Throughout Missouri, scooters have become a popular way of getting around. That rise in usage, however, has also caused the number of accidents involving these vehicles to surge, leading to complicated insurance claims and lawsuits.
Distracted or reckless scooter riding can result in serious collisions for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike, and defective scooters can lead to similarly significant injuries and property loss.
If you have sustained injuries in any of these cases, hiring a Missouri scooter accident attorney at Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers is vital. Our team can help you understand your rights and fight for fair compensation.
Injured in an e-scooter, moped, or shared bicycle accident in Missouri? Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers will fight to get you financial compensation for your injuries. Call (314) 207-9996Â today!
What Does a Missouri Scooter Accident Lawyer Do?
It’s a common misconception that (e-)scooters are incapable of causing much harm. But in actuality, these vehicles can travel at significant speeds, giving them the potential to cause injuries of all severities, especially for fellow riders and pedestrians.
Suffering injuries in a scooter accident can mean dealing with medical bills, repair bills, and other expenses, alongside an inability to work throughout your recovery.
The silver lining here is that, because Missouri is a fault state when it comes to traffic accidents, you have the right to file against the at-fault driver’s insurance. Yet, one of the biggest problems is that many scooter operators are uninsured, which means successfully obtaining compensation for a scooter accident is challenging.
It is for that reason that hiring a Missouri scooter accident lawyer is essential. At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, our team provides a number of services, beginning with an assessment of the claim.
During a free consultation, we will evaluate your legal options. From there, we will proceed to investigate how the crash occurred by gathering evidence from the scene of the accident, speaking with witnesses, and reaching out to expert witnesses.
By examining your medical records and the losses you’ve sustained, our Missouri scooter accident lawyers can calculate the damages you may be entitled to. With that information, we can begin the negotiation process with insurance companies. Negotiations represent one of the most difficult aspects of filing a claim; it’s never a good idea to attempt to handle them without representation.
Although the goal is to settle (because it will provide a faster resolution), sometimes the only option is to file a lawsuit. If the insurance companies don’t cooperate and offer a fair settlement, our team can take your case to court.
For a free consultation with our award-winning Missouri scooter accident lawyers call 314.207.9996Â or contact us by filling out the form on our website.
Are E-Scooters Legal In Missouri?
E-scooters are legal throughout Missouri and are regulated in much the same way as motorized bicycles. Many cities in the state even have dockless vehicle programs that allow people to rent a scooter for short trips on public streets and highways.
However, depending on the city where the accident occurs, there may be further restrictions regarding whether e-scooters can ride on sidewalks or not.
In general, Missouri’s major cities have varied regulations regarding these vehicles. St. Louis’s e-scooter laws, for instance, state that it’s necessary to have a driver’s license in order to ride, and that any rider aged 17 or under must wear a helmet. Additionally, riders must not operate their scooters at speeds exceeding 30 mph.Â
Schedule a free consultation with our top-rated Missouri scooter accident attorneys to learn more about the laws pertaining to e-scooters, shared bikes, mopeds, and mini motorcycles.
Alarming Rise in Scooter and E-Bike Accidents
As convenient as e-scooters, e-bikes, and all other micro-mobility devices may be, they are not without their risks. And as alluded to earlier, there’s been a sharp rise in the number of accidents these vehicles have been involved in.
From 2017 to 2020, more than 190,000 emergency room visits around the country were the result of accidents by way of these devices, with lower limb injuries and head and neck wounds being the most common outcomes. In that same range of time, there were 71 fatalities related to micro-mobility vehicles as well.
Additionally, men were found to be injured in these accidents more frequently than women, and alcohol-related incidents were the most common.
How Scooter, Moped, and Shared Bicycle Accidents Happen
Accidents involving scooters, mopeds, and shared bicycles can occur for a number of reasons, primarily those relating to operator error and defective vehicle parts:
Distracted Operators
Just because an e-scooter isn’t going faster than 30 mph doesn’t mean that its operator can text, eat, or do anything else but pay attention to the road. Riding an e-scooter while distracted can lead to you failing to notice changes in road conditions, making it exceedingly difficult to avoid a collision when you do see a hazard.
Failure to Yield
E-scooter riders must obey all traffic laws, and that means respecting the right-of-way of others on the road. Doing so, however, is often a problem, as those who choose to ride e-scooters may not have sufficient traditional driving experience. That inexperience can lead to accidents at intersections and other similar complex scenarios.
Speeding
If an e-scooter operator fails to respect the law and drives faster than the 30 mph limit (or whichever limit is applicable to their location), they will have less time to react if a hazard appears. Any resulting accident will also likely result in more serious injuries, given the greater force exerted on impact.
Intoxicated Operators
Operating an e-scooter while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can result in catastrophic injuries. Anyone who is intoxicated will struggle with coordination issues and may even have balance problems. They may be more reckless, too, increasing the chances of a crash.
