Bird Scooter Accident Lawyers in Dallas

TYPES OF E-SCOOTERS

In Dallas, Bird electric scooters are one of many types of e-scooters that you may come across. Some of the most common e-scooters you may find in Dallas are:

• Bird
• Lime
• Razor
• JUMP
• Lyft
• Spin

As the number of electric scooters in Dallas increases, riders have an increased exposure to injuries if involved in an accident. Recently, a stark increase in accident claims and injury settlements has been seen.

ELECTRIC SCOOTER REGULATIONS IN DALLAS

In June 2018, the Dallas City Council approved an ordinance allowing dockless scooters to operate in the city. According to this ordinance, here are some of the operational guidelines in place to regulate the use of the e-scooters:

• Minors must wear a helmet
• The vehicles must be parked legally and properly
• Electric scooter users must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and trails
• The scooters are not allowed on any street with a speed limit above 35mph
• Dockless scooters may not be ridden on sidewalks in the central business district. A map showing the restricted area can be seen here

The Dallas City Council has specific rules on how to legally park the dockless scooters. According to the ordinance, parked electric scooters:

• Cannot impede normal pedestrian access on a sidewalk or reduce the minimum clear width of a sidewalk to less than 48 inches
• Cannot impede vehicular traffic on a street or alley
• Cannot impose a threat to public safety or security
• May not be placed within five feet of a crosswalk or curb ramp
• Must be stood upright

Under the ordinance, the scooter operators are also held accountable for proper management of the scooters. In order to follow all regulations, the scooter operators must:

• Pick up any vehicles reported to 311 that are blocking sidewalks or have fallen over within 2 hours during the day and 12 hours during the night
• Share data with the city about the frequency and location of the rides 4 times a year

Please note, these are not necessarily the exact codes in your jurisdiction, so be sure to perform your own research in order to understand which laws apply to you.

COMMON BIRD SCOOTER ACCIDENTS

In Dallas, accidents involving Bird scooters are becoming increasingly common. A few months after the introduction of Bird electric scooters to Dallas, a local man died after an accident while riding a rental scooter. Accidents such as these have prompted the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to launch an investigation into e-scooters and the injuries associated with them.

Other common accidents include the following:

• Defective or faulty bird scooters
• Scooters flipping or falling over
• Falls due to uneven surfaces
• Hit by a car while on a scooter
• Colliding with pedestrians
• Failing brakes
• Handlebars are broken, wobbly or falling off.

These accidents happen generally due to one of the following reasons:

• User Negligence – the scooter user did not adhere to the rules of the road, Dallas City Council rules or was distracted while riding the scooter. In cases such as these, the Bird scooter user may not have a strong injury case as it may be proven that they caused the accident themselves.
• Other Driver Negligence – another road user, such as a car, bike or other vehicle hit a scooter rider and causes the accident because of their own negligence. The driver may have run a red light, failed to yield to scooter user or was distracted. In these cases, the scooter user may be eligible to seek compensation from the driver.
• Defective/Malfunctioning Scooters – in this case, the scooter may have malfunctioned. Some common malfunctions that have been experienced include:
  • Failure of brakes
  • Accelerator was stuck at full speed
  • The baseboard broke
  • Wheels locked up
  • The scooters power ran out mid-journey

In these cases, it may be possible to file a personal injury claim against the scooter company.

WHAT TO DO AFTER A BIRD SCOOTER ACCIDENT In Dallas

Reports of injuries due to Bird scooters may be likely to occur given the ease at which individuals can obtain them. If you have suffered a personal injury on a bird scooter, there are a few steps to follow may help you later with your claim for compensation.

1. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION

Immediately following the accident, it is crucial to seek medical attention. Call 911 and wait for an ambulance to arrive if you think you are injured. If others were involved in the accident, be sure to check on them as well. Not only is this is very important for your health, it will also be useful if you proceed with an injury claim since you will need medical records to prove your injuries when filing a claim.

2. CALL THE POLICE

When the police arrive, they will take details of the accident, and likely fill out an accident report. Be sure to be as clear and thorough as possible. For example, explain what happened from your perspective. Maybe you were hit by a driver who didn’t yield, or your scooters brakes malfunctioned, every little detail will count. Your account of the accident will help determine who is liable for the accident. It is highly advisable to have official documentation from law enforcement outlining who is at fault when pursuing a personal injury claim.

3. GATHER INFORMATION

It is important that you have all the details necessary to make a claim. To ensure you covered everything you should document the following:

• Photographs of the scene
• Pictures of the cause of the accident where possible
• Witness details
• Were there any cameras in operation close by that may have captured the accident?
• If you were hit by a car take details of the driver and details of the car such as license plate number, driver license number, and insurance information.

