Louisville Electric Scooter Accident Lawyers

Sampson Law Firm represents individuals who have been hurt in electric scooter accidents in Louisville and the surrounding areas. We have the experience and skill needed to get you the compensation you deserve, whether your injury was caused by a negligent driver, a scooter rider, or the companies that own and rent the scooters to the public.

Companies like Bird and Lime have distributed scooters all over Louisville, but these vehicles pose serious risks to residents and tourists alike. Drivers and pedestrians don’t expect to see them on the road or sidewalk, and their users often have little to no experience operating them. All it takes is an app and credit card to ride around town. No real training other than general suggestions for use. No license. No test. No experience. No proof you can handle one at all required. Also, Louisville has no helmet law for anyone over age 21.

An electric scooter accident could be life-altering. From broken bones to traumatic brain injuries, the potential for harm is vast. These scooters offer no real protection for riders. They can cause severe accidents if motor vehicles swerve into other lanes to miss them. And they pose potential dangers to pedestrians who could get hit or trip on them due to users leaving them anywhere they want, from business doorways to the middle of the sidewalk.

At the Sampson Law Firm, our lawyers believe that our clients deserve to be fairly compensated for injuries caused by electric scooters. We work hard to get our clients justice for the harm they have endured. The legal process can be daunting and confusing, so one of our injury attorneys will evaluate your case carefully and work with you step by step. If you or a loved one have been injured by an electric scooter, contact Sampson Law Firm at (502) 584-5050 to speak with one of our Louisville electric scooter accident attorneys today.

The Dangers of Electric Scooters

These electric scooters pose a considerable variety of dangers, all of which creates a risk for accidents. Some of the significant dangers of electric scooters include:

• Riders with No Experience – To ride an electric scooter, you only need to do two things – open an app and pay for it. Unlike motorcycles and cars, scooter riders don’t need a license or any training at all. That means inexperienced or unsafe riders are on the roads and sidewalks. Do they know how to navigate in traffic properly? Do they signal when they want to turn? Can they successfully get around pedestrians? Also, a large portion of the people who choose to use these scooters are tourists or people having fun, who are more likely to make mistakes or engage in high-risk behavior, rather than people who merely need transportation.
• Obstacles on the Road – The streets of Louisville, like many larger cities, are often congested with traffic, covered in potholes, or partially blocked off for construction. These and other unexpected obstacles are hard enough for cars to navigate, but when inexperienced scooter drivers with no protection encounter them, disaster can occur.
• Lack of Stability – Like bicycles, electric scooters rely entirely on the rider perfecting their balance and posture to keep them from crashing. With inexperienced riders often at the helm, keeping the scooter steady can be almost impossible. Even once they get the hang of it, risky maneuvers or sharp turns could result in the rider losing their balance and falling into the street in front of other vehicles.
• Lack of Protective Headgear– In 2000, Kentucky passed HB 619, a law that took away the mandate for Kentuckians over the age of 21 to wear a motorcycle helmet. Neither bicycle nor scooter riders are required to wear them either. This means that even the slightest accident can cause incredible harm. If a rider falls and hits their head, then there is a significant risk of traumatic brain injury.
• Visibility Issues – Electric scooter riders are difficult for cars, trucks, and pedestrians to see coming. This creates a high-risk situation. If a car driver needs to stop suddenly or doesn’t realize a scooter rider is coming their way, accidents can happen. This is especially likely to happen if scooter riders attempt to weave through traffic on roads or on sidewalks and people do not expect them.
• Lack of Body Protection – Unlike cars, which are equipped with seatbelts, airbags, and a sturdy frame, electric scooters have nothing to protect their riders. There is nothing to block the rider’s body from the sidewalk or road. A sudden brake or harsh swerve means nothing is standing between the rider and another vehicle or the asphalt. This poses a danger to electric scooter riders.
• Speed – Electric scooters can travel up to 15 miles per hour. That is extremely fast for a sidewalk but extremely slow for the street. A scooter going 15 miles per hour could be difficult for other drivers and pedestrian to accommodate, and difficult for riders themselves to maintain control of, particularly for inexperienced riders.
• Alcohol and Drug-Impaired Drivers – Electric scooter riders face the same dangers that other vehicles on the road face. Even if they are operating their scooters properly, following all traffic laws and choosing to wear a helmet (even though the law says they don’t have to), they must rely on others on the road to drive safely too. We know that doesn’t always happen. Accidents due to drunk drivers and drug-impaired drivers are an ever-present danger. Electric scooter riders are at risk from serious injury, including death, from accidents over which they have no control.

These risks increase the likelihood of electric scooter accidents happening and increase the chance that those accidents will result in  severe injuries for the rider.

Pros and Cons of Electric Scooters in Louisville

In addition to the high risk of severe accidents already mentioned, there are a few other negatives to these electric scooters. For one, though they are not supposed to be ridden on sidewalks, many people ignore these warnings and ride on the sidewalk anyway, creating a risky situation for pedestrians. Additionally, many people complain that riders are parking scooters in many inconvenient places, including in front of building entrances and the middle of walkways. While for some people this is merely an inconvenience, for people with specific disabilities, this can prevent them from getting where they need to go at all.

On the other hand, the electric scooters don’t require gas to operate and don’t emit harmful gasses into our air. Louisville has wanted to try out environmentally friendly transportation options, and these electric scooters are a step in the right direction in that regard.

Why Choose Us?

When you or someone you love is injured, you endure pain, fear, and anxiety about the future. One of your worries should not be how to get compensated for your injuries. Our attorneys at the Sampson Law Firm take your injuries seriously. We understand the tough time you are going through, and we will work diligently to make sure you get justice and fair compensation for your suffering. We will evaluate your case and help you through the legal process by gathering all the necessary evidence, formulating a legal strategy, and negotiating with the opposition.

For 20 years, Sampson Law Firm has handled complex legal cases. We fight for our Louisville community, and we strongly believe that our clients deserve the best legal representation they can get. We care about the residents of Louisville and we do everything we can to get them the compensation they deserve.

We know from experience that people who do not hire a personal injury attorney to represent them usually win far less money in lawsuits. In fact, people who hire a personal injury attorney to handle their case, on average, get three times the amount compared with those who go it alone. It also matters which personal injury attorney you choose. The Sampson Law Firm has experienced, talented lawyers. Let us do the work for you so that you can focus on getting better.

How Long Will My Case Take?

The timeframe for each case varies depending on how complicated it is and the type of work involved in resolving it. Some cases take only a few weeks. Others can take months or longer. Regardless, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Kentucky is two years, so you should not wait to get started on your claim.

How Much Compensation Am I Owed?

Because every case is unique, the potential compensation you could win will depend on the type of injury, the extent of the injury, and the circumstances surrounding it. Depending on the details of your accident, you could be eligible to receive money for your medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

Contact a Louisville Electric Scooter Attorney

The lawyers at Sampson Law Firm are here to listen and give you the support you need. We will help answer your questions and will advise you of your legal options. If you have been injured in an electric scooter accident in Louisville, contact us right away for legal assistance. To schedule a consultation with a member of our scooter accident team, contact us today at (502) 584-5050.