Call (800) 863-5312 to Speak with wrongful death attorneys for Free Losing a loved one is one of the most painful experiences you can go through. However, that pain may only be amplified if it is discovered that the death was caused by another’s negligence or misconduct. In cases such as these, you may be …
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First Steps to Take After Your Spouse Is Killed In A Car Accident
CALL (800) 863-5312 TO SPEAK WITH A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER FOR FREE The loss of your spouse is a tragedy whenever it may occur. However, the loss of your spouse due to the negligence of another party is particularly tragic. Though you may wish to leave behind the tragic experience of your loss, it is …
Settlement Reached in Slip and Fall on Wet Floor in Large International Retailer
Call (512) 246-2224 To Speak With A Personal Injury Attorney for FREE Case Details: The Client: S.L. The Case: Slip and Fall on Wet Floor in a Store The Injuries: Hamstring Tear, Right Knee Meniscus Tear, and Bulging Discs Case Result: Settlement reached in favor of S.L. SUMMARY SLIP AND FALL IN LARGE INTERNATIONAL RETAILER …
How Electric Scooters Took Over Austin
Since the introduction of electric scooters into Austin in April 2018, they have taken over in terms of alternative transport for commuters, partygoers, tourists and anybody who would prefer to scoot around the city. Provided by Bird, Lime, JUMP, Lyft, OjO, Spin and VeoRide, these vehicles are promoted as a low cost, smart and eco-friendly …
3.6 Million Miles Travelled in Just 1 Year!
According to the City of Austin Dockless Vehicle Data, there are in excess of 15,000 dockless scooter devices in operation in the city. Looking back into early 2018, we can see that there has been an increase in devices of 1143% in just one year! April 2018 to April 2019 has seen:
- 3.623M journeys taken
- 3.674 miles traveled
- 9291 average journeys per day
- 9352 average miles per day
- 1.09 average miles per journey
- 13.1 average minutes per journey
- 829% increase in month trips from April, 2018 to April, 201
Is the Scoot Worth the Risk?
With that increase, also came a concern for the health and wellbeing of the scooter riders. Within the past 12 months, reports of scooter related injuries has been on the rise – so much so that is the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were asked to conduct an investigation to shed some light on the dangers of e-scooters and the risk to those who ride them.
The study, published in April 2019, used data from Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS) incident reports, and Emergency Department (ED) complaint data from nine hospital areas across a 3 month period – September to November 2018 – and found 160 confirm cases of e-scooter related injuries in Austin in that time period.
From those injured, almost 50% suffered head injuries, 70% upper limb injuries, 55% lower limb injuries, and 18% sustained injuries to the chest/abdomen. Over one-third of those injured sustained bone fractures and 3% suffered head fractures.
Almost 50% of the injured people had sustained severe injuries including, bone fractures, nerve injuries, tendon and ligament injuries, severe bleeding and organ damage.
37% of Scooter Accidents occur in Downtown Austin
According to the recent CDC data the areas where accidents occurred were:
- Downtown Austin (37%)
- University of Texas Campus (16%)
Moreover, 55% of riders sustained an injury on the street, 33% on sidewalks, 8 suffered injury in areas where no motorized vehicles are allowed and one in a parking garage.
Increased Reports of Scooter Malfunctions
Some of the common scooter defects reported by electric scooter users and manufacturers can cause serious injury to the riders and have done in the past. These include:
- Uncontrollable acceleration due to a stuck throttle
- Faulty brakes
- Software Bugs causing sudden excessive braking
- Locking of wheels
In February 2019, Lime issued a safety update to the public stating that they had recently detected a bug in their software, which could cause ‘sudden excessive braking’ during use.
Just last month, Zinda Law Group filed a lawsuit against Lime on behalf of our client. Our client was riding a scooter near the Capitol Building when her scooter malfunctioned causing her to fall off the scooter and injure herself on a nearby railing, causing multiple facial fractures, a damaged tear duct, two broken ribs and severe damage to her nose.
