Lime e-scooters made their debut in Boulder, Colorado back in the Fall of 2021. Since then, their popularity has grown exponentially. It is not uncommon to see a number of e-scooters zipping down Boulder’s roadways and sidewalks at all hours of the day and night; however, the scooters were geo-fenced so riders were limited to a certain geographical area.
Recently, the City Council of Boulder gave the City of Boulder’s Transportation and Mobility team the go-ahead to expand the Lime e-scooter city wide, including west of 28th Street. The number of Lime scooters available to Boulder tripled to 900 scooters with the expansion, as well. With this, the number of people injured in e-scooter accidents has also increased. As a result, there is a greater need now than ever for attorneys experienced in e-scooter accident personal injury law.
Key Guidelines and Safety Tools for E-Scooters
As we mentioned when Lime scooters debuted in Boulder, safety precautions must be taken by both riders of e-scooters and drivers of motor vehicles to prevent serious injuries on our roadways and sidewalks.
Some important safety guidelines include:
E-scooters should be ridden in the bike lane or multi-use paths when available.
If a bike lane is NOT available, riders of e-scooters may use the street or sidewalk.
Scooter riders must follow the rules of the road and yield to pedestrians.
E-scooters are not allowed on Open Space and Mountain Parks trails.
In addition, it is important for riders to follow the rules regarding slow zones and no-go zones.
Common Injuries Resulting from E-Scooter Accidents
Even with safety precautions, serious injuries to those riding e-scooters do happen. Head injuries and bone fractures are the most common injuries, but internal organ damage is also fairly common, as well.
Who May Be Liable in an e-Scooter Accident?
If you are involved in an e-Scooter accident because someone was negligent or careless, you may be entitled to compensation. A personal injury attorney experienced in e-scooter claims will be able to help you determine liability and whether you have a personal injury claim. Potential parties who may be at-fault include:
Motor vehicle operators
Pedestrians
Bicyclists
E-scooter Operators
E-scooter service providers or manufacturers
What Kind of Damages are Available to Me if I am in an E-Scooter Accident?
While every case is unique and evaluated on a case-by-case basis, you may be entitled to compensation if you were injured in an e-scooter accident because of someone else’s carelessness.
You may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include things such as medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages include things such as pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, loss of consortium, and scarring and disfigurement. There is also a separate category of damages called physical impairment that you may receive.
Contact a Boulder E-Scooter Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a Boulder e-scooter accident because of someone’s carelessness, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Debbie Taussig Law immediately and we will fight the insurance companies so that you can focus on healing. The team at Debbie Taussig Law is experienced in e-scooter accidents. We will evaluate your claim for free and get your fair compensation for your injuries. Call us today at 303-442-0176.
