Electric scooters (often shortened to e-scooters) are an affordable and convenient way to get around cities like Mesa, Tempe, and other parts of Eastern Phoenix. However, these small, personal vehicles provide little protection to their riders, who are often left with severe injuries in the event of an accident. Moreover, these injured e-scooter riders can also struggle to recover the fair compensation they deserve, as at-fault drivers and their insurers won’t hesitate to blame them for crashes.
If you’ve been hurt in an e-scooter accident someone else caused and you’re having trouble getting them to pay for your injuries, Valley Injury Team can help. Our Mesa, AZ, motor vehicle accident lawyers understand the challenges you face and the toll an e-scooter accident can have on all aspects of your life. We want to handle all the legal work in your case so that you get the money you need without having to worry about the difficult and contentious claims process. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation with a Mesa e-scooter accident lawyer, and let us start work on your case at no upfront cost to you.
Our attorneys fully grasp the critical nuances of state and local e-scooter laws, which spell out the following:
Arizona law holds that anyone riding an e-scooter has the same rights, privileges, and duties as anyone on a bicycle. Since another state law gives bicycle riders the same rights and responsibilities as drivers in motor vehicles, e-scooter riders effectively have the same rights as anyone else using the road.
Arizona law also says e-scooters are allowed on bicycle and multi-use paths, as well as on the road.
State regulations require every e-scooter to have a “unique identification” made of numbers or letters that is visible from at least five feet away. An e-scooter’s identification cannot be obscured.
Regulations from the City of Phoenix prohibit e-scooter riders from using sidewalks. E-scooter riders in Phoenix must also be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license, and park their scooters in designated areas.
Phoenix regulations prohibit e-scooters from going faster than 15 mph.
While every e-scooter accident has unique elements, there are some broad patterns we’ve seen in these incidents. Some common causes of Arizona e-scooter accidents include:
Drivers carelessly opening their doors – This is a particular problem in Phoenix because e-scooter riders cannot use sidewalks within city limits. If a driver opens their door without looking, they might do so directly into the path of an oncoming e-scooter rider, leading to a collision.
Road hazards – Because they only have two small wheels, e-scooters are more susceptible to slippery and uneven road surfaces. Gravel, wet road surfaces, sand, loose debris, potholes, and other road hazards can cause e-scooters to lose traction, sending riders flying and causing major injuries.
Visibility issues – Like cyclists, e-scooter riders are much harder to see than cars and other large vehicles, particularly at night. This issue can lead to e-scooter accidents if drivers don’t look carefully before merging, changing lanes, or turning, leading to a collision.
Distracted driving – Drivers who are looking at their phones, adjusting the music, snacking, or distracted in some other way may not see a nearby e-scooter, making a collision more likely. E-scooter accidents can also happen when distracted drivers proceed through an intersection without looking for traffic from another direction.
Impaired driving – Drivers who drink or use drugs have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and a greater propensity for risky behavior. All these factors can make a collision more likely, especially if a driver misjudges how close they are to an e-scooter or drifts out of their lane.
Drivers following too closely – Drivers who follow too closely behind e-scooter riders might cause a crash if the scooter stops suddenly and the driver doesn’t have enough time to slow down.
The potentially liable parties for a Phoenix e-scooter accident include:
Drivers – A driver who collides with an e-scooter rider because they were following too closely, distracted, intoxicated, or otherwise negligent will likely be liable for the accident.
E-scooter manufacturers – Defective parts can cause an e-scooter accident by preventing the scooter from functioning properly. For example, if the scooter’s brakes or engine don’t work as intended, the rider might not be able to stop or speed up properly, making an accident more likely.
Construction companies – Loose sand, gravel, water, and other hazards in or near construction sites can create an unstable road surface for e-scooter riders, making an accident more likely.
Government entities – Local or state government bodies responsible for road maintenance or design are sometimes liable for e-scooter accidents if their negligence causes a collision. For instance, unaddressed potholes, missing signage, and similar hazards can lead to severe accidents.
Here are the steps to take after an e-scooter accident in East Phoenix to protect your health and legal rights:
Report the accident and seek medical attention – If you haven’t already done so, report the accident to the police and seek medical attention. Beyond improving your medical prognosis, seeing a doctor right away also starts a record of your injuries, which you’ll need for a personal injury claim. Similarly, calling 911 means there’s a record of the crash and the authorities’ initial findings regarding its circumstances.
Don’t discuss the accident – It’s natural to want to share your experience with your friends and family, but anything you say to them could hurt your personal injury claim. Instead, you’re better off keeping quiet about the accident and only discussing the details with your lawyer. Be especially wary about discussing the accident on social media, as insurance companies can find your posts and use them against you.
Save your medical records and receipts – These documents help show the accident’s physical and financial toll, so save them in a safe place for later reference.
Start a journal or diary – Write down everything you can remember about the accident as soon as possible, as you may need to refer to your notes later. Then, start a daily journal where you note your pain and how your injuries affect your daily life. This evidence can help you recover compensation for your pain and suffering.
Talk to an e-scooter accident lawyer in Mesa – Talking to a personal injury attorney immediately after an accident can help you recover compensation for your injuries more quickly. It also gives your lawyer a chance to gather and preserve vital evidence from the accident scene before anything happens to it.
Depending on your injuries and your legal team, your compensation for an Arizona e-scooter accident could include money for:
Past and future medical expenses
Lost income
Pain and suffering
Reduced earning capacity
Diminished quality of life
Damaged personal property
In most cases, Arizona law gives you two years from the date of an e-scooter accident to file a lawsuit. However, you might have less time in some circumstances, such as cases involving government agencies. Talk to an attorney right away to avoid losing your right to compensation.
If you suffered injuries in an accident due to someone else’s negligence or wrong doing, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. At Valley Injury Team, we fight tirelessly to protect your rights and seek the compensation you need. We’re proud to serve clients throughout the Phoenix area, including Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale and Queen Creek.
Valley Injury Team is committed to helping you understand your legal rights and options, reducing your stress and uncertainty, and giving you the support you need during this challenging time. Contact us today to learn more in a free consultation.
