The prevalence of Bird scooters has caused many individuals to suffer injuries from accidents and crashes. Some of the riders have been struck by vehicles while others have collided with pedestrians. The scooters have presented other problems as well; people walking on the sidewalk have tripped over discarded scooters, for example. In every case, the goal is to target the responsible party’s insurance company and pursue a fair settlement for the damages you suffered because of the accident. The worth of your lawsuit can vary depending on many circumstances, and there is no set standard for the worth of a Bird scooter accident lawsuit.
Our team of experienced lawyers at Normandie Law Firm has been handling Bird accident claims since the company debuted in Santa Monica. We know the best methods to pursuing a lawsuit with the company and promise to work hard to bring you the compensation you deserve. Clients often call us asking about the value of a Bird scooter accident claim; some of these questions include:
- How much is a Bird scooter accident case worth?
- How much do Bird scooter injury lawsuits settle for?
- What is the average value of a Bird Scooter injury case?
- How much is a Bird scooter accident case worth?
Bird Scooter Details
Bird provides electronic scooters for individuals to unlock and ride. The scooters can be found via an app, which lists the location and battery level of the vehicles. It costs $1 to unlock them and 15 cents per minute to ride them. The scooters can travel up to 15 mph and have become the favorite “last mile” travel option for those who may take public transportation or partially walk to their jobs or other places.
Some riders treat Bird as the primary mode of transportation though, and they have no plans to return to cars. These riders are often lacking the safety regulations put forth by both Bird and by California. For example, you must have a valid driver’s license and be 18 or older to use the scooters. Bird may send you a helmet if you use the service often; helmets save lives and prevent hundreds of thousands of scooter and motorcycle accidents each day. Regardless, many riders choose to forgo wearing a helmet; they may double up with numerous people on the scoter, ride on the sidewalk, try to perform tricks with the scooter, and much more.
You should follow the law while on a scooter. This means no tandem riding, constant helmet misuse, improper parking, proper usage of bike lanes, and more. If you were partially negligent for the accident, Bird will claim that they are not liable for any damages if you were the main reason for them in the first place.
To learn more about Bird scooters and what the requirements are to ride one, contact our law firm in Los Angeles.
Accident Information
Those on Bird scooters can get involved in a large number of accidents. Most commonly, the riders are struck by vehicles while they are in crosswalks or while on the sections of streets with bike lanes. You may not be clearly visible because of how small the scooter is; you can easily cruise into someone’s blind spot and be banged into, or a car could turn into you while you ride alongside it. Further, there have been reports of those on scooters striking pedestrians as the riders zoom around beach areas and crowded downtown sections. They also tend to leave the scooters anywhere once they’ve reached a destination, and the discarded scooters can be hazardous to those on foot. Trip and falls because of scooters are not uncommon.
Some of the injuries that can be suffered from Bird crashes include:
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Sprains
- Fractures
- Concussion
- Closed head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and spinal cord damage
- Muscle strains
- Crushing injuries
- Puncture damages
- Paralysis
Bird has written its terms and services in such a way that they remove themselves from liability if you caused your own injuries. Therefore, if you were riding a scooter without a helmet and did not follow any traffic laws leading up to an accident, you would not be able to sue Bird for any damages. Other circumstances must be met if you wish to file a lawsuit. Our attorneys at Normandie Law Firm can take care of your case for you.
Steps to Take Following a Bird Scooter Accident
It can be troublesome to find yourself in an accident while on a Bird scooter; you may not know what to do and be confused about the best way to stay protected and safe. First, you should alert Bird about the crash by filing an incident report through the app or website. This will allow the company to be aware of the accident – you won’t catch them off guard or have a lack of evidence that you told them about it in the first place.
You should also hold on to the scooter. Even though individuals come out to charge them overnight, the scooter may be a crucial piece of evidence in your case, so you should do everything you can to hold on to it until one of our lawyers can get a hold of it. Many times, you may want to take the scooter home because of a defect. If you can’t take it with you, you should take photos of the scooter.
