Lime Scooter Braking Injuries: Are Electric Scooters Too Dangerous?

When the electric scooter craze first swept the nation, many people were thrilled about this convenient new mode of transportation. This enthusiasm has since been dampened by reports of “sudden excessive braking” said to be caused by a firmware glitch.

If you’d like to ride an electric scooter but are worried about injury, you’re far from alone. Below, we examine the prevalence of electric scooter injuries — and show how you can stay safe.

How Common Are Electric Scooter Injuries?

A study from Consumer Reports shows that scooter crashes are increasingly common, with experts pointing to over 1,500 injuries involving scooters from Lime and competitor Bird. Consumer Reports was unable to secure statistics from all of the facilities it contacted, so the injury rate could be significantly higher. A similar study of two UCLA hospitals revealed nearly 250 e-scooter injuries between September 2017 and late August, 2018.

How to Stay Safe

Despite the recent headlines, the risk of scooter-related injury remains low. Caution, is critical, however — especially in light of recent glitches.

Before you embark on your scooter journey, inspect the vehicle thoroughly to determine its current condition. Once in motion, give the brakes a squeeze. If the brakes fail to engage and stop the vehicle, end your trip and get in touch with customer service.

Helmets are essential; a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open suggests that just four percent of e-scooter riders seen in the hospital after accidents used head protection.

If a scooter or some other vehicle has injured you, you may be eligible to recover extensive damages. The team at Regan Zambri Long PLLC is happy to guide you every step of the way. Reach out today to learn more about our strong track record in personal injury law.