Electric scooters have surged in popularity across urban landscapes, becoming common in major cities like Brooklyn. These convenient modes of transport are especially favored in Brooklyn, where the sprawling urban area, dense population, youthful vibe, and congested roads make them a practical alternative for those without cars—over half of Brooklyn’s residents, to be precise.
Did you know? Electric scooters are becoming the future of transportation because of their cost-effectiveness.
They operate on electricity instead of fuel, requiring only a charge. As gas prices continue to climb, investing in an electric scooter is becoming increasingly advantageous.
Plus, electric scooters offer the convenience of being easily foldable.
Conversely, the rise in scooter usage has not come without risks. Reports of severe injuries and even fatalities linked to scooter accidents in Brooklyn have raised concerns.
Knowing your rights and the resources available is essential if you or someone close to you has been affected by a scooter accident.
Our experienced Brooklyn scooter accident attorneys at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm dedicate themselves to guiding clients through these difficult situations and obtaining their due compensation. We believe justice must be served, and individuals affected by such incidents must be supported.
How Our Brooklyn Electric Scooter Accident Attorneys Handle Your Scooter Accident Claim?
If you’ve been involved in an electric scooter accident in Brooklyn, you don’t have to handle your compensation claim alone. Hiring a knowledgeable electric scooter accident lawyer from our firm can provide essential support and improve your chances of securing a fair settlement.
Here’s how an attorney specializing in NYC electric scooter accidents can assist you:
- Our lawyer will analyze the specifics of your accident to outline your legal options.
- We will thoroughly investigate the crash to pinpoint all liable parties.
- Our attorney will gather and organize proof of negligence to support your claim.
- We’ll help you maintain detailed records of your losses, which are crucial for your claim.
- Using established formulas, our Brooklyn personal injury lawyers can calculate non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.
- We will estimate potential future losses, including ongoing medical expenses.
- Our lawyers will assess the total potential value of your claim, considering all factors.
- We will handle all aspects of claim documentation and submission.
- Our attorney will submit your claim on your behalf, ensuring it is complete and timely.
- Perhaps most importantly, we will negotiate with insurance adjusters who often aim to minimize payouts. Our experienced lawyers can effectively counter these tactics, advocating for your best interest.
Our experienced electric scooter accident lawyer brings expertise in dealing with insurance companies and can negotiate more effectively on your behalf, helping you avoid settling for less than you deserve.
How Our Brooklyn Electric Scooter Accident Law Firm Support in Getting Financial Recovery?
In Brooklyn, individuals injured in electric scooter accidents are entitled to pursue financial compensation for both tangible losses and non-economic damages. Unfortunately, managing the claims process can be challenging, as large corporations and insurance companies often complicate matters for the average person.
Our team of electric scooter accident lawyers in Brooklyn, NY, possesses the expertise necessary to assist victims in securing the full financial support they deserve. You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Immediate medical treatment
- Ongoing medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Lost income and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Injuries resulting in scarring or disfigurement
- Long-term disability
- Cases of wrongful death
Our Brooklyn personal injury law firm is focused on giving every client the best possible representation. Our experts assist people injured in various circumstances.
In addition, we provide our clients with the clear-cut and sympathetic legal counsel they require, along with free hospital visits and at-home medical treatment, free safe access to all of their case data, and free answers to any of their inquiries. We don’t even charge a fee unless we successfully get the settlement or verdict your case needs.
Common Causes of E-Scooter Accidents In Brooklyn
Some of the more frequent accidents that generally lead to a scooter collision include:
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding
- Distracted driving, such as texting and driving
- Blind spots
- Failure to yield
- Running stop signs or red lights
- Poor weather conditions
- Nighttime driving
- Road defects
- Low visibility
- Defective scooters
- Car doors opening into traffic lanes
Common Injuries Resulting From Scooter Accidents in Brooklyn
While the more general injuries from scooter accidents include concussions and lacerations, head injuries are much more common. In fact, of the 14,651 scooter-related injuries that occur annually, almost a third are head wounds.
However, these aren’t the only severe problems that can come from scooters. Other popular issues caused by these accidents include:
- Broken or fractured bones
- Ankle and knee injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Facial scarring or trauma
- Nerve damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Road rash
Although some injuries are immediately apparent, others might not present themselves until days later. For example, you might not notice head or brain injury symptoms for a few days.
Pay attention to symptoms like headaches that don’t go away, confusion or disorientation, balance problems, vision difficulties, nausea and vomiting, weakness, and numbness. If you have any of these symptoms after an accident, see a doctor immediately and contact our Brooklyn electric scooter accident lawyers.
Safety Concerns Linked to Electric Scooters
Electric scooters have surged in popularity, but they come with significant safety concerns that riders and manufacturers must address. One primary issue is the lack of clear riding instructions, often leading riders to underestimate the dangers of these vehicles.
Consequently, rider error is a leading cause of severe electric scooter accidents. Several design flaws also contribute to the risks:
- High Center of Gravity: Standing on an electric scooter increases the rider’s center of gravity, making them more top-heavy. This poses a risk because the wheel spacing on these scooters is typically narrow, offering insufficient stability for such a high center of gravity, which can easily lead to falls and injuries.
- Low-Quality Components: Most electric scooters available to consumers are not built with high-endurance materials. Manufacturers often use cheaper, lower-quality materials not designed to withstand frequent use. As a result, these scooters can develop operational problems or break down entirely, leading to dangerous situations.
