Understanding Personal Injury Law For Bike and Scooter Rental Accidents
Scooters and bicycles—both mechanical and electrical—have become popular in recent years, emerging alongside several other budding startup companies leveraging the sharing economy.
Touted as a fun and eco-friendly alternative to driving or public transportation, scooter and bike rental companies promote their services as a safe way for people to make commuting easier while including more physical activity in their daily routines. In many situations, people ride bikes and scooters with less than one hour of instruction while attempting to navigate dangerous streets and sidewalks.
But cases of life-altering accidents have been in the news, sending shockwaves across the country, even in states like California, where riding scooters and bikes to work is so popular that companies like Google are offering their employees free electric scooters as an incentive to return to the office.
Equipment Rental Liability Waivers
Some of the main benefits advertised by bike and scooter rental companies are their conveniently located and accessible rental stations. This appeals to those with tired feet, those who are in a pinch, or those who simply want an alternative to traditional commuting. But in order to use the rental service, riders must sign a waiver before being allowed to use the equipment. In the event of an accident involving rented equipment, who is liable?
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that a man who was left paralyzed by a Bird scooter accident may owe the scooter rental company hundreds of thousands of dollars. The rider claimed that his accident was caused by a broken sidewalk for which the City of Los Angeles should be liable. The first shocking twist to the case was that Bird had agreed to indemnify the City against lawsuits when the company and the City had first formulated their business agreement. The second shocking twist is that when the rider had downloaded the equipment rental app and agreed to its terms, he had indemnified Bird against any lawsuits. This case is still ongoing, however it serves as a cautionary tale about equipment rental services. Understand that in the case of an equipment rental accident with no other parties involved, it is usually the rider who is deemed at-fault if they have signed a general liability waiver.
Personal Injury Lawyer For Bike, Scooter, or Rented Equipment Accidents
If you have signed a waiver in order to ride rented equipment and have been involved in an accident involving third parties, you still may have a valid personal injury claim.
If you are hit by a vehicle while using rented equipment, you may have a personal injury claim against the negligent driver. If you are a pedestrian who was hit by a rented scooter or bike, you may have a personal injury claim against the rider and/or rental company in limited situations.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a bike or scooter accident in San Diego, you deserve compensation for the resulting medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of income. Call San Diego Auto Accident Lawyer Christopher Villasenor to help you with your next steps.
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Email Us: cvillasenor@sdlawfirm.net
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