You should also take pictures of any injuries you suffered. Further, you can call the paramedics if the injuries were severe and receive treatment at the scene or be transported to the hospital. You can request a copy of the medical report.
In the event that you were struck by a car, you could ask the police for a copy of the police report, or request one from the department in the days following the incident.
Most importantly, you should contact a skilled lawyer who can help you handle your claim. One of our lawyers will strive to bring you more than the average compensation for Bird accident case settlements.
Settlement Amounts for Bird Scooter Accident Cases
If you were injured in a Bird scooter accident, you may be curious what the average payout is for such an incident. In truth, there is no way of determining how much a Bird scooter injury case can be worth until the insurance agent makes an offer. You can only make estimates based off the extent of your injuries and the fault of the other party. There is no injury calculator that Bird has that allows them to give you a fair settlement offer.
Further, since Bird is a self-insured company, it does not generally publicize the settlements it makes with anyone who brings legal action against it. It is difficult, therefore, to uncover any Bird electric scooter injury lawsuit settlement amounts.
To get an idea of how much your case can be worth, though, you can consider these factors. For one, your injuries will be weighed by the insurance adjuster. If the damages were particularly severe and extensive and had an impact on your daily life and career, you may be offered a large settlement amount. On the other hand, small injuries that did not negatively affect your ability to work may only yield offers of a few thousand dollars.
Keep in mind that a defect with a scooter will usually be ample grounds to file a claim against Bird, but if another vehicle hit you, you will likely take up the case with the responsible party’s insurance agency.
To learn more and determine the best route forward, call our lawyers at Normandie Law Firm today.
Restitution from a Bird Scooter Crash
With the help of our lawyers, you can secure worthwhile compensation for your injuries from a Bird scooter accident. Because of how exposed you are on the scooter with only a few protective articles, you could potentially suffer extensive damages, especially if you were struck by a vehicle. Some of the expenses you can have covered include:
- Medical bills from any hospital visits, doctor’s treatments, physical therapy sessions, medication, and more
- Future medical bills from additional procedures and follow-ups
- Lost wages at work because of absent days
- Future missed income if you must receive medical treatment or undergo recovery for your injuries
- Property damage for any personal items that were lost or broken in the crash
- Pain and suffering damages, such as anxiety, fear, PTSD, mental scarring, psychological stress, emotional anguish, and more
Further, if a loved one or a family member passed away in an accident while riding a Bird scooter, you could file a claim for wrongful death expenses, which include funeral costs, pre-death pain and suffering and medical bills, loss of expected inheritance and savings, loss of consortium, loss of companionship, and others.
Our team of attorneys at Normandie Law Firm will work hard to bring you the fairest compensation from the responsible party and from Bird.
How We Help You
Our Los Angeles legal group, Normandie Law Firm, has been on top of Bird scooter accident lawsuits since day one. We have paid careful attention to how the laws have been tested and how Bird has defended itself from liability. We know the best methods to bringing you the maximum restitution under the law and we won’t stop working until we are satisfied with the offer from Bird. If we need to go to court to show that Bird was in the wrong and you deserve coverage, we will do so. Our lawyers are aggressive and stop at nothing to successfully defend and represent our clients.
Call us today to schedule a free legal consultation with one of our expert lawyers. If you have questions, we’ll answer them – our attorneys are available around the clock and will give you legal advice on your claim. We will also protect your personal information; all of our consultations are confidential.
If you choose us to represent you, we will give you our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you won’t have to pay any out of pocket expenses for our services. We will only get paid if we win your case, and the money will come from the settlement we bring you. Bird, therefore, will cover your legal bills. If we lose your lawsuit, you can walk away from our firm debt-free, and we will cover the costs of the case ourselves.
For more information on the average settlements for Bird scooter injury lawsuits and what you can do to receive compensation, contact a skilled attorney at Normandie Law Firm.
