Yes, if you get hurt while riding a Bird scooter, you can sue the company. The strength of your claim will depend on the details of your accident. No matter what, you should seek medical attention and speak to an attorney after a Bird scooter crash. In some cases, suing Bird may not be appropriate, but our team at Frish Law Group, APLC can still help you recover compensation from the liable party. For example, if you got hit by a car while riding a Bird scooter, the driver would be liable for any resulting injuries and losses.
What Causes Bird Scooter Accidents?
Just like car accidents, Bird scooter accidents have various causes. A distracted Bird rider could collide with a pedestrian, or a driver could fail to yield the right of way to a Bird rider.
Many of the same factors that cause car accidents also cause Bird scooter accidents, including:
- Driver or rider distraction
- Drugs and alcohol
- Cell phone use
- Failure to yield
- Aggressive driving or riding
- Reckless riding or driving
- And more
Sometimes, Bird scooter accidents occur because the scooter itself is broken.
Defective Bird Scooters
Defective Bird scooters can cause serious accidents. The scooters may have defective brakes, wheels, handlebars, and batteries. With defective brakes, the rider cannot stop, and other defects can lead to losing control of the scooter and crashing, as well.
If you get into a scooter accident because of a defective or poorly maintained Bird scooter, try to preserve the defective product. Take it home, if you can, and if you cannot, be sure to document the problem with pictures.
Other e-scooter companies, like Spin, Lime, and Skip, may also have defective scooters and can face liability for accidents on these broken or poorly maintained vehicles.
How Serious Are Bird Scooter Injuries?
Bird scooter injuries can be extremely serious. According to dot.LA, Bird has been sued for “brain injuries, internal injuries, and death.” Other Bird scooter injuries include upper-extremity fractures (broken arms, wrists, and hands), broken bones, concussions, whiplash, head and neck injuries, and soft tissue injuries (cuts, bruises, sprains, and strains).
In early 2021, a woman fractured her skull in an Ocean Beach scooter crash. According to NBC San Diego, she hit a crack in the sidewalk, flew over the handlebars, and was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, including a brain bleed and a fractured skull.
Has Anyone Died on a Bird Scooter?
Yes. From the beginning of 2018 to June 2019, Business Insider documented at least 11 scooter deaths in the United States, though the deaths are not attributed to any particular company. Again, if you or a loved one is injured or killed on an e-scooter, you can sue Bird, Lime, Spin, Skip, Uber, Lyft, or any company that rents you a defective scooter and causes or contributes to your accident.
As of January 2021, two people had died on scooters in San Diego and several others had been injured.
How to File a Bird Scooter Lawsuit
If you have suffered serious injuries or lost a loved one to a Bird scooter crash, you should file a lawsuit. A successful settlement or verdict could help with medical bills, missed wages, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and more, depending on the details of your case.
The first step in filing a Bird scooter lawsuit is talking to an e-scooter attorney. Frish Law Group, APLC is available 24/7 to hear about your case. Once you tell us about your unique situation, we can apply our decades of experience to your case and create a tailored strategy to help you accomplish your goals.
Our team is dedicated to results. We can help you find your solution with a focused, confidential consultation.
Call us at (818) 686-5527 or contact us online to schedule yours today.
