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Over the past few years, a surge of electric scooters (e-scooters) has hit the city streets across the country. And, along with that, so has the increase of e-scooter-related injuries – 50,000 ER visits from 2017-2019, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, to be exact.

Here in San Francisco, there were seven severe injuries linked to e-scooters in 2018, the first year this traffic segment was tracked. In 2020, two standing e-scooter riders died in San Francisco, the first traffic death recorded of its kind.

We know that e-scooters can also be fun and convenient, but the San Francisco personal injury attorneys at Allegiance Law want you to know more about this newer mode of travel – both the good and the bad.

The Benefits of E-Scooters

There are a few reasons there is an increase in e-scooter popularity. It’s an enjoyable way to scoot around metro areas on the sidewalk to get to and from short distances – and you do not even need to hunt for the rare find of a parking space in San Francisco! Here are additional advantages of e-scooters:

  • No driver’s license needed
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Socially distant, versus public transportation
  • Lower operating and maintenance costs
  • Compact for easy use through traffic
  • Portable, lightweight, and easy to fold up
  • No noise pollution

The Safety Issues of E-Scooters in San Francisco

During Covid, there was also a spike in sales of bicycles, but the same injury statistics do not apply. In fact, research shows that e-scooter riders sustained more injuries per mile than those in a bicycle accident. One big reason for that: a majority of e-scooter riders do not wear helmets. There is a push, from state to state, for scooter safety regulations and legislation that could protect both riders and pedestrians.

Here are some dangers that the personal injury attorneys here at Allegiance Law would like you to know about before you decide to ride:

  • High speed (up to 15mph) without a helmet
  • Road hazards en route (potholes, gravel, steep inclines)
  • Rider inexperience
  • Rider recklessness
  • Low visibility from car traffic and pedestrian traffic
  • Scooter defects or malfunctions

The most common injuries sustained from e-scooter accidents, which a majority are caused by falls, are:

  • Bone fractures
  • Head trauma (especially without a helmet)
  • Cuts, sprains, and bruises

Our San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyers are Here to Help

At Allegiance Law, our attorneys are experienced in a wide variety of facets of San Francisco personal injury law, from auto and motorcycle accidents to bicycle, pedestrian, and e-scooter accidents, and more. We know that being hurt in an accident can be a slow recovery, and our attorneys will be with you every step of the way, helping you navigate the daunting process of insurance claims from both you and the responsible party. We are also committed to getting the most value of your case, without the extravagant attorney fees. All of our personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront and only pay when we have achieved a successful settlement or judgment for you.

If you need help from a San Francisco personal injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by calling our office at 415-404-6395 or contacting us here.

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