Why Electric Scooter Companies are Getting Serious About Safety
Electric scooters have taken the country by storm ever since scooter-sharing companies like Lime and Bird introduced them in recent years. They’ve also moved into South Carolina, but with limited success. Officials in several cities have taken action against e-scooters, citing safety concerns — and rightly so.
For example, Columbia banned the use of e-scooters for one year in January 2019. Charleston has also banned them, and Greenville has considered similar ordinances.
Due to the number of injuries reported from riding e-scooters or being hit by one, it’s essential to take precautions to prevent serious injuries.
If you’ve been hurt in a South Carolina e-scooter accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The best way to learn your legal options is by contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer.
What Are The Most Common Injuries Related to E-Scooters?
Head injuries top of the list of scooter-related injuries. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that a staggering 45 percent of all scooter accident injuries involved the head and face. Other studies have backed up this finding.
The CDC study also found that the most common injury after head and face injuries were those to the upper extremities. Lower extremity injuries were not as common but still, account for 12 percent of all scooter accident injuries.
Electric Scooter Injuries On the Rise
According to a Rutgers study, injuries from riding e-scooters have tripled over the past decade.
The researchers studied emergency room visits for e-scooter injuries throughout the country. While there were 2,325 incidents in 2008, that number soared to 6,947 in 2017. Consistent with the CDC data, most injuries are mainly to the head and face.
How Can People Ride More Safely?
Most injuries from e-scooter accidents are preventable. To ride more safely, riders should:
- Wear a helmet at all times.
- Don’t ride if they’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Ride with only one person on the e-scooter at a time.
- Know the rules of the road for e-scooters, which vary from city to city.
- Avoid cell phone use and headphones.
- Perform a visual inspection before each ride. If something is wrong with the e-scooter, exchange it for another.
- Read all safety instructions at the time of rental.
- Practice in parking lots and other low-traffic areas before heading out onto the roads.
- Return the e-scooter to its appropriate docking station when done, instead of leaving them lying in the street and on sidewalks.
Following these safety tips gives everyone on the road a better chance of arriving at their destination safely.
A Push For Scooter Safety Regulations
Recently, Lime launched a Public Policy and Safety Advisory Board. The board will research the policy initiatives the company should enact to better protect their riders. It will also determine what regulations they should ask cities for and how to better the relationship between cities, riders, and soon-to-be riders. These types of initiatives are critical to protecting consumers who are eager for new ways to explore their cities without putting their lives in danger.
Hurt in an E-Scooter Accident? Call Our Personal Injury Lawyers
At the Wilson Law Group, we’ve seen how one e-scooter accident can drastically impact an entire family’s life and financial security. If this has happened to you or someone you love, we’re ready to discuss your legal options in a free consultation.
Contact us to schedule your free case review.
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