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RIDESHARING ELECTRIC SCOOTERS CAN POSE DANGERS

On Behalf of | Oct 20, 2018 | Pedestrian Accident |

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Consider this – one major ridesharing company saw two deaths occur because of incidents with their scooters. Neither of the deaths was in California, but it may only be a matter of time considering Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that eliminates the requirement that electronic scooter riders have to wear helmets.

San Diego is riding a fine line between regulation and the desire to have more businesses invest in the city when it comes to ridesharing scooters. While many cities have rushed to regulate them out of concerns for their citizens’ safety, San Diego has not figured out a way to address those concerns.

A spokesman for the mayor had this to say about the scooters:

“We don’t want to do anything that’s going to stop them from doing business here, but we want to figure out ways to make people be more responsible and safe with how they’re riding.”

These scooters are just one more danger that pedestrians face on our streets. When you need an experienced San Diego pedestrian accident attorney, you can count on Hiden, Rott & Oertle , LLP.

THE DANGERS

Pedestrians do not have any protection from dangers on and around the roadways. When they get hit, whether by a vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, or something else, the impact is direct and can cause serious injuries. The following are more common in pedestrian accidents than in regular vehicle accidents:

  • Broken or dislocated bones
  • Major internal organ damage
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries

Medical care to fix can range from surgery to extended rehabilitation. Sometimes, there are permanent disabilities and people are unable to return to work.

In California, there were 14,215 pedestrian injuries and 867 fatalities in the latest reporting year. In San Diego, there were 1,269 pedestrians injured or killed.

Distracted drivers are a major problem for pedestrians. If a driver is looking at their phone, they may not see a pedestrian crossing in the right of way in time to slow down. Every year, California sees around 30,000 texting convictions.

Impaired drivers have always posed risks to pedestrians in and around the roadway. Consider that there are usually over 150,000 DUI arrests in California each year and you begin to understand the scope of the problem.

Of course, as ridesharing e-scooters begin to crowd the streets and sidewalks with inexperienced riders, we will likely see more and more pedestrian accidents and injuries.

WHAT TO DO

If you are hurt while you are out walking or jogging and it was due to someone else’s negligence, seek legal assistance today. At Hiden, Rott & Oertle , LLP, we know tan dealing with any injury can be tough to deal with. Medical expenses can pile up quickly and if you have no way to pay them, it can lead to financial instability. We will work with you to recover compensation for all of your accident-related expenses when you need a distinguished pedestrian accident attorney in San Diego. You can contact us for a free consultation by calling at our office.

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