Anderson Injury Lawyers | January 8, 2024 | Personal Injury
Motorized scooters, e-scooters, and other low-powered devices like hoverboards have rapidly increased in popularity. Dockless e-scooter rental companies are popping up in cities across the country, often bringing a wave of injuries.
Cities like Fort Worth are not designed to accommodate motorized scooters. Riders also often fail to wear necessary protective equipment or recognize how dangerous a crash can be.
Are Electric Scooters Safe to Ride in Fort Worth, TX?
There’s a common misconception that motorized scooters and e-scooters are safe. They can’t go as fast as a car, have few regulations, and are generally treated like bicycles. However, there are very real risks to using motorized scooters.
Fort Worth allows electric scooters on public roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less. Scooters are even allowed to be operated on sidewalks except in certain areas of downtown Fort Worth with posted signs.
Riding motorized scooters on sidewalks can be very dangerous for pedestrians and riders alike. Most electric scooters have a top speed of around 15 mph, while the average walking speed for adults is about three mph. Damage to the sidewalk, cracks, or debris can easily lead to an accident on a scooter, even without a collision with a pedestrian.
A driver’s license is not needed to operate motorized scooters, and riders are not required to wear helmets. Studies have found that head injuries are common in scooter accidents, and most riders do not wear helmets or other protection. This is especially true with rented e-scooters, which are usually a spur-of-the-moment transportation choice.
Motorized scooters aren’t just used by riders who lack protection in areas that already pose a high risk of a collision. Many e-scooter riders are under the influence of alcohol. E-scooters are commonly seen as a safe alternative to driving while intoxicated because riders do not recognize the risk of serious injury.
Motorized Scooter and E-Scooter Injuries Are Common
One study found that scooter-related injuries and hospitalizations increased 222% in the United States between 2014 and 2018. Over 39,000 people sustained injuries, and about 10% required hospitalization. Injuries like abrasions, bruises, and fractures were common, but about one-third of people sustained head injuries in scooter accidents. That’s a head injury rate double that of bicycle accidents.
A study on e-scooter injuries by the Austin Public Health Department in 2018 found 20 injuries for every 100,000 e-scooter trips. Half of injured riders reported serious head injuries, and for 15% of hurt riders, there was evidence suggesting a traumatic brain injury.
190 riders suffered scooter-related injuries during the three-month study, including:
- Head injuries (48%)
- Upper limb injuries (70%)
- Lower limb injuries (55%)
- Chest and abdomen injuries (18%)
- Fractures (35%)
More than one in three injured riders suffered fractures. 19% of them had multiple fractures. Most of these fractures involved the arms and legs, but six people suffered skull fractures or other fractures involving the head.
Half of the riders who were injured sustained serious injuries, including nerve, tendon, or ligament injuries, severe bleeding, organ damage, or fractures.
Who Is Liable for a Motorized Scooter Accident in Fort Worth?
If you are injured in a scooter accident, you may be entitled to compensation.
Scooter accidents can be caused by:
- Scooter malfunctions such as electrical issues or brake failure
- Failure to yield by motorists
- Drivers or passengers opening a car door in a rider’s path
- Road or sidewalk hazards like potholes or large cracks
- Driver inattention or distraction
- Riding under the influence
Depending on the circumstances, injured scooter riders may be entitled to compensation from the company that maintains the scooter, a government entity, or an at-fault motorist. Injured pedestrians may also be compensated if a negligent scooter rider injures them. An experienced Fort Worth personal injury attorney can work with you to hold at-fault parties accountable after a motor scooter accident.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Texas
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and need legal help, contact our personal injury lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office (Secondary)
6301 Gaston Ave suite 610, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711