Speaking with ABC News in May, Jack Zinda, Zinda Law Group CEO, said, “The biggest thing that Dorothy (our client) wants to do is make sure this doesn’t happen to anybody in the future and that Lime is held accountable for what occurred.”
What are Scooter Companies Doing to Address These Issues?
In cases of scooter malfunction, liability may fall to the scooter provider. In a report published in April 2019 by Bird, the examined the risks and responsibilities associated with e-scooters and assessed how they would prioritize the prevention of accidents.
In their report, they suggest that operators and cities alike must act to improve safety, suggesting that cities maintain smoother streets, manage car and truck speed and be designed with safety in mind in order to help reduce the risk of accidents for all road users. According to their own user study, they found a strong demand for protected bike lanes and better-maintained streets.
Concerning their own vehicle safety, Bird as taken steps to improve its fleet to design new e-scooters with new and enhanced features, some of which include:
- durable brakes
- reinforced hardware
- kick-start function to prevent unintended throttle or jerky acceleration
- Non-slip surfaced
- Reinforced caution labeling
Perhaps they are on to something and a partnership between the scooter companies and the cities could prove beneficial in curbing the recent rise in scooter-related injuries.
Austin City Scooter Laws
While a scooter rider can never know the integrity of the device they are about to ride, there are some things they can do to make their journey as safe as possible for themselves and those around them. According to the City of Austin, the following rules apply to all e-scooter riders:
- Always yield to pedestrians to avoid an accident.
- Park your scooter in a secure position, ensure it is upright when you leave it and only park it in designated areas such as, furniture zones of sidewalks, public bike racks and other marked zones.
- Give at least 3 feet clearance on sidewalks for accessibility.
- Do not ride scooters in unauthorized areas – some of which include private property and parkland, state-owned land.
- Report any devices you see lying on the ground or parked improperly
- Wear a helmet!
TALK TO ZINDA LAW GROUP
If you have been hurt due to the negligence of another party and have decided to file an injury claim, our personal injury lawyers are on hand to help you navigate the legal process. We will focus on building the strongest case possible and seeking maximum compensation for your injuries while you focus on recovering. Furthermore, our No Fee Guarantee means that you will pay nothing unless we win your case!
Call Zinda Law Group today at (888) 671-5127 for a free consultation with one of our experienced scooter accident attorneys.
Meetings with attorneys by appointment only.
Electric Scooter Malfunctions
CALL (888) 671-5127 TO SPEAK WITH PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS FOR FREE You may have noticed recently that massive fleets of dockless electric scooters have been spreading to countless cities across the US, seemingly appearing overnight in some places. As more and more companies begin to introduce and disperse their own branded scooters, the highest standards …
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Zinda Law Group Named to Inc. 5000 List
Call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 to receive your free consultation AUSTIN, TEXAS, December 19, 2018 – Zinda Law Group has been named to the 2018 list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America published by Inc. magazine. Inc. ranked Zinda Law Group at number 3,611 overall and at number 333 in the …
Cómo Calcular el Valor de Una Lesión por Disparos Accidentales
Llame al (800) 863-5312 para Hablar Gratis con Abogados de Disparos Accidentales en Texas Es un hecho de la vida que los accidentes ocurren todos los días. Desde accidentes automovilísticos hasta lesiones deportivas, las lesiones personales que se derivan de estos accidentes vienen en todas las formas y tamaños. No es de extrañar que cuando …
PG&E Lawsuits | Wildfire Injury Lawyers
Call (800) 863-5312 to Speak with Wildfire Injury Lawyers for Free In November 2018, California was struck by the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history. The massive Camp Fire has claimed the lives of more than 60 people and displaced over 50,000 more. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, …
How to Negotiate an Injury Claim with Walmart
Call (800) 863-5312 to Speak with Our Personal Injury Attorneys for Free There are various ways that a company’s negligence can contribute to your personal injuries. Whether you slipped and fell because there was water on the ground, or one of their doormats tripped you on the way out, you may be able entitled to …