It's been nearly a year and a half since the electric scooter craze began in March of 2018. Scooter juggernauts Bird and Lime have since established their presence in over 100 major metropolitan areas, such as New York City, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Austin, Kansas City, and Portland.
But as swiftly as they began, so have concerns regarding the safety. Despite companies' claims that safety is their top priority, there have been numerous outcries, attempts at legislation, and articles, such as this one, that highlight the dangers they present.
While no national data on scooter injuries currently exists, there has been a sizable number of riders who have been pouring into emergency rooms around the country. Subsequently, personal injury law firms have seen an influx in cases, with injured pedestrians and scooter riders hoping to hold the scooter sharing companies liable.
As we wait for the data and lawsuits to eventually come into fruition, which will probably take years, the list below shares some of the real stories of victims of electric scooter injuries that have been highlighted in the news.
1. Fahin Kamrany
May 18, 2018
Kamrany, an independent contractor working as a mechanic for Bird Scooters, was a victim of a scooter injury when the brakes failed, sending her flying down a Santa Monica sidewalk. She said after she received a notification of a broken Bird scooter, a visual inspection and test drive were the only ways to determine what might be causing a malfunction, as the information regarding what was wrong was not disclosed by the company.
While test driving the scooter, she realized the brakes were not functioning. Consequently, she fell off, breaking her arm and collarbone, hitting her head causing a serious brain injury, and ultimately caused over $15,000 of medical bills.
2. John Montgomery
July 2018
John Montgomery was riding his Bird for only a few blocks in Los Angeles this past summer then the gas handle became stuck. Subsequently, the scooter jolted forward, launching him past the handlebars. Montgomery sustained severe injuries, breaking his jaw in two places, a fractured wrist, and permanent hearing damage. He spent almost a week in the hospital.
3. Courtney & Ally DeWitt
Summer 2018
While visiting Mission Beach in San Diego, Arizona natives Ally and Courtney DeWitt decided to ride on the same scooter. During the ride, they got in a serious crash sending both to the hospital. The mother, Courtney, sustained multiple head fractures and the daughter, Ally, had a ruptured spleen.
4. Jacoby Stoneking
September 2, 2018
Jacoby Stoneking is the first person to have died due to injuries sustained after crashing a Lime electric scooter. Stoneking was riding a Lime scooter when he crashed, claiming he had broken his foot and asked his friend to send an Uber to pick him up. When the Uber arrived, the driver found Stoneking unconscious with the scooter roughly 160 yards away from his body. Stoneking was not wearing a helmet.
5. Brandon Nelson
September 2018
Firefighter Brandon Nelson was riding a Bird scooter with friends in San Diego when he struck a bump in the road, causing him to fly off the scooter. Like many of the riders before, Nelson was not wearing a helmet, and lost consciousness after striking the pavement. Brandon sustained a broken nose, lacerations across his face, and suffered a concussion.
6. Carlos Sanchez-Martin
September 21, 2018
While riding a Lime scooter in Washington, DC, Sanchez-Martin was struck and dragged under an SUV for over a dozen yards. After being pulled from underneath the vehicle of which he was pinned, he later died in the hospital of his injuries.
Headlining cases, such as these, incite questions regarding safety, liability, and legality for scooters. While some victims receive only minor injuries, others are faced with life-long injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, that require years of physical and emotional rehabilitation. According to the Phoenix personal injury lawyers at Begam Marks & Traulsen, "the company itself [Bird] has no way to enforce their rules...Therefore, it is up to the riders to obey the rules"; they recommend riders adhere to all speed limits and always wear a helmet, even if you must request one.
In the past year and a half, the scooter craze has taken hold, both good and bad have come from their existence. While scooters offer people an emission-free and convenient way to go from one place to the next, they also pose a serious personal injury threat to both those who ride and those who get in their way. If you've been a victim of a scooter injury, comment below and share your story.
