6 Things To Do After A Rental Scooter Accident

Rental scooters have suddenly taken the nation by storm. In most cities in the United States, a person can pick up a scooter, use an app to make the payment, and then be on their way, and Las Vegas is no exception. Rental scooters are very helpful for tourists to move around when out sightseeing. Unfortunately, with the increase of rental scooters comes an increase in accidents. Many people are at risk of suffering severe injuries while using rental scooters and end up in the hospital for treatment. If you or a loved one has been involved in a rental scooter accident, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side.

What Causes Rental Scooter Accidents?

Anyone can get injured while riding on a rental scooter or while walking and getting struck by someone riding a rental scooter. Some of the most common accidents include:

• Motorists striking rental scooters: the motorist is likely not paying attention to the road and slam into someone using a scooter.
• A defective rental scooter: defective pieces of equipment can go wrong and cause a rider to lose control and fall or crash. If the scooter is defective, both riders and pedestrians can be injured.
• Dangerous road conditions: road defects such as potholes, are very dangerous for people riding scooters. A pothole or crack on the pavement can disrupt a rider and cause a crash.
• Pedestrians injured by careless scooter riders: there is no way to guarantee that a person renting a scooter will be careful when riding it. It is highly likely that they can crash into pedestrians due to negligence, such as swerving on the sidewalk, and not paying attention to where the scooter is going because they are trying to take pictures with their phones.

What Are Common Rental Scooter Injuries?

Rental scooter accidents can cause just about the same injuries as car accidents such as broken bones, back injuries, head injuries, and soft-tissue injuries. The severity of these injuries depends on a few factors, such as whether the scooter rider was wearing a helmet or not at the time of the crash.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control found that the majority of injuries caused by electric scooters involved head injuries. A lot of people opt to not use helmets when renting a scooter because it looks silly, it’s bulky and it is difficult to carry around. A helmet might not also be available at the time.

What To Do After A Rental Scooter Accident?

No matter how your accident took place, you need to take certain steps immediately afterwards. Our personal injury lawyers at Cogburn Law, recommend the following steps:

#1 Get Immediate Medical Attention

No matter how severe your injuries are, you need to get medical attention. You can call an ambulance or ask someone else to do it if you are unable to. If your injuries are not so severe, you can wait, but it’s imperative to collect all evidence at the scene of the accident.

#2 Take Pictures

Taking pictures of the accident can establish the severity of the injury, as well as the responsible party.

#3 Write Down The Scooter’s Serial Number

If you think your accident was caused by a defective scooter, then you need to write down the serial number for it. Your lawyer will want to inspect the scooter to check for any defective parts.

#4 Get Witness Information

Collect the names and contact information for anyone who might have seen the accident and anyone involved in it.

#5 Report The Accident

You need to contact the rental scooter company and report the accident. They need to know if the scooter was defective and that’s what caused the accident. They also need to preserve the scooter and make it available as proof in a lawsuit later.

#6 Hire An Injury Attorney

Hire an attorney. They will be in contact with the rental company to keep every critical evidence needed for your case. A lot of victims feel overwhelmed by their injuries so getting an experienced injury attorney on your side can help protect your rights and strengthen your case.

Can You Get Compensation After A Rental Scooter Accident?

Getting compensation for a rental scooter accident depends on who is responsible for it. For example, if a motorist is responsible, then the victim can make a claim on the motorist’s insurance policy. In Nevada, it is required that drivers have bodily injury liability insurance, which you can get if the motorist was at fault for your accident. This insurance can cover your medical expenses and lost wages.

If the rental scooter was defective, then you might be able to file a claim against the rental company. They should not let anyone rent a defective product. If they do, you can get compensation from them.

Rental scooter accidents caused by sidewalk defects or potholes can have a valid claim against the city since they are responsible for keeping public areas safe for everyone. Now, the hardest case will involve a pedestrian who was injured by a negligent scooter rider. People don’t necessarily need to buy insurance before renting a scooter. Therefore, there are no readily available funds to pay for a settlement. On the other hand, you might be able to file a claim against the scooter rider personally. If you are successful, your job is to try and get the judgment paid for. In this case, it is better to consult with a personal injury attorney to go through your options.

Contact Personal Injury Attorneys In Las Vegas For Rental Scooter Injuries

Scooter accidents may raise a lot of questions about liability and the chance to receive compensation for your injuries. If you or a loved one has been involved in a rental scooter accident, one of our lawyers can help you receive the compensation you deserve. The Cogburn Law team has the experience and skills to negotiate a settlement or fight for you in court. Call us at (702) 748-7777.

Do you want to learn more about the personal injury claim process? Add your email below and we will send you our guide free of charge. It includes useful tips on things to avoid when going through a personal injury claim and how you can give yourself the best chance of winning it.

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