The influx of Bird scooters has changed transportation yet again. While Uber and rideshare companies have been competing with taxi services, companies that provide personal transportation vehicles like bikes and scooters have begun to flourish. Bird has populated numerous cities with hundreds of electric scooters; the company’s goal is to eliminate the dependency on motor vehicles and to offer alternative modes of travel. The scooters were introduced without any consideration for laws and regulations, and the company was forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. However, there has been no indication that the scooters are merely a trend. With the large amount of scooters present in the area, it is no surprise that accidents happen – and for many reasons. Our experienced lawyers at Normandie Law Firm can help you file a claim against Bird if you rode a scooter that was defective in some way and contributed to a crash.
Primary Issues with Scooters
There are many reasons that scooter accidents can happen. Some are due to the negligence of riders who leave the scooters on sidewalks, overturned and not standing up by the kickstands. Pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, disabled individuals, and others may trip and fall over the scooters.
In other cases, scooter riders may be struck by vehicles that do not see them or cannot react quickly enough to avoid an impact. These riders may be in the street or avoiding bike lanes, which can be dangerous. They may be struck while crossing intersections or in parking structures.
Beyond the simple driving-related issues, there are some problems with the maintenance of the vehicles; mechanics are specifically hired by Bird as independent contractors to fix various defects with the scooters. However, some of the problems are severe and almost unfixable.
To learn more, contact a Bird accident lawyer today.
Ways that Scooters can Be Defective
Mechanics work as contractors, which means that they are paid for fixing scooters on their own time. This can result in a drop of quality, as they can make quick cash for the fastest repairs possible. If the scooters break down again or have future problems, they can pick them back up and work again. As such, it is important that bird pay close attention to these mechanics and the fixes they are purportedly doing.
The most severe injuries can happen if any of the defects or problems occur during a ride. The riders can be caught completely off guard and may not be able to react to the sudden issue. Some of the ways scooters can break down include:
- Faulty electronics: Because the scooters are electronic, they have chips and motherboards that make them work. The internal electronics need to be updated and maintained or they will short out and cause the scooter to stop functioning.
- Bad brakes: Bird scooters can travel up to 15 mph, which means brakes are absolutely crucial. A drawback of the scooter is that the brake lines may be faulty or not work properly. Being unable to stop can cause severe crashes, especially if you are riding in an urban area.
- Inaccurate battery readings: Birds are usually selected based on the amount of battery life they have. If a scooter displays the wrong battery life, the vehicle can suddenly stop mid-ride, placing you in precarious danger.
- Defective batteries: Batteries that get overcharged can overheat and die out much quicker. There are some batteries that are defective and may not be able to handle the charge, which could result in them catching fire.
- Flat tires: Mechanics usually need to repair the flat tires on Bird scooters, but if a flat happens while riding, a user may lose control of the scooter and crash. Flats can happen because of nails, improper filling of the tires, excessive weight, and more.
- Lighting troubles: Electric scooters need to have some sort of light source to protect riders who travel at dusk or at night. If these lights go out or do not work, there is a much higher risk of colliding with an object, pedestrian, or vehicle.
- Broken tubes: Bird scooters use internal tubes to transmit power throughout the vehicle; a broken tube can mean the end of a ride, and if it happens suddenly, can lead to injuries.
- Stuck throttle: A stuck throttle can result in the rider being unable to slow down and constantly accelerate. This can lead to accidents and extremely unsafe trips.
- Bent handlebars: If a scooter has been in an accident, left on the ground, or struck by a vehicle, the handlebars could be bent, leading to much less stability and more difficulty turning.
- Damaged frame: The frame on which riders stand must be stable. If there are damages to it, a rider could fall off during the trip or be bucked off because of a defect.
Riders should report troubles with scooters to Bird via the app. Mechanics will be alerted to the troubles and tasked with fixing the scooters. However, if the mechanics do a poor job, defective scooters may be released back to the public to be used, which can lead to even more accidents and injuries.
