Tampa Scooter Accident Lawyer

Scooter Accident Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

Scooter accident lawyers and e-scooter injury attorneys represent clients who were injured due to another person’s negligence or a scooter malfunction.

Most electric scooter accident claims are filed against negligent drivers who hit a scooter rider with their car or truck.

If you were injured in an e-scooter accident in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical bills, emotional trauma, and other damages.

Call (813) 471-4444 today to discuss your case with a scooter accident lawyer. Vanguard’s e-scooter injury lawyers are based in Tampa and handle cases across Florida.

Our injury lawyers work on contingency, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case and obtain compensation for your injuries.

Who is Liable if an E-Scooter Malfunctions?

Electric scooter companies are expected to properly inspect, repair, and maintain their fleets. If a mechanical issue like faulty brakes or a damaged accelerator was overlooked, the company could share in the liability.

The injured party may be able to argue the company acted negligently if they knew about an issue but failed to fix it or warn users, contributing to the accident.

Before filing suit against a scooter rental company, attorneys representing the plaintiff will collect evidence to prove the accident was caused by the defect and that the defect was a result of negligence by the rental company.

If a manufacturing or design defect made the e-scooter unsafe to ride, causing the crash and injuries, the injured party may have a product liability claim against the scooter manufacturer. These cases can fall under strict liability where fault doesn’t need to be proven.

The injured party can seek damages from the company for medical bills, lost wages, disability, or pain/suffering if product liability or negligence is established.

Suing an Electric Scooter Rental Company for Compensation

Suing an e-scooter rental company is a complex litigation process because damages can be limited by waivers users sign with scooter companies.

The waivers and user agreements used by Uber, Lyft, Bird, Lime, Hobr, and Spin change regularly. Call for a free case evaluation and our electric scooter accident attorneys will determine the best way to pursue compensation for your scooter malfunction injury.

As a personal injury law firm with decades of experience in injury litigation, our attorneys have the resources and knowledge to take on large companies when they try to take advantage of customers.

How Scooter Accident Lawyers Prove Fault

Being at fault for a scooter accident means your actions indirectly or directly caused the accident. The at-fault party can be held liable for injuries and other damages that were a result of the accident.

In car accidents involving electric scooters, the fault lies with whichever party acted more recklessly. A driver or rider crossing an intersection while the light is red or ignoring right-of-way while turning are examples of negligent behavior that may be grounds for filing a scooter injury claim.

Proving fault requires an in-depth investigation. Our e-scooter injury lawyers work with experts to collect evidence.

We’ll extract data from the event data recorder of any cars or trucks involved in the accident, which stores data about how quickly a car was accelerating or braking in the seconds before the accident.

In some cases, we hire mechanics to inspect the electric scooter for any defective parts that may have contributed to the crash. And we’ll analyze any data from the app used to rent the scooter.

For example, if you were in an Uber scooter accident or a Lyft scooter accident, the ridesharing app may have saved information about the speed you were traveling that we can use to demonstrate that you were behaving responsibly.

Tampa Scooter Accident Statistics

Electric scooters have been popular in Tampa since the city partnered with four of the largest e-scooter rental companies (HOPR, BIRD, LIME, and SPIN) to provide e-scooters for downtown Tampa and surrounding neighborhoods.

Along with the pilot program bringing more scooters to the city, House Bill 453 was passed to allow electric scooters to be driven in bike lanes and on the road.

A 2023 study found that Tampa scooter accidents have a high rate of hospitalization and head injuries because riders rarely wear protective helmets when using rental scooters, making any injuries sustained significantly worse. 41% of riders injured in scooter accidents sustained a head injury.

Since 2019, car accidents have been the greatest hazard to electric scooter riders in Tampa. 26% of e-scooter injuries in Tampa were caused by motor vehicle collisions. Falls made up 24% of e-scooter injuries, making falling the second most common cause.

31% of scooter accident patients were ages 21-30, 21% were ages 31-40, and 28% were over the age of 40.

Next Steps to File an E-Scooter Injury Claim

Whether you were hurt due to another person’s actions or negligence by an electric scooter rental company, our Tampa scooter accident lawyers are here to help you pursue justice for your e-scooter injury. Call (813) 471-4444 for a free consultation and case review.

Our attorneys are committed to giving every client the personal attention they deserve and the compassionate support to help during their recovery.

Additional Works Cited:

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Injuries Using E-Scooters, E-Bikes and Hoverboards Jump 70% During the Past Four Years. Accessed 2023. https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2021/Injuries-Using-E-Scooters-E-Bikes-and-Hoverboards-Jump-70-During-the-Past-Four-Years

Sher, Theo, et al. “Electric Scooter Injuries in Tampa, Florida, Are Associated With High Rates of Head Injury, Hospital Admission, and Emergency Medical Service Transport and Low Rates of Helmet Use.” Cureus vol. 15,5 e39523. 26 May. 2023, doi:10.7759/cureus.39523