Scooter Accidents

Over the past decade, scooters have become increasingly popular in Fort Lauderdale and across the state. Companies like Lime, Bolt, Lyft, Bird and Wheels began operations in Florida in the late 2010s and immediately received tremendous interest. However, scooters, particularly e-scooters, can be extremely dangerous. In fact, in the relatively short period of time since e-scooters have been available in South Florida, there have been a number of fatal scooter accidents and countless others resulting in serious injury to the rider.

At the Blakeley Law Firm, P.A., our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers aggressively represent the interests of scooter accident victims, helping them recover meaningful compensation for what they’ve been through. We understand that the weeks and months after an accident is an incredibly stressful and uncertain time and that pursuing a legal claim may not be at the front of your mind. However, we’ve developed an efficient system that maximizes your chances of recovery while minimizing the stress placed on you and your family.

Many large cities in Florida recently allowed e-scooter companies to open operations, including Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Jacksonville. However, each of the cities that initially permitted e-scooters has at least considered banning them due to the number of scooter accidents. For example, in January 2022, Miami revoked the operating licenses of several e-scooter companies over safety concerns. And both Jacksonville Beach and Fort Lauderdale considered banning e-scooters entirely.

There are several safety concerns around the use of e-scooters. First, almost anyone can rent an e-scooter, regardless of their experience. Thus, the widespread availability of e-scooters may result in inexperienced riders taking to the road, putting themselves and others at risk. Second, as the number of e-scooters on Fort Lauderdale streets increases, it will inevitably result in more scooter accidents, even if the rider is being as responsible as possible. In part, this is due to the confusion that the presence of scooters can cause motorists. For example, drivers may not yield the right-of-way to a scooter rider or may not see them because they are not used to keeping an eye out for scooters.

Liability in a scooter accident is very fact-dependent. Scooter accident cases, like other car accident claims, are based on the legal theory of negligence. In Florida, a party is negligent when they breach a duty of care owed to another person, and that breach results in the victim’s harms. Generally, anyone who uses the road—motorists and scooter riders—owe a duty of care to everyone else on the road. Thus, these cases typically come down to whether it was the motorist or the rider who violated the duty of care. In some cases, both parties can share responsibility for an accident, in which case, either can bring a personal injury claim against the other to recover compensation for their injuries. Of course, in most scooter accidents, the driver of a car, truck or SUV is fine, and it is the rider who suffers serious injuries.

If you or a loved one was recently seriously injured in a scooter accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation that will cover all your accident-related expenses. At the Blakeley Law Firm, P.A., our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys aggressively represent injured riders, ensuring that their cases receive the attention they deserve. We have over two decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies to secure favorable settlement offers for our clients, often avoiding the need for a long, drawn-out trial. However, we also recognize a lowball offer when we see one and will provide you with sound advice on how you can proceed with your case if the insurance company is unwilling to offer you fair compensation. To learn more, and to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today, call (800) 602-5000. You can also reach us through our online contact form. We have offices conveniently located in Fort Lauderdale, Miami Gardens, West Palm Beach and Jacksonville.