Electric scooters are becoming increasingly popular throughout Colorado. In 2021 Colorado paired with Lime to launch its shared e-scooter program. As the weather gets warmer, more and more people will be out using alternative modes of transportation to drive – such as e-scooters and bikes.
While e-scooters are a fun and convenient mode of transportations they do carry a great risk of accidents for operators and nearby pedestrians and motorists. The average ride of an e-scooter is only 11-12 minutes, but the potential for injury in that small time frame is tremendous. If you sustained injuries in a Colorado e-scooter accident, you may need to speak with an El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney.
Our Colorado personal injury attorneys want to help you and will fight for you. We’ve helped countless clients recover the financial compensation they deserve, and are ready to do the same for you.
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Electric Scooters in Colorado
Most residents of Colorado are familiar with companies like Byrd, Lime, and Lyft. They’ve all had rentable e-scooters in Colorado in recent years. In the past few years, they’ve transformed from a novelty recreational activity to a major mode of transportation.
Electric scooters are electric-powered, small motorized vehicles. Riders operate e-scooters by standing on a platform and holding on to two handles while using a throttle. Some e-scooter are privately owned, but most e-scooters in Colorado are commercial e-scooters that are used through a share program. Operators can activate an app on their smartphone to rent and use e-scooters.
E-scooters have the capacity to travel up to 20mph. Operators need very little to no training to ride one. Furthermore, e-scooter operators are not required to register or get special licensing to ride an e-scooter. People over the age of 18 do not need to wear a helmet, although wearing one is always safer than not.
Rental costs are usually based on how long the rider used the scooter but it can vary depending on the local regulations. Colorado scooter operators are permitted to park them in public areas, including parks and sidewalks.
Does Colorado Have Specific Laws Governing E-Scooters?
With the ever-growing popularity of e-scooter in Colorado, the Colorado General Assembly changed the classification of e-scooters from “toy vehicles’ ‘ to “vehicles’ ‘ in 2019. With the passage of House Bill 19-1221, electric scooters became newly classified as actual vehicles, allowing their use on sidewalks and roadways.
By becoming classified as a vehicle, e-scooters also become subject to the same rights and responsibilities as others sharing the roads and sidewalks, such as bicyclists. However, every local jurisdiction has the right to enforce their own particular regulations and restrictions regarding e-scooters. For example, some areas in Colorado may specifically prohibit e-scooters from traveling on pedestrian paths. While local ordinances have free reign on e-scooter regulations, they may not enforce any rules that are more restrictive than e-bike regulations.
If you sustained injuries in a Colorado e-scooter accident, speak with a knowledgeable El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney to discuss your legal rights. Even if you violated some sort of e-scooter law, if the other party was negligent, you may still be eligible to seek damage compensation. A El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney can assess your case to help you find out if you can file a claim.
Why Are Electric Scooters So Dangerous?
The hype about e-scooters is understandable. They are small, fast, fun, and convenient. People in urban areas may particularly like them to avoid traffic and zip around town. But, doing so can be dangerous. Since e-scooter riders don’t have any protective barrier if they fall or fly off the scooter, they have a great potential for severe injuries.
Here are some additional factors that make e-scooters dangerous:
- There is no formal training, licensing, or experience requirements for people to operate e-scooters in Colorado. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(IIHS) states that almost half of all scooter accident injuries occur on the operator’s first time riding
- No requirement for protective gear makes e-scooter riders more susceptible to injury. Since there’s no law requiring people over 18 to wear a helmet, if someone falls and hits their head, they could get a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other serious head injury. Failing to wear appropriate clothing and footwear can also be dangerous for the operator and increase their likelihood of severe injuries in an accident.
- Speeding on the e-scooter – electric scooters are only meant to travel at 15-20 miles per hour. While this is considered slow for a vehicle, an unprotected and inexperienced person riding an e-scooter at this speed can sustain severe injuries. The scooter operator is especially vulnerable to catastrophic injuries if they get into an accident with a car or larger motor vehicle.
- Distracted e-scooter riding – e-scooters may be fun, but riders still have a duty to ride responsibly. Sometimes, when people treat their e-scooters like a toy rather than a vehicle, they can get into accidents and get injured.
- Negligent drivers- sometimes a scooter rider does everything right but a distracted, aggressive, or reckless driver may hit them. A scooter rider with minimal protection is no match for a vehicle when a collision happens.
If you were injured in an e-scooter accident due to another person’s negligence, you need to consult a skilled El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney. An attorney who knows the law and how to handle these specific cases is your best chance at recovering a full and fair compensation.
Common Injuries in El Paso County Electric Scooter Accidents
Certain types of injuries are more likely to occur in an e-scooter accident due to the way a person falls off of an e-scooter. Here are the most common injuries that e-scooter accident victims sustain:
- Head injuries (such as concussion or TBI)
- Bone fractures (most commonly in the hands, arms, feet, and legs)
- Cuts
- Bruises
- Soft tissue damage
Who Is Liable in an El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident?
Since e-scooter operators share roadways and sidewalks with others, there are many potential at-fault parties. Some parties that could be liable in an e-scooter accident include:
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- Pedestrians
- Another e-scooter operator
- Bicyclists
- E-bike riders
- Other drivers or motorists
- E-scooter companies
- E-scooter manufacturers
A El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney can assess your case to determine who is liable depending on the unique circumstances of your accident. We will help you hold all liable parties accountable.
What Damages Am I Entitled to Seek In an El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Claim?
You will need to consult an El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney for legal counsel regarding your case. Since each case is unique, the compensation that each injury victim can seek will vary depending on the circumstances of their case. For example, you need to consider the nature and extent of your injuries. Possible damages you may be entitled to seek after getting injured in an El Paso County e-scooter accident include:
- Current and future anticipated medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Physical therapy
- Other assistive medical services and devices
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional turmoil
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Funeral and burial costs
Again, determining damages is done on a case-by-case basis. But working with an El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney ensures you claim all possible damages you are entitled to seek after getting injured in an e-scooter accident.
How Much Time Do I Have To File an Electric Scooter Accident Claim?
Colorado law allows e-scooter injury victims a limited amount of time to file a claim. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations. In Colorado, the time limit for e-scooter accident injury victims is two years. However, if you were injured by a car or other motor vehicle, you have three years to file a claim.
Colorado is generally firm about the deadline with very few exceptions. Therefore, you should let an El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney handle your case to ensure you file your claim on time.
Contact an El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney
If you sustained injuries in an El Paso County electric scooter accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation. Do not delay reaching out to an El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney any longer. You don’t want to miss the time limit to get your rightful compensation for everything you’ve suffered.
We want to help you. Call us today for a free initial consultation with an experienced El Paso County Electric Scooter Accident Attorney.
