Memphis Electric Bike Accident Lawyer

Electric Bike Accident Lawyer Memphis, TN

Electric scooter and electric bike companies are vying for market share on sidewalks all across America. Leveraging its already-widespread app, the parent company of Lyft acquired a smaller scooter startup and began offering e-scooter rides for Lyft ridesharing companies. In many cases, this service is a cheaper, quicker alternative to waiting for a Lyft driver.

Despite the convenience and ease of use afforded by Lyft scooters, the propensity for accidents is high. Lyft scooters travel at speeds up to 15 miles per hour (and more on downhill grades), meaning riders are subject to greater injuries in a fall than pedestrians would be if they fell. Additionally, the scooters also have much smaller wheels than a bicycle or an automobile, meaning that they are more difficult to control and can be crashed more easily. While scooter and electric bike riders often have cause for legal action in the wake of a crash and can work with an experienced Memphis, Tennessee electric bike accident lawyer to explore their legal options, it would be ideal if these modes of transportation weren’t so dangerous and prone to accidents in the first place.

Similarly, uneven pavement can be a serious risk for catastrophic injuries when someone is traveling by scooter or electric bike. In most jurisdictions, the owner of a sidewalk is required to maintain the walkway so as to prevent trips and falls for pedestrians. If an accident does occur as a result of uneven pavement, a Memphis, TN electric bike accident lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of the accident and determine whether the property owner may be held accountable for any harm that the accident victim has suffered. 

Riders of Lyft scooters should must be particularly cautious in poor weather. After heavy rain, ice, or snow, sidewalks may prove hazardous, requiring riders to use lower speed and more awareness of surroundings. During active weather, it is probably best to avoid using e-scooters altogether. Afterward, however, property owners have an obligation to maintain sidewalks free of rain, snow, and ice. If they fail to do so, and a rider is injured as a result, the rider may have a claim that a Memphis, TN electric bike accident lawyer can help pursue.

Lyft scooter lawyers may also be called upon if an accident involves a motor vehicle. In many places, scooter riders are permitted to use crosswalks like a cyclist or pedestrian. Drivers of passenger vehicles in major cities are accustomed to maintaining a lookout for slow-moving pedestrians, but may not be as readily aware of faster-moving scooters which also have the right of way. If a turning driver runs into an e-scooter rider, the injuries can be severe, including road rash, spinal injuries, strains and sprains, broken bones, and even death. In the tragic event that an individual loses their life while riding a scooter or electric bike, an experienced Memphis, TN wrongful death lawyer from Patterson Bray can help that victim’s loved ones file legal action on behalf of the deceased.