San Mateo Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer

San Mateo Attorneys Representing Victims of Serious Injuries

Many people have turned to modes of transportation for getting around cities that are cost-effective and convenient, such as electric scooters. Although they are becoming more prevalent, the use of electric scooters is not without risk, and many people have been injured in accidents involving them. If you sustained injuries in an electric scooter accident due to another person’s careless acts, you can speak to an attorney to discuss whether you may have a viable claim for damages. The San Mateo electric scooter accident lawyers at Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, LLP have over 75 years of total experience helping people injured in accidents in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Causes of Accidents Involving Electric Scooters

The California Vehicle Code prohibits people without driver’s licenses from operating electric scooters, and it prohibits people from transporting any passengers or carrying any packages that would prevent them from having at least one hand on the electric scooter’s handlebars. The Vehicle Code also prohibits people from leaving electric scooters lying on the sidewalk or in a position that does not allow room for pedestrian traffic. These provisions were enacted for the safety of both people operating electric scooters and people walking on sidewalks. When people disregard these provisions, it can lead to electric scooter accidents. These accidents are generally caused by the unsafe operation of scooters, defective sidewalks or roadways, or scooters that are left unattended on sidewalks.

Recovering Damages Following an Electric Scooter Accident

Regardless of whether a person suffers harm while riding an electric scooter or due to an accident caused by the reckless operation or management of an electric scooter, he or she will likely pursue a negligence claim against the party that caused the accident. The electric scooter accident attorneys at our San Mateo firm can help victims gather evidence of negligence. In California, a plaintiff alleging negligence must demonstrate a duty owed by the defendant, a breach of the duty, and actual harm suffered as a result of the breach.

Typically, the duty owed is the duty to act with reasonable care under the circumstances. In cases in which a person violated a statute, the violation may constitute negligence per se, which means that the person is presumed to be negligent. Specifically, a presumption of negligence will be found if the violation of the statute caused an injury, the statute was drafted to prevent the type of injury that the person suffered, and the person was a member of the class that the statute was designed to protect. For example, if a defendant leaves an electric scooter on a sidewalk, and a pedestrian trips and falls over the scooter, subsequently suffering injuries, the defendant may be liable under a theory of negligence per se.

A San Mateo electric scooter accident attorney who successfully proves that a defendant negligently caused an accident can secure damages for the plaintiff for the harm caused by the accident. These often include the cost of any medical treatment that the plaintiff needed to undergo for his or her injuries, in addition to any treatment that the plaintiff may need in the future. If the plaintiff could not work because of his or her injuries, he or she may be awarded compensation for lost wages as well. Additionally, the plaintiff may be able to recover damages for the pain and suffering caused by the accident.

Contact a Knowledgeable Personal Injury Lawyer

Electric scooters provide ease of travel through cities and residential areas, but they pose a significant risk of harm to the people using them and to pedestrians. If you suffered harm in an electric scooter accident, you should speak to an attorney to discuss which claims you may be able to assert in pursuit of damages. The personal injury attorneys at Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos, LLP can gather the evidence needed to present a persuasive claim. You can contact our San Mateo personal injury lawyers through our online form or at (650) 345-8484 to schedule a meeting with an electric scooter accident lawyer in the San Mateo area.