How Many People Have Died on Bird Scooters?
Most E-scooter accidents do not result in severe injuries. However, at least 29 people have died as a result of injuries due to an E-scooter accident between early 2018 and early 2020. Information on just how many of those deaths involved Bird scooters is not available. At least 11 of the E-scooter fatalities in this period occurred in the U.S.
Not all of these victims died while riding E-scooters. The number includes pedestrians struck by E-scooter riders who later succumbed to their injuries. The majority of these victims were male as the majority of E-scooter riders are male. It is not clear how many riders were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
California recently changed its law regarding helmet use and E-scooters. While all users previously had to wear helmets when operating the scooter, now helmets are recommended but not mandated for those under 18. Minors are still subject to helmet requirements.
A Los Angeles E-scooter lawyer at Ellis Injury Law will hold those responsible for your loved one’s death on a Bird scooter accountable. Nothing can restore your family member to you, but it could mean other families do not endure the suffering your family went through.
Cause of death
Most people who succumbed to E-scooter injuries were involved in a motor vehicle collision. According to Bird, 75 percent of all known fatalities relating to E-scooters fell into this category. Those who died after falling from the scooter or from a pedestrian accident usually die from head trauma.
The deaths include a 54-year-old San Diego man who lost control of his scooter in March 2019 and crashed into a tree. He was not wearing a helmet. A 5-year-old Oklahoma boy died when he fell off the scooter he was riding with on with his mother and got hit by a car.
Cause of accidents
While the cause of each fatal E-scooter accident is unique, these incidents and those resulting in serious injuries often have several things in common. The E-scooter rider may have no experience with the vehicle, but can simply rent it via an app as long as they possess a valid driver’s license. One-third of E-scooter accidents involve those out on their first ride. Proper training in the use of E-scooters, which can travel up to 15 miles per hour, is necessary for accident reduction.
E-scooter users may fail to follow the rules of the road. E-scooters are not permitted on sidewalks, but many riders flout this law. This is how many collisions with pedestrians happen.
Poor design and scooter defects contribute to many accidents. So does vandalism. Bird and other scooters have had their brake lines vandalized, presumably by anti-scooter activists. If the rider does not inspect the brake line, and very few will do so, they could find themselves seriously hurt if they cannot stop the scooter.
To motorists, a person riding an E-scooter looks like a pedestrian when they give a quick glance. They then mentally judge the person as traveling at a walker’s speed, rather than that of a scooter. Once the connection is made, it may prove too late to stop the car from striking the E-scooter rider.
Wrongful death lawsuits
If a family member died due to an E-scooter accident, it is possible to file a wrongful death lawsuit against all parties responsible for the accident.
Under California’s statute of limitations, a wrongful death lawsuit requires filing with two years of the death date. Only family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Damages in a wrongful death lawsuit may include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- The decedent’s lost income
- Compensation for lost support, guidance, and companionship.
Contact a Los Angeles E-Scooter attorney
If a family member was lost in an E-scooter accident or you or someone you know was seriously injured, you need the services of an E-scooter lawyer at Ellis injury Law. Arrange a free consultation by calling or texting 24/7 or submitting our online contact form.
Our seasoned attorneys have recovered more than $350 million in settlements and verdicts for clients. Our work is done on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless you receive compensation.