Every mode of transportation has rules and regulations that must be followed, whether you are in a car, on a bike, on foot, or on a bus. Each mode has certain risks as well, and these rules are meant to protect all people from being harmed in careless situations. Scooters are generally two-wheeled vehicles that allow riders to push themselves with their feet or travel via gasoline or electricity. Bird, a company started by the same individual who played a part in Uber’s rise (and therefore the rise of rideshare as a system), has released motorized scooters that can be rented by anyone with the use of an app on smartphones. The scooters are unlocked for a certain amount of time and the users are charged per minute (15 cents, after a simple dollar fee); at night, the scooters are collected from their locations, charged, and redistributed throughout the city. The company has implemented scooters in various places around Los Angeles, including San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Culver City. Of course, there are numerous risks surrounding these scooters, and not all are relevant only to the riders. Our team of attorneys at Normandie Law Firm can help you if you were hurt in any way because of an electric scooter made by Bird.
How Accidents Happen
Bird Scooter accidents happen for any number of reasons. The scooters can go up to 15 miles per hour, which is much faster than most people anticipate. The individuals also do not generally have the best safety precautions when they ride the scooters; some people try to put two individuals on a scooter at a time when the scooters are meant for one person, for example. This can create drag and make the scooter suffer from undue weight pressures.
One of the main causes of accidents lies in the nature of the service. The appeal is that you can locate a scooter from anywhere and go pick it up after you’ve paid for it, and once you’re finished, you can leave it wherever you’d like. There will be drivers who will go and collect the scooters to charge them at nighttime. Of course, leaving scooters around has led to many pedestrians tripping over them and other people on bicycles, skateboards, and other scooters to get snagged on the wheels.
Bird Scooter Insurance Information
Clients who have been injured because of Bird scooters have called us with various questions. Examples of these questions include:
- I was hit by a Bird scooter. What are my rights?
- How can I contact the insurance company that covers Bird Scooter injury claims?
- I was struck by a Bird scooter. What should I do?
- Does insurance cover Bird Scooter accidents?
- I was injured by a Bird Scooter. What can I do? Who can I sue?
In essence, you have the ability to sue Bird for compensation. There are laws in place that protect riders that must be followed. For example, every E-Scooter must have proper light fixtures and the ability to safely slow down and stop. If there is a defect with the scooter, you may be able to take legal action against Bird.
There are rules in place to protect you, however. Riders must follow these rules; injuries that stem from Bird scooter accidents may not be compensable if these rules were broken. They are:
- Bird scooters require a helmet at all times
- Only one person must ride on a scooter at a time
- You must have a valid driver’s license to operate the scooter
- You must be over the age of 18 to ride a scooter
- You must follow all necessary traffic rules and regulations on the area you ride, which means no riding on the sidewalk or outside of designated lanes
Not following the rules can void your ability to sue and collect a settlement from the company. You should consult with a Bird scooter injury attorney for more help.
What Insurance Company Covers Bird Scooter Accidents?
Bird claims that they do not have any insurance carrier and will be handling all insurance related issues themselves. They will be self-insured, effectively; they have already paid out legal fines and traffic ordinance payments to the cities of Santa Monica and Venice. The numerous lawsuits that come in against the company may force the company to look into an insurance provider, though.
The reason this is risky is simple: a catastrophic injury, or even numerous moderate injuries from accidents, can quickly drain the funds of the company, and legal action can be taken much more effectively against a self-insured company that does not have any representation from a large organization.
Injuries from Bird Scooters
Those who leave Bird scooters anywhere they wish raise the risk of trip and fall injuries. Many people have tripped on the wheels and handlebars if they were protruding from hidden spots like driveways and hedges or if the scooters were propped against trees and signs. These people have fallen and hurt their wrists and hands, broken their ankles, sprained their ankles, dislocated their shoulders, and more. Fortunately, no catastrophic injuries have been reported, but it may only be a matter of time before someone falls into the street from tripping over a Bird scooter.
Riders also face injuries just from being on the scooters. There are no safety precautions on the scooters, and because they are motorized, they can lose a charge at any time. They do not have seatbelts or anything that will keep you from falling off, and there are no protective features to prevent you from being injured if the scooter rams into you. Riders may hit any piece of property or object in their paths, or they may be struck by automobiles, leading to injuries like internal organ damage, neck and spinal cord damage, concussions, broken bones, severed limbs, and more.
It is dangerous to ride the scooters at night, as the risk of injuries increases even more because of the difficulty in seeing your surroundings. There may be potholes in the road, cracks in the gravel, objects blocking your path, and many other environmental factors that are simply avoided by riding during the day time so you can see where you are going. If you are involved in an accident, you could fall over the scooter and suffer facial damages, limb damages, sprains, strains, and more.
If you were injured while riding a Bird scooter, call a Bird scooter accident attorney today at Normandie Law Firm.
Statute of Limitations on Filing a Lawsuit
You have a specific amount of time during which you can file a claim if you were injured by a Bird scooter. This statute of limitations exists to ensure that you file a lawsuit within an acceptable time frame so that all evidence is preserved as best as it can and that you get help as quickly as possible. It is unfair to wait many years to take advantage of injuries from the past if they did not have a lasting impact.
There is a two year limit to filing a personal injury claim against a company like Bird for damages caused by their product or vehicle. If you wait too long, your claim will be thrown out. There are exceptions to this statute, however; if you were younger than 18 at the time of the incident, the statute would not start until you turned legal age, for example. Also, if you were mentally or physically impaired and unable to take legal action, the deadline would be suspended until you returned to normal.
For more assistance, talk to an injury lawyer for Bird scooter accidents at Normandie Law Firm.
Compensation from E-Scooter Accidents
An accident with a Bird scooter can yield you various types of compensation for your injuries. You may be able to have your medical expenses covered and all medical bills taken care of, such as physical therapy sessions and any future medical procedures. You may have the wages you lost from missing work reimbursed, as well as future missed wages. Additionally, if you suffered any loss of property or damage to your personal belongings, the costs of those items can be reimbursed.
Importantly, you may be able to receive pain and suffering damages, which cover emotional pain, psychological stress, fear, anxiety, PTSD, and more. These damages are generally more impactful and longer-lasting than physical harm and should be fairly compensated.
A skilled lawyer will be able to win you a fair settlement from a Bird scooter accident lawsuit.
How We Help
Our law group, Normandie Law Firm, has been able to help victims of Bird scooter accidents from the launch of the company. We can help you file a Bird scooter injury lawsuit and receive the compensation you deserve. Our lawyers are aggressive and will hunt for your fair restitution; you should not be expected to cover your own expenses if the company or a negligent rider caused you damages. Let us represent you and you will not be disappointed.
Call our Los Angeles law offices today to speak with a qualified attorney and to receive a free consultation. We will discuss your case with you and tell you everything you need to know about legal action you can take. If you have questions about your case, we’ll answer them for you. Further, if you choose us to represent you, you will not have to worry about losing any personal savings thanks to our zero fee guarantee. This promises that we will only get paid if we win your case for you, and the fees will come from the settlement we bring you. If we lose, you owe us nothing at all. At no point throughout the case will you pay for any expenses related to your lawsuit.
If you need to file a Bird scooter accident lawsuit, call an experienced attorney at Normandie Law Firm today.
More Information Regarding Bird Scooter Accidents
Bird Scooter Defective Product | Product Liability Attorney
Bird Scooter Accident Injury Attorneys
