Whether you call them electric scooters, e-scooters, or dock less scooters, they are all the rage at the moment. Scooters can be seen zipping around in cities across the nation, and Nashville is no exception. While scooters can help reduce traffic, and are a green alternative to driving, free up parking, and can be a lot of fun, they offer riders no protection from the violent impact of traffic accidents. While this alternative form of transportation continues to gain in popularity, the number of dangerous scooter accidents continues to rise. If another driver's negligence leaves you injured in a scooter accident, the experienced scooter accident lawyers at Labrum Law in Tennessee can help ensure your legal rights remain protected. 

Using Electric Scooters

Many people wonder what the electric scooters they keep spying on our roads are all about, and because they sprang into existence with little warning, it is no wonder. If you remember the foot-powered Razor scooters that kids used to flock to in the 90s, you have a good feel for electric scooters, which are very similar but have the added boost of an electric motor. Additionally, e-scooters can be rented by the touch of a rideshare app, which makes them about as easy to access as it gets. The process of renting an electric scooter includes the following:

• Once you decide to rent an electric scooter and log into the appropriate rideshare app, it will let you know where the nearest available scooter can be located.
• From here, all you need to do is use the code provided to unlock the scooter and be on your merry way.
• Once you have reached your destination (or are done joyriding), you will need to safely park the scooter out of the way of pedestrians and end your ride on the scooter's app.

Renting an e-scooter is painless, but if you choose to do so, making safety your top priority is paramount. Ultimately, those who ride e-scooters are held to the same Tennessee state laws that those who ride bicycles and electric bicycles are required to follow.

Recent Data on Scooter Accidents

The findings related to e-scooter accidents established in a recent study (reviewed in The University of Tennessee News and published in the Journal of Safety Research) include all the following:

• Accidents involving cars account for a full 80 percent of all e-scooter fatalities.
• Similar to bike accidents, 1 in 10 e-scooter accidents result in either injury or death.
• Most e-scooter accidents happen in intersections.
• About half of all e-scooter accidents occur when someone riding a scooter enters a driveway or crosswalk after leaving a sidewalk (approximately twice the rate experienced by bicyclists).
• The majority of e-scooter accidents happen in the daylight, and alcohol generally does not play a role.

When traffic accidents involving scooters occur, the person riding the scooter is far more likely to be injured than anyone else. If you suffered injuries on a scooter, contact the scooter accident lawyers Labrum Law to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve under the law.

Scooters and Vulnerability

One of the most important points to make when it comes to scooter safety is that you are far more vulnerable regarding serious injuries when you are on a scooter than the occupants of other vehicles are for all the following important reasons:

• Nothing comes between you and the immense impact of a traffic accident.
• You are far more difficult to spot on the road and are far more likely to be lost in another driver's blind spot.
• You do not have the power or speed to maneuver out of dangerous driving situations as effectively as other motorists can.
• Currently, most rideshare electric scooters do not come equipped with safety helmets, which leaves you even more vulnerable to life-threatening traumatic brain injuries.
• When e-scooter companies fail to maintain their fleet in safe working order, they make dangerous scooter accidents that much more likely.

If you have been injured in an e-scooter accident that was caused by another driver's negligence, consult with a dedicated Tennessee scooter accident lawyer at Labrum Law today.

Driver Negligence

Although you are more difficult to see when you are on a scooter, drivers still have a responsibility to adhere to all traffic laws and to accommodate the safe passage of others, including those riding scooters. Scooter accidents are often caused by the negligence of other drivers, and such negligence comes in wide-ranging forms that include:

• Distraction – When a motorist's thoughts and/or vision is distracted away from driving safely, others on the road can pay the ultimate price.
• Excess Speed – When a motorist drives at a speed that is not safe in relation to what is happening on the road, it makes fatal accidents (including fatal scooter accidents) more likely.
• Impairment – Drunk drivers are some of the most dangerous drivers on our roads, and they leave us all more vulnerable to life-threatening injuries.
• Exhaustion – Drowsy drivers can experience the same kinds of cognitive and physical impairments that drunk drivers do.

Compensation for Scooter Accidents 

Your e-scooter accident claim should carefully incorporate the covered losses (referred to as damages in legal terms) that you suffer, and these can include:

• Your medical expenses
• Future medical expenses
• Your lost earnings
• Future loss of wages
• Your pain and suffering

Seeking just compensation for each category of damage you experience can be critical to your ability to regain your health and well-being.

Seek the Legal Guidance of an Experienced Tennessee Scooter Accident Lawyer Today

E-scooters seem to be everywhere now, and while scooters have a lot to offer, scooter accidents are exceptionally dangerous accidents – especially for those operating the scooters. If you have been injured in a scooter accident that was caused by another driver's negligence, the formidable scooter accident lawyers at Labrum Law in Middle Tennessee take great pride in helping clients prevail with accident settlements (or court awards) that cover their physical, financial, and emotional damages in their entirety. To learn more about how we can help, please reach out by contacting or calling us at 615-338-9500 today.