Reckless Operators
E-scooter operators who are reckless will typically run red lights, ignore stop signs, weave in and out of traffic lanes, and commit a number of other violations, putting everyone on the road at risk.
Defective Equipment
It’s not always operator error that leads to crashes; indeed, if an e-scooter is defective, it may be impossible to avoid a collision. And in such instances, it may be the manufacturer who’s liable. If the scooter is city-sponsored, like those of the dockless vehicle programs mentioned above, local agencies could be liable as well.
Damaged Roads
Potholes and other similar road defects may not greatly impact large vehicles, but they can seriously affect scooters, bicycles, and motorcycles. Operators can lose control, causing accidents, but it would be the local agencies in charge of road maintenance that could be responsible.
Who Could Be Held Liable for an E-Scooter Accident?
Determining why and how an accident occurred is one of the most important steps when filing a claim; establishing liability will allow you to hold the right parties responsible.
The scooter operator can be liable if they breached their duty of care to operate the vehicle safely and lawfully. If they were speeding, distracted, or intoxicated, you can file a claim against them.
If the scooter malfunctions, the manufacturer could be liable, seeing as it has a responsibility to make its products safe for consumers. If it has failed to do so, product liability laws allow you to hold the company responsible for your losses.
In cases when the scooter was part of a city program, the government agency in charge should have conducted checks on the scooters before allowing them on the road. If they didn’t, they, too, can be liable. You may be able to file a claim against government agencies, too, if the accident occurred because of damaged roads.
There could be other road users who hold some responsibility for the crash, too. If a pedestrian crossed in front of a scooter without looking and the operator of the vehicle was distracted, leading to an abrupt stop, you could have rear-ended the e-scooter. In that scenario, both the pedestrian and the scooter operator could be liable for your losses.
An experienced Missouri scooter accident lawyer will investigate the details of the accident and ensure that negligent parties are held liable for your injuries.
What to Do After a Scooter Accident Injury in Missouri
The very first thing you must do after a scooter accident in which you suffer an injury is to get medical attention. Even if you’re not certain whether you were injured, ensuring that paramedics arrive on the scene is essential, as they’ll be able to spot signs of concussions and internal bleeding that you may not notice.
It’s vital that you contact law enforcement as well. Getting them to the site ensures that a police report of the accident is created.
You’ll then need to start gathering evidence, including photos and videos of your property losses and injuries. If there are witnesses, get their statements or their contact information so that your attorney can speak with them. From there, let your insurer know that you were in a collision, making sure not to offer too many details or mention anything about fault.
Finally, contact a Missouri scooter accident lawyer for help.
Damages You Can Recover After an Accident or Injury on a Scooter
After an accident involving an e-scooter in which you suffer injuries, you can recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic ones compensate you for the financial losses you sustained, beginning with medical bills. You can receive coverage for hospital bills, rehabilitation fees, and all other expenses associated with healing.
If the injuries have left you with ongoing health issues, you can also receive coverage for future medical costs. Any adjustments you need to make to your home or vehicle to accommodate disabilities qualify for coverage as well.
Furthermore, if you missed days of work because of your injuries, then you can recover lost salaries, commissions, bonuses, and other income. When the injuries are so severe that they keep you from working, you can also claim a loss of earning potential.
Non-economic damages are also available; these cover losses that are more subjective, such as pain and suffering.
What Are E-Scooter Riders’ Rights in Missouri?
In Missouri, e-scooter operators must abide by all traffic laws when they operate the vehicle on public roads. That means respecting traffic lights and stop signs, yielding to traffic when making left turns, respecting speed limits, and everything else that other motor vehicles must do.
Riders can travel in the middle of a lane to prevent unsafe passing, but if they’re traveling more slowly than the rest of traffic, they must ride in the right lane.
At the same time, e-scooter riders have a number of rights on the road that other drivers must respect. Any motorist must treat an e-scooter as any other vehicle, which means the latter can take up an entire lane.
Car drivers must also not pass e-scooters without doing so safely, nor can they force e-scooters up against a curb. When passing an e-scooter, other drivers must allow enough space to accomplish this maneuver safely. It must not be attempted on very narrow roads.
Skilled Missouri Attorneys Specializing in Scooter, Moped, and E-Bike Accidents
After suffering injuries in a collision with an e-scooter, moped, or e-bike, you may have the right to file a claim and recover the losses you sustained. However, seeing as how proving negligence and establishing liability is not easy, especially if there is more than one party involved, hiring a Missouri scooter accident attorney is vital.
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, our team exclusively represents those who have been in traffic collisions. We understand the human side of the accident equation and know that you’re not just dealing with bills; you’re struggling with emotional and physical distress that could leave you unable to enjoy your life as you once did.
We can fight for the compensation you need, all while providing the support you need throughout the entire claim process to ensure you’re not alone. Contact our Missouri scooter accident lawyers today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
