the money will come from the settlement given to us by Bolt. We take no money at all if we lose.
To sue Bolt for a scooter accident, contact Normandie Law Firm today.
