Washington DC Lyft Scooter Lawyer

Serious injuries deserve experienced attorneys

Lyft Scooter Lawyer

Electric scooter companies are vying for market share on sidewalks all across America. Leveraging its already-widespread app, the parent company of Lyft acquired a smaller scooter startup and began offering e-scooter rides for Lyft ridesharing companies. In many cases, this service is a cheaper, quicker alternative to waiting for a Lyft driver.

Despite the convenience and ease of use afforded by Lyft scooters, the propensity for accidents is high. Lyft scooters travel at speeds up to 15 miles per hour (and more on downhill grades), meaning riders are subject to much greater injuries in a fall than pedestrians. However, the scooters also have much smaller wheels than a bicycle or an automobile, meaning that they are more difficult to control and can be crashed more easily.

Uneven pavement can be a serious risk for catastrophic injuries. In most jurisdictions, the owner of a sidewalk is required to maintain the walkway so as to prevent trips and falls for pedestrians. A Lyft scooter lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of an e-scooter accident and determine whether the owner is responsible for any injuries.

Lyft scooter lawyers may also be called upon if an accident involves a motor vehicle. In many places, scooter riders are permitted to use crosswalks like a cyclist or pedestrian. Drivers of passenger vehicles in major cities are accustomed to maintaining a lookout for slow-moving pedestrians, but may not be as readily aware of faster-moving scooters which also have the right of way. If a turning driver runs into an e-scooter rider, the injuries can be severe, including road rash, spinal injuries, strains and sprains, or even broken bones.

Riders of Lyft scooters should also be more cautious in poor weather. After heavy rain, ice, or snow, sidewalks may prove hazardous, requiring riders to use lower speed and more awareness of surroundings. During active weather, it is probably best to avoid using e-scooters altogether. Afterward, however, property owners have an obligation to maintain sidewalks free of rain, snow, and ice. If they fail to do so, and a rider is injured as a result, the rider may have a claim that a Lyft scooter attorney can help pursue.

An incautious scooter rider may be a hazard to others as well. The scooters are silent and pedestrians may not be aware of the danger. An errant scooter that strikes a pedestrian can also cause serious injuries. In some cases, an injured pedestrian can bring an uninsured motorist claim under his or her own auto policy, since the scooter is a motorized vehicle. However, insurance companies typically fight such claims, requiring the services of an experienced Lyft scooter attorney from Cohen & Cohen in order to be successful.

Following an electric scooter accident in the DC area, you might be trying to cope with an overwhelming amount of pain and medical bills. Depending on the nature of your injuries, working may be impossible. At this point you may be wondering how you will recover your losses. As a Lyft scooter lawyer Washington DC has to offer its residents, what you should know at this point is that if your accident was the fault of another party, you may be able to recover monetary compensation.

Time is of the essence. Electric scooter injury cases are relatively new and tend to come with unique challenges. It is not recommended that you try to pursue a case without the help of a Washington DC Lyft scooter lawyer. For a consultation with a firm you can count on, call Cohen & Cohen

The Lyft scooter lawyers of Cohen & Cohen have decades of experience in handling a broad range of personal injury claims. Since the drastic increase in electric scooters, there has been an increase in related injuries. Many of these, according to doctors, are similar to those that result from a car accident.

Laws surrounding the use of electric scooters are still being formulated, but in DC, riders do have to follow rules such as:

• Operators must be at least 16 years of age
• A driver’s license is not required
• Scooters cannot be operated on the sidewalk in the Business District, anywhere else is okay
• Scooters can be operated in bike lanes
• Helmets are not required

These laws are still being developed; however, this is not stopping companies like Lyft from selling and renting them to people who may lack the necessary experience in driving them.

As a Lyft scooter lawyer Washington DC can rely on, we know there could be a number of reasons for an accident to occur, but up to 50 percent of these collisions involve negligence. When negligence is a factor, monetary compensation may be recovered.

Common Types of Negligence in a Scooter Accident

• A distracted driver
• Driving under the influence
• Poor road maintenance on part of the city
• Obstacles or objects in the road or on the sidewalk
• A cyclist who ignores the electric scooter driver
• Poor maintenance of the electrical scooter
• A parts defect

Knowing whether or not negligence is a factor is not always easy. You will likely need help from a Lyft scooter lawyer in Washington DC. If we find this is true after investigating the details of your case, we may recover:

• Medical costs
• Future medical treatment
• Lost wages or loss of income
• Lost education
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Punitive damages

Call our Lyft scooter lawyers to explore your legal options and rights during a free consultation.

The Importance of Retaining An Electric Scooter Lawyer

Electric scooter injury cases are often rife with challenges, this is particularly because they are a new form of legal matter, and there is limited legislation. This is one of the foremost reasons you should hire a Lyft scooter lawyer Washington DC can trust.