Were you injured in an electric scooter accident? Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Baltimore Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer; you can give us a call at (410) 837-2144 to speak with a member of our legal team at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers and discuss your options.
Electric scooters offer a fun and convenient way to get around any major city, but they aren’t always safe–and many drivers aren’t watching out for scooters. If you were hurt because someone else caused an electric scooter accident in Baltimore, you might be entitled to compensation.
Collectively, our lawyers have over 80 years of experience helping accident victims of Baltimore motorcycle accidents, uber accidents, wrongful death claims in Baltimore, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents and more. We can help you get the compensation you deserve! Contact us today.
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How an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help After a Baltimore Scooter Accident
Electric scooter use has surged after Baltimore granted several companies permits to make dockless e-scooters available for public rental within the city.
Unsurprisingly, injury reports have also surged–flooding the emergency rooms with accident victims.
These scooters are a relatively new introduction to Baltimore. So, it’s not uncommon for electric scooter users to be unfamiliar with their legal rights–or the rules of the road.
If you’re hurt, you could have the right to significant compensation. Insurance companies won’t make getting that money easy.
Our lawyers have been handling personal injury claims for decades. We know every trick that the insurance company might roll out to deny, delay or reduce your settlement award.
When you hire WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to fight back, you’ll have a trained and respected advocate in your corner. We’ll handle every aspect of your claim. That means a Baltimore personal injury attorney will:
- Defend you when the insurance company tries to blame you for the accident
- Work with experts to fairly value your claim after the insurance company offers a lowball settlement
- Help you understand your legal options
- Negotiate with the insurance companies to get what’s fair
- Protect your rights if necessary to get a fair compensation package
Navigating the legal system on your own is a big risk. You might not know whether the insurance company’s offer is fair–and most injury victims need money right away. Whether you’re just getting started or already have a settlement offer on the table, don’t hesitate to call us for help. We’ll review your case for free, so there’s no risk in calling.
How Common Are Electric Scooter Accidents?
According to Center for Disease Control (CDC) studies, for every 100,000 electric scooter trips, 14.3 people were injured. 45% of those injuries were head injuries. In that nationwide study, the median age of the accident victim was 29.
Nearly a third of the injuries could be attributed to first-time electric scooter use. 18% of accidents involved a motor vehicle accident.
Another study presented by JAMA Surgery found that electric scooter crashes increased from 4,583 in 2014 to a surprising 14,641 in 2018. While surprising, it is true that electric scooters have surged in popularity. Scooter companies like Lime and Bolt have flooded the market with publicly-available electric scooters.
In Baltimore City, e-scooters have become a popular way to travel short distances within the downtown area. Within Baltimore, Lime, Bolt, Spin and Jump have been awarded permits to install dockless e-scooters.
Baltimore Electric Scooter Safety Rules
The Baltimore Department of Transportation has enacted rules that are specifically designed to prevent electric scooter accidents. Those rules require scooter riders to:
- Wear a helmet if under age 16
- Use bike lanes where possible
- Ride on the far-right side of the road where no bike facilities are available
- Avoid sidewalks unless the speed limit on the adjacent road is more than 30mph
- Avoid blocking bus stops, bike racks, driveways, and vehicle doors when parking (e-scooters can be parked at bike racks so long as they leave room for bicycles to park)
As with bicycles, drivers in motor vehicles should give electric scooters three feet of distance when passing, if possible.
Common Causes of Electric Scooter Accidents in Baltimore
Electric scooter accidents are often caused by:
- Driver inexperience
- Defects in the scooter’s components
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Drivers making unsafe turns
- Distracted driving
- Using the scooter on a prohibited sidewalk
- Road hazards
- Vehicle malfunctions
- Failure to maintain the scooter in safe condition
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Lack of safety equipment
Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help find out what happened. It’s important to get help right away after an accident. After you’ve received the medical care you need, give us a call so that we can discuss options in your case.
Electric Scooter Accidents Cause Serious Injuries
You might be lucky enough to walk away from an electric scooter accident with a few scrapes and bruises. Many accident victims aren’t so lucky.
