Bird Scooters have become more popular as more people have turned to alternatives to driving. Unfortunately, this has also led to an increase in serious personal injuries in New Rochelle.
The injuries from a scooter accident can be much more devastating than some people might think. Because scooters share the road with bikes but are the size of a walking pedestrian, numerous types of accidents can occur. When recovering compensation, our team can determine if the scooter in your case qualifies as a motorcycle and what options you have.
If you were injured in an accident involving a Bird Scooter, our Bird Scooter accident and injuries lawyers can help you by providing you with a free assessment of your case. Contact us at The Martello Law Firm, PLLC today at (914) 685-6950.
Common Injuries Caused by Bird Scooter Accidents in New Rochelle
Bird Scooters can be deceptive in their ability to cause serious injuries. However, as the popularity of scooters has grown, devastating injuries in New Rochelle have been on the rise. While scooters seem less intimidating on the road than other vehicles, they can still reach speeds of over thirty miles per hour. Something moving at that speed can do serious damage, even if it is relatively small. The following are common injuries that result from Bird Scooter accidents in New Rochelle:
- Traumatic Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Burns
- Road rash
- Abrasions
- Concussions
- Fractures
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Ligament and nerve damage
- Amputations
The compensation needed for these types of injuries can be substantial. Our Bird Scooter accident and injuries attorneys can help you recover damages in your case regardless of the severity of your injuries.
Common Types of Bird Scooter Accidents in New Rochelle
Bird Scooters are small, maneuverable vehicles that fit almost anywhere on the road. While scooters are required by law to be operated on the roads and not the sidewalk, not every scooter-rider is a responsible one. In other cases, the person riding the scooter is an experienced rider injured by a negligent driver. Thus, scooter accidents can occur in several combinations. Whether you were the injured rider of the scooter or injured by one, our Bird Scooter accident and injuries attorneys can help you hold the other party accountable.
Scooter vs. Car Accidents
Arguably the most common type of Bird Scooter accident involves other cars. In New Rochelle, negligent drivers account for a large portion of the lawsuits filed for personal injuries. If a driver is not paying attention, they can easily collide with a scooter traveling next to them.
However, scooters are treated like other vehicles on the road in New York and must observe all traffic laws. If a scooter fails to stop at a traffic light or stop sign, thinking that they do not apply to them, their negligence could lead to causing themselves serious harm if another driver hits them and trauma to the driver involved.
Scooter vs. Bicycle Accidents
Scooter and bicycle accidents are another common type of Bird Scooter accident in New Rochelle. Scooters and bicycles are often competing for the same travel lanes and space on the roads. While it might seem best to have their own lanes, that is not yet the reality. However, scooters are capable of reaching speeds that are twice that of a standard bicycle, making the conditions extremely dangerous. A careless scooter rider can easily cause a cyclist to swerve off out of the bike lane and into greater danger.
Scooter vs. Pedestrian Accidents
Scooter and pedestrian accidents are also not uncommon. These accidents can occur when a rider fails to look for pedestrians when crossing the road or turning or when a scooter is parked in an unauthorized spot, causing pedestrian slip and fall injuries. Considering the speeds some Bird Scooters can achieve, accidents involving pedestrians cause result in catastrophic injuries and even death.
Manufacturing Defects
In rare cases, a Bird Scooter accident could have been caused by a manufacturing defect. This can occur if there is a defect in the design or manufacturing process, but it could also be from a lack of adequate instructions and warning labels. Our Bird Scooter accident and injuries lawyers can review your case to determine the best legal strategies to recover compensation for your injuries.
Recovering Compensation for a Bird Scooter Accident and Injuries in New Rochelle
Recovering compensation for a Bird Scooter accident can be an extremely complex process. The options you will have depend on the parties involved in the accident and the classification of the scooter.
New York is a “no-fault” insurance state. This means that victims injured in a vehicle accident will be compensated from their personal car insurance, not from the other party’s insurance. Also, it is not necessary to prove fault to recover benefits since your own insurance is compensating you. This is a relatively straightforward process when it involves cars and other vehicles. For accidents involving Bird Scooters, the rules are slightly different.
If you were the scooter rider and hit by a car or other motor vehicle, no-fault rules would apply if your scooter cannot travel over 20 miles per hour. Scooters traveling less than 20 miles per hour are classified as Class C “limited-use motorcycles.” Riders of slower scooters are considered pedestrians for insurance purposes and will be covered by the other driver’s no-fault insurance.
If the scooter involved in the accident is capable of traveling over 20 miles per hour, the scooter is classified as a Class B motorcycle, while a scooter that goes faster than 30 miles per hour is considered a Class A motorcycle. In New York, motorcycles are not subject to no-fault rules, so the other driver’s insurance cannot be used. However, motorcycle accident victims do not have any restrictions placed on their right to file a lawsuit to recover compensation. Our Bird Scooter accident and injuries attorneys can review your case to determine what compensation options are available in your case.
Our New Rochelle Lawyers for Bird Scooter Accidents and Injuries Can Help
If you were injured in a Bird Scooter accident, our Bird Scooter accident and injuries attorneys can help you determine the best way to get justice for your injuries. For a free case review, call The Martello Law Firm, PLLC at (914) 685-6950.
