Mark W. Mathys | July 18, 2023 | Scooter Accidents
The National Association of City Transportation reports that there are more than 88 million annual trips by motor scooters. The trajectory skyrocketed in the last few years, with the scooter rental industry expanding to 109 cities by 2019, a 45% increase from the year before.
This trend is expected to grow in the coming years. Motor scooters are now seen as a fun and viable alternative to traditional transportation methods.
However, are they safe? The answer to this question depends on many factors, but if you were hurt in a motor scooter accident, contact an experienced Naperville personal injury lawyer for help.
Motor Scooter Safety Concerns
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that e-scooters resulted in about 50,000 emergency department visits and at least 27 user deaths between 2017 and 2019. Some of the concerns regarding these motorized vehicles include:
Lack of Safety Regulations
The popularity of motor scooters has led to the proliferation of rental options without a good set of regulations in place.
Lawmakers have had trouble keeping up with the transportation and safety issues related to these vehicles. Additionally, riders might not know where they are allowed to operate these vehicles. Pedestrians could also be in danger of electric scooter users who ride on the sidewalk.
Sidewalk Users
As regulations continue to evolve, users are left without clear guidelines about where they should ride. Electric scooter users and pedestrians can be injured when scooter users operate on sidewalks, but roads often are not safe for scooter users, either.
No Helmet Mandate
A senior policy analyst for Consumer Reports says that a “stunning number” of electronic scooter users are getting hurt, many of whom were not wearing helmets. This is partly due to the lack of rules requiring these users to wear a helmet.
Those who do not wear a helmet are more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries and other head injuries. The analyst insists that safety needs to be the priority.
Vulnerability To Road Conditions
Like motorcyclists, electric scooter users are more susceptible to injuries due to road conditions than other types of road users.
IIHS research found that electric scooter users were twice as likely as bicyclists to sustain injuries because of:
- Potholes
- Cracks in the pavement
- Signposts
- Lampposts
Smooth surfaces are recommended for scooter use, but many sidewalks and roads do not fit the bill. Electric scooter riders sustain more injuries per mile than bicyclists.
A lack of proper infrastructure also contributes to the greater number of scooter wrecks.
Inexperienced Riders
40% of first rides resulted in injuries, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Most cities do not require riders to have any particular training or license. Many users have never operated a motor scooter before renting one, which contributes to many first-time accidents.
Common Causes of Motor Scooter Accidents
Some of the most common causes of motor scooter accidents include:
- Driver inexperience
- Road hazards, such as potholes, debris, and uneven road surfaces
- Motor scooter malfunction, such as motor issues, handlebar breaks, brake failure, or flat tires
- Motorists failing to look out for scooter riders
An experienced Naperville scooter accident lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation to determine who is responsible for the collision.
What To Do If You’re Harmed in a Motor Scooter Accident in Naperville, IL
Whether you are a rider, passenger, or pedestrian injured in a motor scooter accident, there are steps you can take to protect your rights after an accident, including:
- Call for help. You may have been injured and should receive medical attention as soon as possible.
- Get information from others. Ask for information pertaining to the at-fault driver and the scooter. Ask witnesses for their contact information.
- Use your phone to take pictures of skid marks, property damage, traffic signals, wide angles of the accident scene, and your injuries.
- Avoid talking to the at-fault party’s insurance company. It may try to get you to give a recorded statement or insist you don’t need a lawyer. These tactics are to try to minimize the value of your claim.
Finally, reach out to a skilled accident lawyer in Naperville who can help you make a legal claim to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact the Naperville Scooter Accident Law Firm Of The Law Offices Of Mathys & Schneid For Help Today
If you’ve been injured in a scooter accident, please call the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid for a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer or contact us online.
Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid1730 Park St #209, Naperville, IL 60563(630) 349-2433