Pedestrians Hit by a Bird or Lime Driver: What to do Next

On top of becoming San Antonio one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, world famous locations like the Riverwalk and the Alamo attract more than $13 million of tourism into the city’s economy each year. As areas of San Antonio grow and improve, the need for alternative transportation increases. Dockless scooters are one such option sweeping the nation, providing a new and convenient method for getting around urban parts of town.

2018 saw an influx of these scooters. As of July, it is estimated that more than 700 scooters have been deployed across San Antonio, but not all aspects of these services are wholly beneficial. Their presence on sidewalks and roadways increase traffic density, and thus, chance for accidents and collisions.

These electric scooters can go up to 20 mph, and although riders are told they must be 18 years old to create an account and operate one, there is little else in the way regulation or certification necessary to download the app and start a ride. And while these scooters have very little protection for the scooter operators, they can be just as dangerous for surrounding foot traffic.

Because these scooters are still relatively new services, many pedestrians and walkers are not even aware of their presence. They can pose a threat, and sometimes, cause serious injury to those unsuspecting on sidewalks and crossing the street. A pedestrian hit by a dockless scooter is often the victim a negligent Bird or Lime driver. Some common forms of negligence which may cause an accident can include:

• Failure to obey traffic signs and regulations
• Smartphone use and distraction
• Tourists who are lost or sightseeing
• Horseplay or distracted by friends
• Inebriated scooter riding
• General lack of awareness

What to Do Next for Pedestrians Hit by Bird and Lime Scooters

When pedestrians are hit by a Bird or Lime driver, what they do next is crucial to protecting their interests and recovering compensation. The time immediately following the incident is a crucial one for anyone attempting to file a lawsuit or recover damages. First and foremost, seek treatment as soon as injuries become evident. Aside from that, your immediate actions should then include:

Contact witnesses and assemble eyewitness reports:

Ideally, witnesses and the guilty scooter operator would have remained at the scene of the accident. If so, gather their phone number, driver’s license, and other contact information, as well as written accounts of the incident, and pictures taken of the scene. Especially if the driver attempts to shift blame or deny culpability, witness testimony can resolve differing accounts about what actually transpired.

Collect medical receipts and other expense records:

If you incur injuries in the collision, always save receipts related to your recovery; this can include medication expenses, physical rehabilitation, hospital bills, and prescription costs. The ability to present these documents strengthens your case and shows initiative to the court.

Do your research:

The better you know you know your claim and your attorney, the better equipped you will be to succeed. Before you hire an attorney, get a sense of their familiarity with similar cases and this emerging area of personal injury law. Electric scooter accidents and the liability of companies who operate them through an app is uncharted legal waters for most firms, so make sure yours is familiar.

Contact a lawyer:

A lawyer’s assistance is all but necessary for victims of these cases to have a chance at full compensation. Beyond assisting you with all of the above, an attorney can provide years of experience dealing with insurance companies and prevent you from losing out of any of the compensation you are owed for easily-missed damages.

Carabin Shaw’s San Antonio Accident Attorneys Are Here for You

If you’ve been injured as the result of a reckless Bird or Lime scooter driver, you probably have questions about what to do next. It can be a confusing time, especially when many are unsure about successfully obtaining compensation and whom can be held liable. These services have not yet been around long enough for there to be a strict set of statutes related to their accidents; thus, legal representation is crucial.

Call one of the knowledgeable San Antonio personal injury lawyers from Carabin Shaw today for a free quote; our attorneys offer every potential client a complimentary consultation to help make them aware of their best options moving forward.

At Carabin Shaw, we recognize that a Bird or Lime scooter can pose a threat to pedestrians, and we want to fight for these pedestrian’s chances to obtain just recompense for damages. Reach the lawyers at our San Antonio offices at 210.222.2288, or toll free, day or night, at 1.800.862.1260.