Rental electric scooters and bicycles may be convenient, but they can lead to serious injuries for riders and others in and around on the roadway. At Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, we are here to help when you need a Palo Alto scooter or bicycle rental accident attorney. Our team will investigate what happened in order to secure the compensation you deserve.
Choose Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger for your case
After sustaining an injury in a scooter or rental bicycle accident, you need an attorney with extensive experience handling these cases by your side. Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger is ready to get to work on your behalf.
- We have the resources necessary to thoroughly investigate each claim.
- We have a success rate of more than 98% for personal injury cases.
- We take the time to get to know every client’s situation as we move forward.
Because we know that many victims in these cases are in difficult financial situations, we take all Palo Alto scooter and bicycle rental accident claims on a contingency fee basis. This means our clients only pay legal fees after we secure the compensation they deserve.
What kind of scooters and rental bikes are in Palo Alto?
Electric scooters and rental bicycles have popped up all over cities around California, including Palo Alto. The City Council of Palo Alto recently approved various programs for “micromobility” bicycle and scooter companies to operate throughout the city. There are various companies that operate rideshare scooters and bicycles, including Lime, Bird, Skip, and more. These vehicles are typically accessed by unlocking them with a smart phone app.
Who is liable in these cases?
Injuries caused by electric scooters in rental bicycles are not theoretical. They happen regularly, and they are often severe. According to USA TODAY, there have been nearly 40,000 electric scooter injuries over the last four years across the country. Some of the most common injuries in these cases include:
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Severe lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Open head wounds
- Spinal cord damage
- Internal organ damage
Unfortunately, there are various groups of people who could be harmed in an accident involving a rideshare electric scooter or rental bicycle. This includes the riders themselves and pedestrians on the roadway around these riders.
In the event a scooter or bicycle rider is struck by a negligent driver, then the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier will likely be responsible for covering damages and expenses. If an electric scooter or rental bicycle rider injures themselves in an accident, they will likely be held responsible for covering their own injury expenses because riders generally waive liability against the scooter and bike companies when they agree to rent the vehicle.
However, what happens if a pedestrian is struck by a scooter or bicycle rider? In these cases, the injured individual may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the scooter or bicycle operator to recover compensation for their losses.
How much compensation can a victim get for these cases?
If you or somebody you love has been injured in an electric scooter or rental bicycle accident, there may be various types of compensation available. While the total amount of damages awarded will vary depending on the facts of each particular case, the team at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger will work to secure the following:
- Coverage of all crash-related medical bills
- Lost income and benefits if you cannot work
- General household damage expenses
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
Our team has a track record of success obtaining compensation in cases just like this, including a $4.2 million settlement for defective folding bicycle and a $1 million settlement for a bicyclist who suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident caused by a taxi driver. When you need a Palo Alto scooter or bicycle rental accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling (415) 981-7210.