One of the more popular modes of transportation these days in urban centers is the electric scooter (AKA e-scooter). While the first electric scooter, known as the Autoped, actually hit shops in 1915 in New York, it wasn’t until 2018 when the scooter revolution began and these e-scooters started showing up in mass quantities. Rental electric scooter companies like Lime and Bird launched in urban centers across the country and they have been growing in popularity ever since.
Accidents happen
The increased presence of electric scooters across the nation has corresponded with a surge in accidents as these exciting modes of transportation can be dangerous at high speeds, on bumpy terrain, and in crowded spaces. While there is certainly an appeal for easy and cheap transportation that makes getting from point A to point B fun, it’s key that you remember these electric scooters can be dangerous and serious injuries can and do happen to riders every day. With millions of e-scooter riders across the country and a rise in popularity across the state of New York, it’s more important than ever to follow all safety guidelines while riding.
A study published in 2022 suggested that electric scooters cause more injuries than bicycles, cars, and even motorcycles. Accidents are so common that the number of e-scooter-related emergency room visits in the United States surged by nearly 450% from 7,700 in 2017 to 42,200 in 2021. While e-scooter injuries may overall be less severe and less fatal than motorcycle injuries, they can still be traumatic and cause serious life-altering injuries.
The most common injuries from electric scooter accidents
Since electric scooters don’t offer much protection, especially when compared to motor vehicles, the chances of getting seriously hurt in an accident are quite high. One of the most common types of e-scooter accidents is a head injury which is often caused by falling off the scooter or running into objects on or near the road and not being able to brake in time. Other common accidents include knee fractures, elbow injuries, shin injuries, wrist fractures, broken bones, lacerations, and more.
Laws and regulations
As the rise of popularity continued to spike across the country, the need for laws and regulations became increasingly apparent. A law effective in New York State in April 2020 states that people are allowed to operate bicycles with electric assets on some streets and highways across the state.
A few months later in August 2020, the law further specified that you could operate an electric scooter on some streets and highways that have a posted speed limit of 30 MPH or less. It also states that you can not operate them on a sidewalk unless the local law has authorized it and that municipalities can further regulate the time, place and manner of operation of these devices.
Help on Long Island
With electric scooter accidents on the rise, you may find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing help from a personal injury attorney. Since the New York State laws leave much up to each individual municipality, it’s important that you consult a personal injury attorney in the area where your accident occurred so they can help you navigate your individual situation.
If you or someone you know was injured in an e-scooter accident on Long Island, the North Shore Injury Lawyer can help. Give Mark a call at 631-495-9435 to discuss your accident and take advantage of a free consultation where you can have all of your questions answered as well as learn more about your legal options.
