Electric scooters are all the rage in Los Angeles. Companies like Bird and Lime have made a big push to market their scooters to young people who care about their health and the environment. Unfortunately, safety laws in California are racing to catch up with the hot new form of transportation.
What happens when you have inexperienced users, congested roadways, and a lack of uniform and well-known safety rules? A lot of electric scooter accidents.
You may not realize that the things you do after you’re involved in a Los Angeles scooter accident matter. Those decisions you make can impact your health and any injury claims you may decide to pursue.
Here’s what you should do if you’re injured in Bird or Lime electric scooter accident in Los Angeles.
Report the Electric Scooter Crash
Immediately call the police and report the collision. Ask to have an officer sent to the scene of the accident. When an officer arrives, they’ll ask questions and analyze the situation. They’ll record details in a police report, which can come in handy if you decide to seek compensation in the future.
A police report traditionally isn’t admissible as evidence in a lawsuit. However, it can contain valuable details about your scooter accident that you might not be able to recall weeks or months down the line, such as:
- Weather conditions
- Nearby construction
- Helpful diagrams or drawings
- Traffic at the time of the accident, and
- Names and contact information of witnesses.
The report might even include the officer’s preliminary assessment of fault.
See a Doctor
Emergency rooms in Los Angeles report that scooter accident victims tend to suffer a lot of head and neck injuries. Internal injuries and bleeding are also quite common. It’s important to get checked out as soon as you can after a scooter accident.
A thorough medical evaluation will make sure that your injuries are discovered and treated properly. This will help to limit the chances of developing potentially life-threatening complications.
Seeing a doctor right away can also help if you decide to file an injury claim. The report generated because of your visit will help you establish the causation you’ll need to recover compensation.
Document the Accident
Don’t underestimate your ability to gather evidence for your injury claim. Take pictures of your Lime or Bird scooter. Snap some shots of the scene of your accident and your visible injuries. Take a moment to write down your memory of the accident and what happened.
Contact an Attorney
You might be entitled to compensation after your Los Angeles scooter accident. Electric scooter accident cases are relatively new. It might be a challenge to get your hands on the money you deserve. It’s important to discuss your injury case with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Your lawyer can:
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident,
- Build a persuasive injury case on your behalf, and
- Handle negotiations with at-fault parties and insurance companies.
You’ll want an attorney who not only has experience handling personal injury cases, but also knowledge of the new laws that might affect your scooter injury case.
For more information, call our law firm at (424) 248-2700 or visit our contact us page to send us an email.
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