Have You Been in an Electric Scooter Accident in Kansas City?

Personal Injury Attorney for Scooter Accidents in Kansas City

Electric scooters available for rent continue to increase in popularity around Kansas City, Missouri. While these scooters can offer a convenient way to move around town, it is important to understand the possible downsides and dangers involved.  If you have been in an electric scooter crash, call our Kansas City personal injury attorney at 816-203-0143 to discuss the options available to you.

Risks and Dangers of Rental Scooters in Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri created an electric scooter and e-bike pilot rental program in 2019.  Kansas City hoped to create a new, experiential, way for residents and visitors to travel throughout the metro area.  Within the first year, Kansas Citians rode over 370,000 trips, traversing over 400,000 miles.  

With areas such as the River Market, Crossroads, Plaza and UMKC seeing increased traffic; the program was extended (May 2020) to include Bird, Spin, and RideKC Bike and Scooter rentals.  To help protect riders, pedestrians, and other civilians safe, Kansas City implemented several safety tips and laws, including:

• People should ride e-scooters in the streets or in bike lanes.
• Riding electric rental scooters, which are classified as motorized vehicles, on sidewalks in violation of KCMO ordinance 70-253.
• The use of helmets is encouraged.
• Rentals cannot be parked where they block access to sidewalks or building entrances. Instead, vehicles should be parked near existing bike racks or in micromobility hubs, where available.

Even with these proactive measures, our personal injury law firm knows that the possibility of serious accidents still exists.  In fact, over the course of the first year of the program, fifteen crashes and over fifty injuries were reported to come from rental scooter accidents in Kansas City, Missouri.

Types of Rental Scooter Accidents in Kansas City

Many issues can arise when a rental scooter ride goes wrong, especially when one of the parties involved is being careless.  However, the majority of electric scooter rental accidents fall into one of two categories, scooter versus pedestrian or scooter versus car.

1. Rental Scooters vs. Pedestrian Accident

One of the guidelines put in place by Kansas City establishes that all rental scooters are to be rode in either the bike lane or the street, not the sidewalk.  However, this is not always the case.  Whether a pedestrian is exiting or entering a building, or just strolling on the sidewalk, a negligent electric scooter rider could hit them.  

When a pedestrian and scooter rider collide, both parties often sustain injuries.  Things like contusions, fractures, facial injuries and even traumatic brain injuriesare not uncommon after a scooter versus pedestrian incident.  

2. Rental Scooters vs. Car Accident

Under Missouri and Kansas law, drivers of all motor vehicles, whether it be electric scooters, cars, or trucks, are required to be cognizant of their surroundings at all times.  A driver puts everyone around them (including themselves) at risk if they become distracted or exhibit a disregard for the rules of the road. 

Whether you were riding a rental scooter at the time of your accident, or you were hit by one, it is critical to understand that you may be entitled to recover for your injuries or other property damage.  In the event that a car or truck collides with a rental scooter rider, it is likely that the rider will sustain significant injuries.  

On the other hand, if an electric rental scooter rider was acting in a negligent manner when they collided with a vehicle, the vehicle owner is likely able to recover compensation for any property damage.

What to Do After a Rental Scooter Accident in Kansas City

Regardless of whether you were riding an electric rental scooter or struck by an electric scooter when you suffered injuries to your body or property, it is important to know the options that are available to you. 

It is important that you assess the situation as soon as possible following the accident.  Be sure to note any injuries that you are suffering from, get contact information for the other party involved, take photos of the scene, and seek medical attention as soon as possible.  If approached by a police officer to file an official incident report, be sure to only discuss the facts of the incident that you know to be true.

If medical attention is required or if you are required to take off work to recover, it will be necessary to get the other involved party’s insurance information.  You should also strongly consider retaining a personal injury attorney experienced in handling scooter accidents in Kansas City.

Our legal team at the Law Office of Kevin J. McManus is standing by to help discuss and handle this claims process.  Insurance adjusters are often focused on protecting their company’s profit instead of helping you with your needs; feel free to give us a no obligation call at 816-203-0143 to discuss how we can help get you the resources you need to recover!

Contact Our Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney After a Scooter Accident

If you have been involved in a scooter accident in the Kansas City area, you will benefit from consulting with our Kansas City scooter accident lawyer.  Our personal injury attorney has experience representing both accident and traumatic brain injury clients. 

Our team has access to the resources and materials needed to handle the legal side of your recover. Allow us to build a strong, sustainable claim on your behalf.  Our Kansas City personal injury attorney is ready to assist you.  Please give us a call at 816-203-0143, or fill out the form below.  We are happy to help you as we have helped countless others, whether it is simply answering your questions or providing a free, confidential consultation.