Bird scooters are prominent all around Southern California – they are found in busy downtown areas, near the beaches and boardwalks, at convenient metro locations, and in parks and recreational areas. Because of the booming popularity, more and more scooters are being manufactured and placed on the streets. However, this just raises the potential for more defects with the products, especially if they are rushed out. There have already been numerous accidents involving scooters that had issues and defects, and various claims have been filed against Bird for the ensuing injuries. You should not be expected to cover your own expenses if you were hurt in an accident that was caused because of a defective scooter. Our team of attorneys at Normandie Law Firm in Los Angeles can help you file a lawsuit against Bird scooter for injury caused by a broken scooter.
Bird Scooter Details
Bird scooters can be found via an app on a smart phone and unlocked for a fee of $1. They are then able to be ridden for 15 cents per minute. The scooters are electronic and can go up to 15 mph; they have hand brakes and reflectors on a few parts, and are meant for one person to ride at a time. They even have the rules listed on the scooter itself if you do not read the terms and conditions in the app, or if you are not familiar with the rules and regulations of scooters in California or other states.
You may not ride without a helmet and you may not have more than one person on the scooter at a time. You should be over the age of 18 with a valid driver’s license, and you must operate the scooter with at least one hand at all times. You also need to follow traffic laws – ride in the bike lane and never on the sidewalk, obey right of way laws, avoid pedestrian traffic when possible, and park the scooters in legal spaces that are out of the way of people and cars.
Scooter Defects
Scooters have two wheels and are electronically powered, so there is not much room for things to go wrong, but malfunctions can still happen. For example, if the charge is too low, you won’t be able to travel too far, but the charge may display a number much higher than it actually is because of a glitch in the system. This could lead to a sudden stop if the scooter dies or powers down while riding it, which can cause an accident.
Some other kinds of defects with Bird scooters include:
- Faulty brakes: It is very important that the brakes of a Bird scooter work properly and do not have any delay or fault. If you can’t stop your scooter, you may very well collide with a vehicle, person, object, or something else, resulting in a crash with various possible injuries.
- Glitchy throttle system: Scooters can travel quite quickly, but the sudden burst of speed may be too much of you if the throttle is broken. This can be make it difficult to control the scooter in crowded areas and may make you suddenly burst forward unintentionally.
- Improperly built handlebars: Handlebars need to be stable and control the scooter effectively. If they were shoddily built or if they were damaged, it could hard to handle the scooter.
- Loose wheels and flat tires: The wheels of the scooter may not be tightened all the way, which can cause wobble and a loss of control. Similarly, flat tires could easily cause the scooter to spin out and crash.
- Unaffixed body and chassis: There may have been a problem during the assembly process wherein the parts of the scooter were not properly connected to one another. If they separate during a ride, there could be disastrous consequences.
- Broken kickstand: Scooters have kickstands that allow them to stay upright while they’re parked, but if the kickstand breaks, the scooter could fall onto your foot or leg, causing injuries.
- Lighting and reflector problems: There are times when the scooters are driven in low light, which requires there to be ample reflection and lighting on the vehicles. If they are not well-lit, they could be struck by other vehicles due to their relative invisibility.
- Defective batteries and electronics: If any of the internal tubes, batteries, or electronics in a Bird scooter malfunction, there could be a small fire or an electrical shock that courses through the vehicle. You may suddenly be injured if an electrical defect occurs out of nowhere.
If any of the defects led to a crash, you could sue Bird scooter for the accident. Our lawyers can help you take legal action.
Can I sue bird scooter for an injury caused by a defective scooter?
Yes, you can sue Bird for an injury caused by a broken scooter. The company has a duty to provide its customers with working products that do not pose any danger in and of themselves. Injuries stemming from these defects can be grounds for a lawsuit.
Can I sue Bird for an accident if their scooter was broken and damaged?
Yes, you can sue Bird for an accident if the scooter was broken and damaged prior to you using it or if it got that way during the trip. Some scooters may not appear to be broken and can still be unlocked and ridden. For instance, bad brakes will not preclude a scooter from being taken, but the problem can cause an accident once a ride starts.
Can I sue if I fell off a Bird scooter and I got injured?
