Bird Electric Scooters Return to San Francisco: Here’s What You Need to Know
Shared electric scooters are a national trend. In many cities across the U.S., including San Francisco, these scooters can be found almost anywhere. In the San Francisco Bay (literally), in rivers, and on sidewalks. While many people are very annoyed with these scooters popping up at random places across the Bay Area, the most pressing issue is whether they are safe to use.
San Francisco’s shared e-scooter issue is an ongoing battle. Bird, one of the first scooter companies, continued operations recently despite being kicked out of San Francisco. Bird was not chosen to be part of San Francisco’s pilot program.
According to CNN, Bird found a loophole that will allow its scooters to operate in San Francisco. Two scooter companies, Skip and Scoot, have approval to operate within San Francisco. City officials had multiple problems with Bird, most notably the company’s strategy on helmet use, issues with parking and equitable access to the scooters.
Bird’s strategy for getting around San Francisco’s regulations involves changing how it charges customers for rates. Instead of charging for each use, Bird is allowing its customers to rent scooters for $25 a month. This means customers can store the scooters in their dwellings, and the scooters will no longer be available for rent on sidewalks. These were key issues responsible for San Francisco’s decision to bar Bird from its pilot program.
Electric Scooters Have Safety Issues
There are some problems to consider. Let’s not forget that there have been multiple accidents involving scooters. Scooters can easily collide with other objects, especially in a densely packed metropolis like San Francisco.
According to the chief of emergency medicine at San Francisco General Hospital, riders are coming into the emergency room with potentially life-threatening injuries. In Oakland, a scooter slammed into a 2-year-old who was walking on the sidewalk with his mother. Scooters are also responsible for numerous traffic accidents in San Francisco.
Another issue is that scooters may have mechanical problems due to excessive use and environmental factors. Scooters can very easily suffer wear and tear on the uneven surfaces in San Francisco and other Bay Area cities. Environmental conditions, such as sea air, can cause scooters to degrade even faster.
Unfortunately, the average scooter rider will not be able to recognize signs of wear and tear or mechanical issues. People could be riding on scooters with major safety hazards. For some of these people, they may not realize their scooters had issues until a crash occurs.
What Are the Possible Consequences of a Bird Scooter Accident?
A Bird scooter accident could lead to life-altering injuries. Spinal cord injuries and brain injuries are two of several outcomes that could very easily ruin someone’s life. These injuries are, depending on the circumstances and the person involved, much more likely to cause medical expenses in the millions of dollars over a lifetime. Individuals with these injuries may require around-the-clock care. Many will not be able to work. A catastrophic injury always causes immense mental anguish and lifelong pain and suffering for the injured individual and their loved ones.
It is generally more difficult to sue a scooter company due to the terms required to use scooters. Scooter accident victims should contact an attorney who has experience with cases involving liability waivers.
Hurt in a Bird Scooter Accident? Contact Our San Francisco Personal Injury Law Firm
Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C. could help scooter accident victims and their families fight for compensation. San Francisco personal injury attorney Mary Alexander has decades of experience taking on large businesses who skirt the rules and put consumers at risk. As a dedicated consumer safety advocate and attorney, Mary’s history of successful cases is extensive. Some of her victories resulted in major verdicts and changed society for the better. For a free consultation with one of our attorneys, please dial (415) 433-4440 or use our online case review form.
