Injured by an E-Scooter Rider? Get Free Legal Advice
Who is Responsible for an E-Scooter Accident?
Britain is set to see considerably more electric scooters in public areas in the near future, due to the surging popularity of the vehicles and signs that the government is set to legalise their personal use in the next 12 months. This means that the risk posed by irresponsible, inexperienced and incompetent e-scooter riders to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists will increase dramatically.
One of the current issues is the lack of clarity about where e-scooters are allowed to be ridden. For example, it is illegal to ride privately-owned e-scooters on roads, in cycle lanes and on pavements, but rental e-scooters can be used on roads and in cycle lanes.
Under current legislation, e-scooters are limited to 15.5mph, however, thousands of people are flouting the law by riding privately-owned e-scooters that can easily exceed the speed limit, and also by riding them in prohibited public areas like roads, roundabouts, pavements, footpaths and shopping centres.
- E-Scooter Accident Statistics
- E-Scooter Accident Injuries
- Legal Liability for E-Scooter Accidents
- E-Scooter Accident Compensation Claims
- Case Study: Accident Caused by Rental E-Scooter Rider
- Solicitors Advising About Who is Liable for an E-Scooter Accident
1) Shallow cuts/lacerations/abrasions
2) Bruising
3) Sprains and strains
These injury types are classified as slight in terms of severity, however, the next five most common injury types, all classified as serious injuries, show the true level of risk for those involved in e-scooter accidents:
4) Fractured lower leg, ankle, foot
5) Other (non-severe) head injury
6) Fractured arm, collarbone, hand
7) Deep cuts, lacerations
8) Severe head injury, unconscious
Motorists may crash into an e-scooter if the rider pulls out in front of them suddenly, and if the rider’s actions made the accident unavoidable, the motorist would not be to blame. For collisions involving cyclists and e-scooter riders, liability will depend on the specific circumstances; in the event of a collision between an e-scooter and a pedestrian, the e-scooter rider will normally always be held responsible.
E-scooter riders are expected to have the same road sense and situational awareness as all other road users, and if they ride dangerously they will be legally liable for the consequences of accidents involving pedestrians, cyclists or motorists. Failure to stop will also aggravate an e-scooter rider’s culpability in the event of an accident.
The government has confirmed that the current rental e-scooter trials taking place across England will now be extended until at least May 31, 2024. Launched in 2020, the trials have already been extended a number of times and were due to end in November 2022.
It is likely that the use of private e-scooters on public roads will be legalised in the near future, as the government has already gathered information on e-scooter safety, and plans to create a "low-speed, zero-emission vehicle category" as part of a new Transport Bill. The government’s Transport Committee is enthusiastic about legalising the public use of private e-scooters due to their eco-friendly credentials, sustainability, affordability, and positive impact on traffic congestion. Legalisation will mean that all e-scooter riders will need insurance when using their vehicles on public roads and in public places.
Ms R was taken to hospital following the accident where she was diagnosed with concussion and kept in overnight for observation. She was forced to take four weeks off work to recover from her injuries, which included private physiotherapy sessions to regain mobility in her upper body, and lost a significant amount of earnings as well as incurring costs for her medical treatment.
Ms R contacted Bartletts Solicitors after reading about our experience in e-bike and e-scooter accidents, and our firm went on to represent her in a no win no fee claim against the e-scooter rider. The claim was possible because the rider in question had rented his e-scooter from a rental operator (as part of one of the government-approved trials), and was therefore covered by insurance taken out by the operator.
In correspondence with the insurers, we pointed out that Ms R had been standing in a quiet area of the road at the time of the accident, and the e-scooter rider must have been riding in a careless and dangerous manner in failing to avoid colliding with her. Like all road users, e-scooter riders are expected to pay due care and attention, and meet the standard expected of a reasonably careful and competent rider. Following an admission of liability, our client received £4,750 in compensation.
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Every year we help over a thousand injured people, many of whom are pedestrians and cyclists, make claims for compensation on a no win no fee basis.
Our service is designed to be easy to use: meetings by phone & email, local medical appointments, sign documents online, or visit our city centre offices.
Our solicitors are very experienced in cyclist injury claims having worked at the firm for an average of 18 years.
Bartletts Solicitors was managed by John Bartlett for over 40 years, the last 25 of which he was assisted by Trevor Morris. Trevor is now the managing director, representing continuity for the firm’s traditional values and customer satisfaction ethos.
How Can Bartletts Solicitors Help You?
A free no obligation quick case assessment, followed by a No Win No Fee claim.
We help you recover whatever you have lost financially whilst injured.
Get back on your feet as quickly as possible with expert medical care.
We take all the stress out of the claim and ensure you recover everything you are entitled to.
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E-Scooter Accident Team:

Call now for your free consultation. We guarantee you a warm welcome and a lawyer with the expertise that you would expect from a leading personal injury firm.
More Information About Cycling Accident Claims:
- When Can a Cyclist Claim Against a Motorist?
- Who is Responsible for an E-Scooter Accident?
- Rental and Share Scheme Bike Accidents
- Rental E-Bike and E-Scooter Accidents
- Can a Cyclist Sue an Unidentified Motorist?
- Compensation for Cyclist Injured in Collision at Junction
- Compensation for Cyclist Knocked off Electric Bike
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