A new phenomenon has hit the streets of St. Louis. You’ve probably noticed the hard-to-miss lime green scooters parked on street corners, propped up against buildings, and discarded in the middle of sidewalks. These are Lime-S Electric Scooters manufactured by Lime, a young company that operates and continues to expand its scooter-sharing systems in cities across the United States. On that note, as more electric scooters roll out onto our roads, the amount of injuries associated with them increases, too.
Though innovative and environmentally friendly, these scooters pose a threat to not just those who ride them, but everyone around them. This is because they are unregulated in many areas and they also suffer from malfunctions like any other electric scooter, which includes brakes locking up, issues with the small wheels, faulty motors, and more. Their ease of use can be a blessing, but their abundant access can also be a danger.
Just recently, a class action lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles against Lime as well as other electric transportation sharing companies for their alleged “gross negligence.” People are beginning to take notice of this growing safety problem.
If you or a loved one have been hurt in an electric scooter-related crash, you may be able to hold the scooter company accountable for the injuries you sustained. Here’s how…
Injuries Caused by Lime Scooters
Scooter companies do not have the time to check each and every scooter between rides to ensure they’re in good working condition. This likely means that by the time they learn about a problem, a crash has already occurred.
When an electric scooter that can reach up to 15 mph suffers a malfunction, it can cause serious bodily injury to the rider, such as…
- Broken bones
- Sprains
- Torn ligaments
- Face lacerations
- Cuts and bruises
- Damaged teeth
- Mild to severe concussions
- Wrist and arm injuries
- Ankle and leg injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Brain and spinal cord injuries
Any combination of these injuries can occur which may entitle you to compensation for things like medical bills, pain and suffering, punitive damages, lost income, etc.
What to do After a Lime Scooter Accident
Step 1. Take Pictures at the Scene
As long as there is no medical emergency that needs urgent attention right away, stay there and take pictures, and try to keep most things in place from when the crash occurred. Documenting pictures on your cell phone of the damaged scooter, the state of the surroundings, or any associated debris may help your claim. You may also take pictures of your injuries, but keep in mind that pictures of injuries sometimes do not convey their severity so, therefore, they may not be usable in court.
Step 2. Go See a Doctor as Soon as Possible After the Crash
Even if you believe your injuries were minor, it is important for your health and the success of your claim to be evaluated by a doctor. Some injuries don’t show symptoms until up to 48 hours later. Other very serious injuries, such as internal organ damage, don’t show obvious symptoms until they become life threatening.
Additionally, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible so that there is no question about the timing of the injury after the scooter crash. If you wait around too long, the opposing side may argue that your injury was caused by something else unrelated.
Step 3. Keep Track of Relevant Information
After the crash, it is prudent to collect information pertaining to the rental of the scooter and the incident itself. This includes…
- The contact info of any witnesses
- The closest address or general area where you rented the scooter
- The text or email receipt that shows proof of rental
- The user agreement/waiver
No matter what the user agreement says, no company is allowed to indemnify themselves against their own negligence, so it is worth at least talking to one of our lawyers like those at Rogers Sevastianos & Bante, LLP to see what we can do for you!
Step 4: Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer at Rogers Sevastianos & Bante, LLP
If you are injured from riding an electric scooter, it’s important to call a personal injury lawyer to discuss your options. It may seem daunting in the face of the scooter companies that have an army of lawyers behind them, but every injury suffered at the hands of an unsafe product is valid and deserves compensation. Taking action now may help protect the safety of other people in the future.
As a nationally-recognized firm with an extensive history of achieving high value settlements in personal injury cases, we are deeply committed to protecting the rights of people who have been injured in scooter crashes in St. Louis and beyond. Contact us today to see if you have a case.