Bird or Lime scooter accidents can cause serious, even catastrophic, injuries–especially when a motor vehicle is involved.
Like motorcycles and bicycles, electric scooters don’t provide much protection in a crash.
Common scooter injuries include:
- Head injuries
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- “Road rash”
- Neck injuries
- Injuries to the knees, hips, and shoulders
- Internal organ damage
Electric scooter accidents can even result in wrongful death.
Consulting with an experienced lawyer increases your odds of getting compensation to cover the full cost of your injuries. At WGK Personal Injury Lawyers, our accident attorneys advocate for accident victims and their families across Baltimore. We’re always here to help, so if you have questions, call today to get our legal advice.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Damages Caused by Electric Scooter Accidents?
To hold someone responsible for damages, we first have to find out what caused the accident.
Maybe a car ran a red light and hit you. Maybe the brakes stopped working on the e-scooter or you hit a dangerous pothole.
Our skilled personal injury lawyers will work to find out who owes you compensation.
That could include:
- At-fault drivers in motor vehicle crashes
- Lime, Bolt or the company that made the scooter
- A manufacturer of a defective scooter component
- Government transportation authorities
- Property owners who failed to maintain sidewalks and roadways in safe condition
Multiple parties might also share responsibility for the accident.
How Long Do I Have to File a Scooter Accident Claim?
In Maryland, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims is three years. The clock starts running on the day of the electric scooter accident.
Once three years have passed, you lose the right to sue for damages. Even though three years might seem like a long time, it’s important to take action as soon as you can. An experienced lawyer needs time to thoroughly investigate to find out who’s responsible for your accident.
We know it can be difficult to get around if you’re seriously hurt. If you’re interested in exploring your options, call our law offices today. We can speak over the phone or even come to you.
Can I Get Compensation if I Was Partly to Blame for the Accident?
No. Under Maryland’s pure contributory negligence law, accident victims lose their right to compensation if they’re even 1% to blame for the accident.
That doesn’t mean you can’t pursue a claim for damages. Insurance companies often try to scare victims off by citing Maryland’s strict shared fault rules. They aren’t always right. Before you decide to give up, speak with a personal injury attorney who’s on your side.
How Much Is My Electric Scooter Accident Claim Worth?
Getting fair compensation can be critical for serious injury victims. You might be unable to work for an extended amount of time–and medical care is expensive.
When insurance companies know they’re on the hook for damages, they might put a settlement offer on the table quickly. Their goal is to get you to accept without consulting a lawyer–and we know that can be tempting.
It’s important to at least consult with a lawyer who knows what you rightfully deserve after an accident. We’ll work tirelessly to get compensation for your:
- Medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Nursing care, including in-home aides
- Modifications to your home and vehicle
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Property damage
- And more
Under Maryland personal injury law, you’re entitled to more than just compensation for past expenses. You should also be compensated for any future damages that you’re likely to incur. Identifying those costs requires experience.
At WGK Personal Injury Lawyers, our trusted injury lawyers are here to put over a century of combined experience to work for you.
Call Today For a Free Consultation With a Respected Baltimore Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer
At WGK Personal Injury Lawyers, we know how important it is to get money in your pocket after an accident. Once you accept a settlement, however, you can’t make another claim in the future. Establishing an attorney-client relationship can help you get everything you deserve, including the cost of future care.
We’ve successfully recovered millions in settlements and verdicts across Baltimore. To learn more about what we have to offer, call for a free consultation with an experienced Baltimore electric scooter accident lawyer today. You can also use this online contact form and we’ll reach out to you.
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Baltimore Hospitals Near You:
- Mercy Hospital Weinberg Garage- Mercy Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21202
- Sinai Hospital-2401 W Belvedere Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215
- The Johns Hopkins Hospital – 1800 Orleans St, Baltimore, MD 21287
- University of Maryland Medical Center- 22 S Greene St, Baltimore, MD 21201
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WGK Personal Injury Lawyers – Baltimore Office
14 W Madison St, Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 837-2144
Open 24 hours