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As the popularity of dockless rentable electric scooters has exploded in cities across Texas and the U.S., so too have scooter-related injuries. Trauma center officials in Austin, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and other cities have confirmed a significant increase in ER visits related to scooter accidents.
In Texas, specifically, the Dell Seaton Medical Center at the University of Texas at Austin has been keeping track of scooter-related accidents since the vehicles were first introduced in the city in May 2018. The medical center reports 66 severe trauma injuries, including 19 head injuries, 13 facial injuries, and 38 orthopedic injuries, according to a CNBC report.
The problem stretches across Texas, as the scooters are also popular in San Antonio, Dallas, and other cities. Contact the attorneys of Tate Law Offices, P.C., if you’ve been hurt in a scooter accident.
The Rise of Electric Scooter Accidents
The convenient and eco-friendly mode of transportation offered by electric scooters have contributed greatly to their popularity, but the vehicles also can pose hazards to riders, pedestrians, and motorists alike.
As reported in news outlets around the world, the number of electric scooter accidents is dramatically increasing:
- Two electric scooter accident deaths were reported in Dallas and Austin, the first scooter-related deaths in both cities.
- In a little over two months, Austin medical officials received 37 emergency calls and 68 reports related to electric scooter accidents.
- Emergency rooms in other states have experienced a 160 percent spike in the number of patients injured by electric scooters.
Experts believe the problem is only getting worse. Electric scooters are predominantly in metropolitan areas, but as they expand to other areas rapidly, so too will serious or fatal injury accidents.
Causes of Electric Scooter Accidents
Many factors can cause electric scooter accidents. Some of the most common include:
- Inattentive drivers
- Scooter rider negligence
- Electric scooter malfunction
- Potholes or cracks in the road
The fact that scooters travel 15 mph makes them especially dangerous, because they are far too fast for sidewalks, but far too slow for regular roadways. They are usually safest in bike lanes, but these are not always available.
Types of Electric Scooter Injuries
The vast majority of scooter riders do not wear helmets, since none are provided by the rental companies and few pedestrians carry helmets. For this reason, very serious injuries can occur in scooter accidents, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Sprained wrists and ankles
- Fractured bones
- Facial lacerations
- Broken ribs
While some riders may lose their balance, others lose their lives. Scooter accidents have caused thousands of injuries, some of them fatal. Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin sees approximately 10 people a day with electric scooter injuries.
How Can Tate Law Offices, P.C., Help Me?
If you were hurt in an electric scooter accident in Dallas, Fort Worth, or Houston, the attorneys of Tate Law Offices, P.C., are ready to fight for you. We are here to seek maximum compensation for your claim. Call an experienced personal injury lawyer or contact us online now for a free consultation.
Tim received a business degree in finance from Southern Methodist University and a Juris Doctor (law degree) from South Texas College of Law. Over the last two decades Tim has represented victims of injuries day-in and day-out throughout the state of Texas as well as in numerous other states throughout America. Tim’s mission on every case is always to get the insurance company of the defendant to pay top dollar for his client’s case, which allows his clients to put the maximum amount of money into their pocket.