Yes, you can sue if you fell off a Bird scooter and got injured, provided you fell because of a defect with the scooter or because of an impending accident that you had to avoid. You may fall from a scooter because of broken wheels, damaged handlebars, faulty brakes, and other reasons, all of which can contribute to crashes that may be severe if you are traveling at the speed of 15 mph.
Can you sue Bird for accidents on an electric scooter?
Yes, you can sue Bird for accidents on an electric scooter. There are various ways that accidents could happen – defects with the scooter, a motor vehicle crash, an impact with a pedestrian, and more. The circumstances of the accident will point to who you can sue.
Steps to Take from a Scooter Crash
If you were involved in an accident while on a Bird scooter, you should follow a set of steps to ensure that you have the best chance at winning your lawsuit. It is important that you do all you can to preserve evidence so that Bird will not be able to claim that you were hurt elsewhere or that you were obviously not on a scooter at the time.
- Report the incident to Bird so they have a record that there was an accident, and that you were on a scooter when it happened
- Preserve the scooter by either taking it home or holding on to it in some way; if you cannot do so, make sure to take pictures of the scooter
- Get medical help for your injuries and photograph the damages to your body
- Contact the police department if another vehicle were involved in the crash
- Screenshot the ride information on your phone
- Reach out to an attorney who can help you file a claim against Bird scooter for your injuries
A lawyer will be able to file a lawsuit on your behalf, whether it’s a basic personal injury claim or a product liability lawsuit. It will be much easier for an attorney to prove that the company were negligent in its duty of care, namely by providing defective scooters for rides.
Potential Compensation from a Scooter Accident
If you were hurt in a Bird scooter crash, you could be entitled to numerous kinds of financial compensation from the company. Your injuries could result in various debts and expenses, and Bird could cover them if they did not provide you with a safe, functioning scooter. You may be able to receive coverage for the following expenses:
- Medical bills from the past and future
- Lost wages from the past and future
- Property damage for any broken or lost personal items
- Pain and suffering damages for emotional and psychological stress
A skilled lawyer can be crucial to your case. We will do all we can to secure you the maximum settlement available under the law, and we will not stop pursuing your rightful compensation until we are satisfied with the result.
Sites of Bird Accidents
Bird crashes happen all throughout the country, but we have been contacted by individuals who suffered crashes in the following locations in Texas and California.
- Arlington
- Austin
- Dallas
- Plano
- Alameda
- Albany
- Burlingame
- El Cerrito
- Imperial Beach
- Los Angeles
- Santa Monica
- Beverly Hills
- Monrovia
- Mountain View
- National City
- Oakland
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Mateo
- Santa Monica
- San Francisco
- Lake Tahoe
- Walnut Creek
If you have been hurt in a Bird scooter accident in any of the above locations, contact our lawyers at Normandie Law Firm today.
The Top-Rated Firm for You
Normandie Law Firm in Los Angeles is home to a team of experienced lawyers who will dedicate their time to your Bird scooter accident lawsuit. We will strive to win you a settlement from the company if you were hurt because of a defective scooter. We have been dealing with these cases since they first began popping up, and we know the best methods to securing you the compensation you deserve. Our aggressive lawyers will not stop pursuing a worthwhile settlement, and if we have to go to court, we are willing to fight for your rights in front of a judge and jury.
Get in touch with our law offices today to schedule a free legal consultation with an expert lawyer. You can ask us questions about your claim and we’ll tell you how much we believe we can earn for you. Our attorneys are available around the clock and can always offer you beneficial legal advice. You will also never have to worry about your personal details being shared anywhere – our consultations are totally confidential.
If you hire us to represent you, you will also get our zero fee guarantee. This states that you won’t have to pay any out of pocket expenses at all throughout the legal process. We will only get paid if we win your case, and the money will come out of the settlement or verdict we win for you. Bird, therefore, will cover your legal bills. In the event that we lose, you won’t have to pay us a dime, and you can walk away while we eat the losses from the case.
Reach out to a qualified attorney at Normandie Law Firm to get started filing your Bird scooter crash lawsuit or if you were a victim of an accident due to a defective scooter.
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