4. CALL A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER

To gain a better understanding of your legal rights and what you need to do to seek compensation, it is advisable to speak with a Dallas injury lawyer. A lawyer can advise you on the next steps involved in seeking compensation for your injuries. Once an attorney takes on your case they will:

• Gather all necessary documents to file your claim
• Deal with insurance companies to settle your case
• Take care of the legal matters so you can focus on recovering!

WHO IS LIABLE AFTER A BIRD SCOOTER ACCIDENT?

There are multiple factors involved in determining who is liable for your Bird scooter accident. The main parties that may be held liable for your claim are described below.

THE SCOOTER COMPANY

If the scooter malfunctions, the scooter company could be held accountable. Bird scooter users have reported the following malfunctions:

• Brakes failed
• Accelerator was stuck at full speed
• The baseboard broke
• Wheels locked up
• The scooters power ran out mid-journey

In all these cases, it is very easy for the rider to lose control of the vehicle and injure themselves.

OTHER ROAD USERS

Bird scooters are not the only vehicle on the road. Cars, bikes, buses, trucks, and pedestrians have been known to cause accidents involving scooters. In these cases, the other road user may be held liable if it is shown that their negligence caused the accident. Users have reported accidents with other road users such as:

• Hit by a car while on a scooter
• Hit by a cyclist while on a scooter
• Hit by a bus while on a scooter

In this case, the scooter rider can sustain serious injuries as a result of the driver’s negligence.

PEDESTRIANS

Pedestrians are also obligated to remain aware and act to ensure an accident or injury to anybody around them is less likely to happen. However, if a pedestrian’s actions cause an accident with a scooter, and the accident causes injury to the scooter rider, they may be held liable for the accident.

PROPERTY OWNERS

Property and business owners must ensure that their property is fit for use, and is a safe environment for visitors. If a scooter rider travels through a person’s or a business’ property that is not safe and an accident occurs, the property owner may be held liable for the accident.

FILING A SCOOTER ACCIDENT LAWSUIT

The process for filing a Bird scooter accident claim in Dallas with Zinda is a simple 3-step process. Our attorneys will guide you every step of the way:

1. 100% FREE CONSULTATION

No matter the accident, it is crucial that you seek medical attention immediately after an accident or injury. After you have been treated, you should speak with an accident attorney. Zinda Law Group offers 100% free consultations while we learn about your case so you don’t have to worry about consultation fees during the process.

Our experienced accident attorneys will assess your case, and be able to advise you on whether they think you have a case.

2. INVESTIGATION

If it is determined that you have a case, your attorney will move to the next step of the process – investigation. This step involves collecting all the documents related to your case that are needed to pursue compensation, such as police reports and medical records. During this stage, there is very little you need to do. Your attorney will walk you through each step of the investigation process.

3. RECOVERY

Once your attorney has gotten your claim under control, they will negotiate with the insurance company to settle your scooter claim so you can focus on your recovery!

SCOOTER ACCIDENT SETTLEMENTS

If you sustained injuries while riding on a Bird Scooter, it is important to understand the full extent of your injuries. Your injuries include both the economic and the non-economic damages incurred. Because scooter riders can be in close proximity to cars with little protection, the chance of catastrophic injury from being struck by a car may be higher than a collision involving two automobiles.

Scooter accident compensation can be categorized into two areas:

ECONOMIC DAMAGES

• Medical expenses
• Cost of future medical expenses
• Loss of earnings
• Loss of future earnings
• Household expenses

NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES

Pain and suffering and psychological injury you sustained because of the injury.

To seek these damages as part of your settlement, you will need to show expenses incurred and medical records. Your attorney will help you in gathering these documents and from that be able to advise you how much they think your claim is worth.

TALK TO OUR DALLAS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS

Pay nothing if we don’t win your case – that’s our no win no fee guarantee

Our accident lawyers are on hand to help you navigate the legal process. We know that it can be daunting to file a claim for the first time. That is why we have everything covered, allowing you to focus on your recovery while we focus on settling your case. We have the knowledge and resources necessary to help you build the strongest case possible and seek maximum compensation for all the ways your injury has cost you.

Our firm also believes that an injury victim should never have to worry about their ability to afford excellent legal representation. That is why we offer 100% free consultations, and why you will pay nothing unless we secure a favorable settlement, judgment, or verdict for your personal injury case. That’s our No Fee Guarantee. Call Zinda Law Group today at (214) 390-3177 for a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.

Meetings with attorneys available by appointment only.