It seemed like electric scooters took the nation by storm last year, but media coverage has slowly died down concerning these devices. However, at Mayer & Rosenberg, P.C., we know that electric scooters like Bird have become popular in and around our area. Here, our Kansas City bird scooter accident lawyers want to discuss these devices as well as some of the dangers they pose to riders and ordinary citizens in Kansas City.
Shared electric scooters remain popular
If you would have asked safety experts last year what they thought would happen to electric scooters in major cities throughout the country, they may have told you they thought they would be banned. Indeed, many jurisdictions have placed severe restrictions on electric scooters. However, that is not the case in Kansas City. Electric scooters like Bird have become immensely popular, and we now have data showing us just how popular they are.
Kansas City officials began counting the number of trips people take on electric scooters last July (2019). Since that time, residents and visitors to the city have taken more than 350,000 trips on shared scooters and bikes throughout the city. On average, users rode for approximately six minutes every trip.
However, having a safe place to ride electric scooters is a different question altogether. Advocates for this type of transportation are pushing for more protected bike lanes that get scooters and shared bikes off the sidewalks. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been more than 40,000 scooter-related accidents in the US over the last four years.
Bird scooters can be particularly dangerous in and around the roadways. There are no training requirements for scooter riders, and riders do not even have to wear helmets. These scooters have caused injuries to many different parties in Kansas City, including:
- Inexperienced riders
- Riders struck by vehicles
- Pedestrians struck by scooter riders
- Pedestrians tripping over discarded scooters
Scooter accidents often lead to severe injuries. It is not uncommon for the Kansas City bird scooter accident attorneys at Mayer & Rosenberg, P.C. to help clients who have sustained the following injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Open head wounds
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Severe lacerations or amputations
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Road rash
We will help secure the compensation you need
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an incident involving an electric scooter, contact an attorney as soon as possible. At Mayer & Rosenberg, P.C., we are ready to investigate what happened in order to secure the compensation you need. This could include:
- All medical expenses related to the scooter accident
- Lost wages and benefits if you cannot work
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of personal enjoyment damages
- Possible punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or defective scooters
When you need a Kansas City Bird scooter accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 816-941-8949.