Motorized scooters are becoming more and more popular across the country and the trend is certainly showing up in Southern California. In fact, in Los Angeles a person can even rent a scooter. Since these scooters only go up to around 15 miles per hour, many assume that they are not particularly dangerous. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Doctors have reported that there is an increase in patients seeking treatment in emergency rooms for injuries related to scooter usage. In some cases it is the rider themselves who have injured their head, elbow, wrist, or even their hip. In other cases, a scooter may have gotten involved in a car accident or pedestrian accident. If you have been involved in this type of accident then we urge you to contact Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn at (310) 209-1600 to find out if you have grounds for a personal injury claim.
Scooters are dangerous for a number of reasons
The truth is that a scooter itself is not necessarily any more dangerous than a bike but there are a few factors that result in more scooter accidents than accidents on similar vehicles.
- There is no license required for a scooter. One of the biggest issues with scooters is that there is no requirement to be licensed to ride one. On the other hand, a person who wants to ride a motorcycle or even moped must get pass various tests to be licensed to drive one. Scooters, which are really nothing more than smaller mopeds, do not require any license to drive one. As a result, it is not uncommon for a person driving a scooter to be completely unexperienced and unqualified to do so.
- There are no laws regarding safety equipment. A person who wants to ride a moped, bike, or motorcycle in Southern California are strongly encouraged – and sometimes legally required – to wear safety gear including helmets. Scooter riders are not targeted for these safety concerns.
- Scooter riders are more likely to be distracted. One professional who works in an emergency room and has seen numerous scooter accidents notes that people riding them are likely to have earbuds and be less aware of their surroundings.
- Scooters are sometimes ridden on sidewalks. Most of the time, a scooter rider sticks to the sidewalk, which poses a serious threat to pedestrians.
These are just a few of the reasons that scooters may be more dangerous and, at a minimum, may require additional safety gear or education before being ridden.
Have you been injured in a scooter injury?
If you have been injured in a car accident then the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Once you are safe, reach out to a personal injury attorney to find out what your options are. At Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn we welcome your call at (310) 209-1600.
