Electric scooters are a much more common sight on Massachusetts’ roads than they were a few years ago. The introduction of rentable dockless electric scooters in major cities around the U.S. has led to an explosion of new scooter riders. Unfortunately, it also led to an influx of scooter accidents. If a scooter accident in Boston injured you or a loved one, contact a Boston electric scooter accident lawyer from Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP for a free consultation. One or more parties may owe you compensation.
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If you were in a scooter accident that caused severe injuries, such as broken bones or a traumatic brain injury, contact a lawyer for legal services. A lawyer can help you argue with an insurance claims adjuster for fair compensation for your life-changing losses. You may also need to hire an attorney if the insurance company is not offering a reasonable amount, or if the defendant is denying fault altogether. An attorney can make sure you achieve fair results for your claim while you get to focus on your physical recovery.
Scooter and e-scooter accidents are relatively common. In 2017, the Consumer Product Safety Commission found the greatest percentage of injuries in children younger than 15 years old associated with nonmotorized scooters. Nonmotorized scooters accounted for 48,700 injuries and 4 deaths in 2017. E-scooters have also led to a startling number of injuries in adults. Since late 2017, at least 1,500 electric scooter riders have gone to the hospital with related injuries, along with 8 rider deaths. The most common scooter injuries are head trauma and bone fractures.
You do not need a driver’s license to ride a standard nonelectric scooter in Massachusetts. You do, however, need a valid license to ride an e-scooter. You must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit to operate an electric or motorized scooter in the state. Lawmakers are still working to regulate Massachusetts’ e-scooter industry, passing pilot programs to test out rentable e-scooters in major cities such as Boston.
Electric scooters can be dangerous for riders in multiple ways. First, riders do not need any prior experience to rent e-scooters. Inexperienced riders may struggle to remain in control of their scooters, leading to accidents. Second, most e-scooters can travel up to 15 miles per hour. This can be fast enough to lead to serious injuries if the rider falls off the scooter or collides with an object or vehicle.
Third, many e-scooter riders do not wear helmets. Therefore, they may be at a high risk of head and brain injuries in accidents. Some e-scooters may also contain defects that make them unreasonably dangerous for users, including electronic malfunctions and brake problems. An e-scooter rider could sustain life-changing or fatal injuries in an accident.
Electric, motorized and standard scooters are at the center of many catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims in Massachusetts. At Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, we can stand up for the rights of injured scooter riders. Whether another driver, the scooter company or another entity is at fault for your recent accident, we can help you seek fair compensation. Speak to one of a Boston electric scooter accident attorney during a free scooter accident consultation. Call us at (866) 398-7759 or contact us online today.