Are you curious about scooters in Boston? Then you need to know all you can about the causes and risks of scooter accidents. Find all you need to know here.
If you live in Boston, you’ve probably seen scooter riders cycling gleefully on the roads. Motor scooters (including electric scooters) have become a common mode of transportation throughout the country, and they’re delightful to watch. However, like other motor vehicles, they can be involved in major accidents and cause serious injury to victims. A Boston personal injury lawyer will always handle the legal aspects in such cases.
While electric scooter companies like Lime and Bird continue to market their products, their popularity has sparked increasing safety concerns. These scooters are built to travel many miles per hour and are a danger in the hands of inexperienced riders. Again, they’re too small to share the roadway with other motor vehicles. And to compound the problem, there are not enough regulations to oversee the use of these scooters.
This article will discuss the increasing rate of scooter accidents in Boston and their primary causes.
Are Scooter Accidents Common in Boston?
If you wish to use electric scooters as your preferred form of transportation, you must be aware of the risks. That’s because scooter accidents in Boston are more common than you think. Although there’s no sufficient study on the number of e-scooter injuries in Boston, we can draw inferences from some reports.
A report states that there has been a general surge in injuries due to scooter use. There were 14,641 recorded electric scooter-related injuries in 2018. There has also been a significant increase in bike accidents and deaths in Massachusetts.
Like other common accidents on the road, scooter accidents are typically due to negligent scooter riders and drivers. Such negligent actions include:
Distracted driving or cycling is one of the most common causes of scooter accidents. Negligent drivers and scooter riders who fail to pay attention to the road can quickly cause a crash. Common distracted driving actions include using cellphones, looking somewhere else, listening to music, etc.
- Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs significantly puts you at risk of serious traffic accidents. That’s because drunk drivers or riders can’t control their actions.
- Poor Lighting Conditions
Scooters are much smaller than other vehicles on the roads. As such, it may be difficult for drivers to see them. That alone increases the risk of collisions between the scooter riders and other motorists.
This risk worsens at night or in areas with poor lighting conditions. Scooter riders can reduce this risk by wearing bright and reflective clothing in the dark.
Drivers and riders who move too fast cannot respond to danger on time. As such, they wouldn’t have enough time to prevent foreseeable traffic accidents. Collisions due to speeding cause some of the most devastating accident injuries.
Common Electric Scooter Injuries in Boston
E-scooter injuries may be mild or severe, depending on the nature of the accident. However, refusal to wear seat belts, lack of helmets, etc., may increase the risk of severe physical injuries and death.
According to a report, most e-scooter injury patients were not wearing a bicycle helmet. Generally, 60% of motorcyclists’ fatalities in the U.S. were found without a helmet.
The following are the common injuries electric scooter riders and motor vehicle drivers may suffer in an electric scooter accident:
Victims can easily sustain broken bones in various places in Boston e-scooter accidents. Broken bones or fractures happen when a high force impact partially or completely breaks the continuity in a bone. The scooter rider usually suffers this injury in a collision with a bigger vehicle.
Broken bones can happen anywhere — on the face, ankle, hip, wrist, etc. Most times, this injury requires emergency care. Fractures are usually displaced, non-displaced, closed, or open. You can also classify them according to the injury pattern.
- Internal Injuries (Internal Organ Damages)
Internal injuries are among the most devastating scooter injuries ever. They’re usually due to blunt trauma or penetrating trauma in motor vehicle crashes. This type of injury causes internal organ damage and internal bleeding without immediate or apparent symptoms.
As a result, it’s easy for victims to think they’re unharmed, only to face severe health complications much later. In many cases, such complications lead to death. As such, all accident victims must seek urgent medical attention whether they notice internal injuries or not.
The spinal cord performs some of the essential functions in the body. This organ carries nerve signals from your body to the brain and back. These signals are responsible for body movement, sensation, and other functions. As such, spinal cord damage can cause disability and loss of sensation.
The worst thing about spinal cord damage is there’s no cure, and patients will have to manage the condition forever.
- Head Injuries (Brain Injuries)
Head and brain injuries are among the most common scooter or bike-related injuries in Boston, Massachusetts. They can be major or minor injuries depending on the accident’s severity. A traumatic brain injury is typically one of the most catastrophic head injuries. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening.
Why Do I Need an Electric Scooter Accident Attorney in Boston?
There are many reasons why you need an electric scooter lawyer in Boston to handle your injury claim. The most important ones are:
- Legal Advice
Massachusetts personal injury attorneys will advise you on the best steps to take in your case. From instructing you to get emergency care, gather evidence, etc., they’ll ensure that you do the right thing.
- Consultations With the Insurance Companies
A dedicated lawyer will handle negotiations with your liability insurance companies to get you the best personal injury claim settlements. If you don’t have enough insurance coverage, they’ll get you adequate compensation from the negligent party.
With an experienced electric scooter lawyer, you’re never out of legal options. They may even hold the e-scooter companies liable for your injuries in specific cases.
- Cost-Effectiveness
You can discuss the contingency fee agreement with your attorney, even during the initial consultation. That way, you don’t have to worry about footing legal costs until you receive your compensation awards.
- Information Gathering
Your attorney knows how to gather ample information from a police report and other documents to prove your case. Even in the most challenging situations, they can solicit help from experts to gather enough facts for your liability claim.
Contact Experienced Boston Electric Scooter Accident Lawyers Immediately
Are you dealing with catastrophic injuries from a motor scooter accident in Boston? Then you deserve adequate compensation for your injuries. With help from your Boston scooter accident lawyers, you can file a successful injury claim against the liable party. Your compensation benefits will typically include medical bills, lost wages, non-economic damages, property damage, emotional distress, etc.
At Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, we understand your situation and leverage our years of experience handling your case. We’ll painstakingly listen to your needs and offer you the best-suited legal options for your case. Schedule a confidential consultation with our Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers right away. We guarantee you the best legal services you can get nowhere else.