You should call a Bird scooter accident lawyer in Los Angeles for more assistance if you have questions about filing a lawsuit for a defective scooter.
Product Liability Lawsuit
Although Bird scooters are vehicles, they are also products that are available to rent, and as such, any defects can be used as grounds for a lawsuit if you are injured due to the problem. The company will be held responsible for your damages and will be required to cover your expenses.
In order to file a product liability lawsuit, one or more of the following must have been fulfilled:
- The product had a design flaw: In its creation, there were problems that should have been noticed but were not.
- The item had a manufacturing defect: At some point during manufacturing, the item had a problem that went unnoticed; a machine may have caused something to be wrongly placed or improperly screwed on, for example.
- There was no warning or hazard label present on the product: Items must have warnings that details the potential hazards of using the product; these warnings can either be on the label or on the products themselves.
Items that are available for rent need to have proper upkeep by the companies, as well. Bird scooters fall under this category – they are available for daily use, and if there are problems, must be immediately taken off the street so other users cannot harm themselves from using the scooters. If the vehicles are placed back in the street with defects and those defects are the cause of accidents, the company could face many lawsuits.
If there are numerous people who are hurt because of similar defects, a class action lawsuit could be filed. A class action lawsuit would consist of numerous plaintiffs searching for the same common restitution from the defendant. The positive part of a class action lawsuit is the abundance of evidence coming from so many sources; a drawback is the reduced compensation that must be spread amongst multiple parties.
Talk with a skilled Los Angeles Bird lawsuit attorney to learn more about your legal options.
Evidence for a Claim
In order to have the best chance at winning your claim, you will need to provide ample evidence to show that you were hurt due to the defect of a Bird scooter. Of course, if you can manage to hold on to the scooter before a mechanic takes it away, it will be crucial evidence; our lawyers will be able to conduct tests to see what the problems are.
After you have been hurt, you should take pictures of your injuries to show the impact the accident had. You should hold on to any medical reports or hospital bills as well, as these will give support to your claim.
Each Bird ride will come with a receipt that you should print out. Birds also have codes on them that are scanned so the vehicles can be unlocked, and if you have images linking the scooter to the barcode, your claim will be greatly helped.
You can file a complaint with Bird, but we recommend finding an accomplished scooter accident attorney in Los Angeles.
Compensation from a Lawsuit
A Bird scooter with defects can cause severe injuries in the event of a crash, and you should be fairly compensated for any damages you suffer as a result of the company’s negligence in not providing you with a safe vehicle. With the help of our qualified lawyers, you could receive the following types of restitution:
- Coverage of medical bills
- Reimbursement of lost income
- Repair of damaged property
- Payment for emotional pain and suffering
You should not try to handle a claim by yourself. You may not have the time, experience, or knowledge required to win a lawsuit, and you may even be too injured to take legal action without any help. The stress could make your injuries worse and prolong the healing process, if not outright impede it.
Don’t hesitate to call us at Normandie Law Firm to help you take action against Bird for a broken scooter.
The Premier Law Group in L.A.
Normandie Law Firm is one of the most highly rated law groups in the City of Los Angeles. We have been at the forefront of personal injury lawsuits and product liability claims for years, and our experienced lawyers constantly win cases that other attorneys can’t. We handle Bird scooter lawsuits and have done so since the vehicles began popping up around Santa Monica. If you were injured in a Bird scooter crash because of a defect with the scooter, call our law group. We will help you sue Bird for your injuries.
Our lawyers are available around the clock and will give you a free consultation about your case when you call. We will look over your claim and tell you what we believe it is worth, and if you have questions about the legal process, we will inform you. Our firm also operates on the basis of our zero fee guarantee which promises that none of our clients will pay any out of pocket fees for their cases. We will handle your case with no cost to you, and if we win, our legal bills are paid by the insurance settlement we bring you; if we lose, you owe us nothing at all.
For more details on defective Bird scooter lawsuits, reach out to our offices in Los Angeles.
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