- Inadequate Lighting: Many electric scooters have poor lighting, making night riding risky. Despite this, riders often use these scooters in the dark, increasing the likelihood of collisions with obstacles or vehicles.
- Small, Solid Wheels: The small, solid wheels commonly found on electric scooters are less effective at absorbing shocks and providing traction than air-filled tires. This can make it difficult for riders to maintain control, particularly on uneven surfaces, resulting in accidents.
These issues expose riders to potential harm and have led to numerous lawsuits against scooter manufacturers for negligence and defective designs. Manufacturers should improve scooter safety features and ensure riders are fully aware of the risks involved in operating these vehicles.
What to Do After a Brooklyn Electric Scooter Accident?
Here are the essential steps you should take if you’re involved in an electric scooter accident in Brooklyn, emphasizing the importance of both your immediate safety and protecting your legal rights:
Contact Emergency Services
Immediately after an electric scooter accident, your priority should be to call 911. This ensures that the accident is officially documented and that medical help is dispatched.
Police presence at the scene will also facilitate the creation of a police report, which is crucial if you later decide to pursue a legal claim. The report can provide vital details about the circumstances of the accident and the parties involved.
Collect Evidence
If you’re physically able to do so and don’t require immediate medical attention, begin collecting evidence at the scene. Take photographs and videos of the vehicles involved, the damage to your scooter, the exact positions of the vehicles post-collision, any injuries you have sustained, road conditions, skid marks, and nearby traffic signs.
This evidence is invaluable for establishing the facts of the accident.
Exchange Information
Exchange contact and insurance information with all parties involved in the accident. Obtain their names, phone numbers, driver’s licenses, and insurance details.
Gather Witness Details
If witnesses saw the accident, also attempt to get their contact information. Witness accounts can be critical in supporting your version of events.
If witnesses are reluctant to provide details, note that a lawyer can help gather this information later.
Be Mindful of Your Statements
Be cautious about what you say when interacting with other parties involved in the accident or witnesses. Avoid making definitive statements about the accident or admitting fault. Such remarks could potentially weaken your legal position.
Similarly, refrain from discussing the accident on social media or online, as these comments could be used against you in legal proceedings.
Document Everything in a Journal
Since memories can fade quickly, it’s advisable to document everything about the accident as soon as possible. Write down your recollections of the event, how you felt physically and emotionally immediately afterward, the medical care you received, and the impact of the accident on your daily life.
A detailed journal can help preserve essential facts and assist in future legal claims.
What Are the Types of Electric Scooter Crashes?
Electric scooter accidents can occur under various circumstances involving both riders and pedestrians. Common types of e-scooter crashes include:
- Loss of Control: This typically happens when riders, especially those who are inexperienced or navigating road obstacles like potholes, lose control of their scooters. Such events can lead to riders being thrown from the scooter, possibly colliding with pedestrians, objects, or the ground.
- Pedestrian Collisions: As e-scooters share paths with cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists, there are instances where a rider might inadvertently strike a pedestrian. This can happen if the rider fails to spot the pedestrian promptly or cannot stop the scooter.
- Collisions with Motor Vehicles: E-scooters are often used in urban settings where they travel alongside cars and other vehicles. Accidents can occur due to negligence by either the scooter rider or the vehicle driver, with especially severe consequences for the scooter rider due to the size disparity with larger vehicles.
- Defective Scooters: Like any mechanical device, e-scooters can have defects that endanger riders. Common issues include malfunctioning brakes, overheating batteries, loose handlebars, or software malfunctions.
According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention based in Austin, Texas, about half of all e-scooter injuries involved head trauma, including skull fractures and concussions. Other frequent injuries encompass fractures, broken bones, lacerations, and soft tissue injuries.
Finding out these scenarios helps develop strategies to prevent such accidents and enhance overall safety for e-scooter users.
How Do You Prove Another Party Caused Your Brooklyn Scooter Accident?
To successfully claim compensation after a scooter accident in Brooklyn, you must demonstrate that another party was at fault for your injuries. This involves proving that their negligent or intentional actions directly harmed you.
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to establish:
- Duty of Care: First, establish that the other party owes you a duty of care. This means they were legally required to act with a certain level of responsibility to avoid causing harm to others, such as obeying traffic laws while driving.
- Breach of Duty: Next, you must show that the other party breached this duty of care. A breach could involve any action or failure to act that goes against what a reasonably prudent person would do under similar circumstances, such as running a red light or driving distractedly.
- Causation: You then need to connect this breach directly to the accident. It must be clear that the other party’s breach of duty was the direct and proximate cause of your accident and subsequent injuries.
- Damages: Lastly, demonstrate that you suffered significant losses and damages due to the accident. This could include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related costs.
Proving negligence and establishing liability can be complex and typically requires a nuanced understanding of personal injury law. It’s crucial not to navigate this process alone but to engage a reputable law firm with experience handling scooter accident claims in Brooklyn.
An experienced attorney can manage the investigation, gather essential evidence, and build a strong case on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Brooklyn Scooter Accident Lawyers Today
Speaking with a skilled Brooklyn personal injury attorney immediately following a scooter accident is essential. These lawyers may carefully consider the likelihood of your damage claim, investigate your legal choices, and take the required actions to optimize your settlement.
As we close this hardship chapter, let’s create a tale of resiliency, empowerment, and victory together. We would love to be at your side every step of the way as your journey begins here. Call us at (516) 689-1132 or schedule a complimentary initial consultation via email to discuss your electric scooter accident case and learn how we can help.
