Nadrich & Cohen represents those injured in Bird scooter accidents. If you have been injured in an accident involving a Bird electric scooter, we can help you recover financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering and more.
If you live in California, you may have seen a barrage of scooters whizzing by you while you sit in rush hour traffic. As if cars, trucks, bicycles, skateboards and pedestrians weren’t enough for the busy streets of Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, we now have Bird scooters.
These scooters are unlike the Razor scooters you or your kids grew up with. Bird scooters weight about 25 pounds and can reach top speeds of 15 mph. They’re definitely not child’s play, given that you must be at least 18 years old to ride one and you must use a credit card to reserve one.
Drivers are still trying to get used to having these fast, compact scooters on the roadway, unsure of whether to treat them like a motorcycle that they drive behind or a bicyclist that they can pass. As a result, there have been a number of Bird electric scooter accidents.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Bird scooter accident in California, please contact the scooter accident lawyers at Nadrich & Cohen now for a free and confidential consultation. We are available to answer all of your questions and evaluate your case. We will not charge you a fee until and unless we recover money to compensate you for your injuries.
Call us now.
Compensation Available In A Bird Electric Scooter Accident Case
Those injured in Bird e-scooter accidents are entitled to financial compensation for their injuries under California law if the accident was the result of someone else’s negligence. If you are a scooter rider who has been injured, and maybe even suffered a serious injury, you may qualify for financial compensation for:
Medical Bills
Those who are injured in accidents involving e-scooters often end up owing a lot of money in medical bills. Injured scooter riders can even require additional medical treatments in the future which generate even more bills. If you have been injured in an e-scooter crash, we can help you recover compensation for all past and future medical expenses related to your accident.
Lost Wages
Electric scooter risks include the risk of injury. You may get injured so badly you’re unable to work for a while. You might also get injured bad enough to have to take time off from work to attend medical appointments. An e-scooter accident lawyer at Nadrich & Cohen can help you recover compensation for any lost wages connected to your accident.
Loss Of Earning Capacity
One type of compensation common in personal injury cases is loss of earning capacity. This means that if you are no longer able to work after your accident, or you’re unable to do the job you used to, our law firm can help you recover compensation for any loss or reduction of your earning capacity.
Pain And Suffering
Scooter-related injuries, such as serious head injuries and back injuries, can cause accident victims to experience physical pain and mental suffering. We can help you recover compensation for any pain and suffering related to your accident.
Wrongful Death
If you have lost a loved one to a Bird scooter accident, we are sorry for your loss. A personal injury lawyer at Nadrich & Cohen can help you recover compensation for your loved one’s funeral bills, burial bills, medical bills, pain and suffering. A personal injury attorney at Nadrich & Cohen can also help you recover compensation for the loss of your loved one’s love, companionship, household services and income.
How Do Bird Scooters Work?
They are compact, electric scooters which were created in China by Bird, a company that is already well-known in Santa Monica and Venice. You can also find these humming vehicles throughout Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Bird also has even placed scooters on the UCLA campus for students’ convenience.
You can use an app to locate a Bird scooter in your area. Once you find one, you must unlock it before you can operate it. You have the option to type in a PIN or scan a QR code. Then, you must enter a credit card and the scooter will then “phone home” to verify the purchase and activate the scooter for use.
The starting fee is $1 and you pay 15 cents per minute to use one. While water-resistant, the scooters don’t operate well in heavy rain. They also have no lights and cannot be driven at night.
When you’re done, Bird claims that you can leave the scooter anywhere. This has resulted in users simply leaving them on sidewalks and even in trees.
They have a range of 15 miles, so while they’re great for quick errands, they may not be enough to get you to work. Bird hires people to pick them up and charge them every night.
Bird’s Regulations For Motorized Scooter Users
Bird has some rules that riders are supposed to follow, but many riders frequently disregard the company’s safe-riding policies. For example, Bird scooter users must have a valid driver’s license, be age 18 or older, wear a helmet, obey all traffic laws and refrain from riding downhill. They also cannot have any passengers – just one person per scooter.
Furthermore, they must be ridden on streets in bike lanes. Riding on sidewalks is a huge safety issue. However, many users break these rules. Kids have been seen riding these scooters. Many do not wear helmets. Some have friends as passengers.
Bird’s Legal Woes And Scooter Accidents
Bird scooters are not without their issues. Many people have been injured by these scooters. Some have suffered broken bones and concussions. One person had a Bird scooter thrown at his car, breaking a window and causing hundreds of dollars in damage. Bird, however, claims no responsibility for these accidents, and victims are angry.
Cities are fed up with the company’s lack of responsibility. The city of Santa Monica sued Bird, claiming that it owes $6,000 in fines and has been illegally operating without proper permits. Bird recently settled with the city for $300,000 and was forced to run a safety campaign.
Ticketing Of Bird Scooter Operators
Many riders are violating state laws and Bird is failing to comply with citations. Riders are using the scooters as toys, causing serious accidents in the process. As a result, the scooters have become a menace for police officers, who already have their hands full. They are having to write up citations for those who are using Bird scooters unsafely.
Using Bird scooters can also be a liability issue for users. By signing the company’s agreement, you hold yourself responsible for any damage caused by the scooter beyond normal wear and tear. Therefore, if you hit someone or someone hits you, you’re on the hook. If the scooter is stolen, you’re responsible for the $500 replacement fee.
In attempt to promote safety and accountability for Bird riders, the company has already updated its login process to require users to scan their driver’s licenses. Bird also sends free helmets to users.
How Much Does It Cost For Nadrich & Cohen To Represent Me?
Nadrich & Cohen do not charge those injured in accidents involving motorized scooters until and unless we recover financial compensation for them. This means that you will never owe us any out-of-pocket money. If we don’t recover any money to compensate you for your e-scooter injuries, we simply won’t charge you any fee.
What Happens If I Have An E-Scooter Accident While Operating A Bird Scooter?
It’s really no different than any other type of roadway accident. If you hit another person or vehicle, you must stop and exchange contact and insurance information. If anyone is seriously injured, call 911. A traffic collision report should also be made.
Contact the Bird scooter accident legal team at Nadrich & Cohen if you or a loved one has been injured while operating a scooter. We will provide you with a free consultation and advise you of your legal options.
Call us today.
