Electric scooters are a very popular form of transportation for California city dwellers. It’s a cheap and convenient way to navigate congested city streets. Lime scooters can be found all over California, in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and other cities throughout the world. While many people enjoy zipping around town on these small vehicles, they pose serious safety concerns. Many riders have suffered Lime scooter injuries in the past year.
A safety concern that has recently come to light are reports of braking issues. Users have reported that the scooters suddenly brake while traveling downhill at high speeds. The sudden braking ejects the rider from the scooter and can result in serious injuries. Deaths have even been reported due to the Lime scooter braking issue.
Lime has become aware of the problem and instituted a fix remotely that has cleared up the majority of the issues. However, it is recommended that riders test their brakes before taking off on a scooter. By giving the brakes a tight squeeze before starting, they can ensure that the brakes are properly working.
Lime scooter braking issues have been reported all over the world, particularly in countries such as the United States, Switzerland and New Zealand. The company claims that the issue affects less than 1% of all Lime scooters. While the majority of those riders experiencing braking issues have reported only minor injuries such as bumps and bruises, some have been seriously injured and even killed. Of 155 incidents in Auckland, New Zealand, 30 resulted in injury. One person broke his jaw. Many cities are banning the scooters altogether due to the dangers they pose.
Lime Scooter Injuries
Braking issues are just one of several problems that Lime has encountered in the past year regarding use of its motorized scooters. Just a few months ago, riders reported that the scooter’s footboards would sometimes break apart while in use. Last year, batteries in some scooters were catching fire, forcing the company to take thousands of affected scooters out of circulation.
Some people plan to sue after suffering Lime scooter injuries. Even employees have raised concerns that Lime is not doing enough to make the scooters safe for public use.
Lime understands that the braking issue is a dangerous mechanical problem and has taken aggressive action to identify the cause of the problem by hiring an outside consulting firm. Lime is also working with consumer protection agencies such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to ensure the scooters meet all safety standards.
Nadrich & Cohen has represented many injured motorized scooter riders throughout California. If you or a loved one has been injured while riding a motorized scooter, contact our law office today for a free and confidential consultation by completing the contact form, using the live chat or calling 1-800-718-4658.
Jeffrey Nadrich
Jeffrey Nadrich is a nationally-recognized California plaintiff’s personal injury attorney. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Hastings College of the Law. He has successfully represented thousands of injury clients over the last 40 years.
