A class action lawsuit recently filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court accuses the nation’s largest e-scooter companies, Lime and Bird, of “gross negligence” and “aiding and abetting assault” for “dumping” scooters on public streets without proper warning, creating a dangerous “public nuisance.”
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been injured in a scooter accident, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and our lawyers can help.
Update: CDC Study Identifies Crash Risk with E-Scooters
May 3, 2019 – A recent study by the CDC and Austin, Texas, Department of Health and Transportation found the crash risk associated with e-scooters to be around 20-in-100,000. The researchers identified at least 271 people who reported suffering scooter-related injuries between Sept. 5, 2018, and Nov. 30, 2018, the study found.
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Lime, Bird
The class action was filed against Lime and Bird on behalf of a group of plaintiffs who allegedly suffered personal injury and/or property damage as a result of the companies’ negligence. The complaint includes not just scooter riders but also pedestrians who claim to have sustained extensive injuries including broken wrists, toes and fingers, torn ligaments, face lacerations, and “damaged” teeth.
In addition to Bird and Lime being accused of “aiding and abetting assault,” the suit also notes that leaving the scooters on public sidewalks and streets is a “public nuisance” which violates the California Civil Code, and that the plaintiffs are representative of “scores (if not hundreds) of riders and pedestrians and members of the public [who] have suffered, are continuing to suffer and will to continue to suffer egregious and avoidable injuries and damage to their person and property.”
Types of Scooter Injuries
- Broken wrists, toes and fingers
- Torn ligaments
- Face lacerations
- Skin abrasions (“road rash”)
- Damaged teeth
- Property damage
- Death
Lime Scooter Recall
Lime has recently issued at least 2 recalls for its scooters over problems that could lead to severe personal injuries and/or significant property damage.
In Oct. 2018, Lime recalled thousands of scooters over concerns that a “manufacturing defect” in some of its scooters “could result in the battery smoldering, or in some cases catching fire.” The company eventually pulled about 2,000 scooters over the issue, but said that the risk of such an occurrence was only possible in a tiny percentage of cases, according to the Washington Post.
“All vulnerable scooters were quickly removed from circulation, minimally impacting service to our Los Angeles, San Diego and Lake Tahoe markets,” Lime said in a statement. “At no time were riders or members of the public put at risk.”
A month after that recall, Lime recalled scooters manufactured by Okai after multiple reports surfaced of the devices breaking in half under normal riding conditions. Lime said it would decommission all of its Okai Scooters as a result of the problem; however, it added that determining the precise number of scooters affected would be difficult, and declined to provide an estimate as to the exact number affected.
“Safety is Lime’s highest priority,” the company said in a statement. “The vast majority of Lime’s fleet is manufactured by other companies and decommissioned Okai scooters are being replaced with newer, more advanced scooters considered best in class for safety. We don’t anticipate any real service disruptions.”
What Should I Do After a Scooter Accident?
If you or a loved one was injured in a scooter accident, it is critical that you take the following steps to ensure your eligibility to file a claim seeking compensation for your injuries:
- Take photos of the accident scene, the scooter(s)/vehicles involved, and any injuries sustained.
- Get a copy of the police report (if available).
- Seek medical treatment immediately, if needed.
- Use your personal injury protection to pay initial bills, and then use your health insurance. Get copies of all records and bills.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other person’s insurance.
- Make sure you understand there are strict time limits in which to file a claim – statutes of limitations vary by state and type of accident.
Can I File a Class Action?
Although Schmidt & Clark, LLP, is a nationally recognized class action firm, we have decided against this type of litigation when it comes to scooter injuries. Our lawyers feel that if there is a successful resolution to these cases, individual suits, not class actions will be the best way to get maximum payouts to our clients. If you’ve been injured in a scooter accident, we know you’ve suffered emotionally and economically, and want to work with you personally to obtain the maximum compensation for the damages caused by your injuries. Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights.
Do I Have a Scooter Injury Lawsuit?
The Personal Injury and Product Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in scooter accident lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.
Free Case Evaluation: Again, if you were harmed in a scooter accident, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.