Electronic scooter compensation is a fairly new type of claim you can make when it comes to transport injuries. With Covid-19 looming in its second wave, lockdown being imminent and remote working being pushed back onto the UK office worker, it’s not surprising that you may not be taking your car out for a drive. Instead, you may be looking for a simple way to get around your area. That’s why the E-scooter has become such a useful form of transport. It’s small, easy to put away and quick.
With a new form of transport, new rules of the road need to be formed. In July 2020, the UK government officially allowed E-scooters to be trialled on the road. E-scooters could become part of the new normal. So, it’s best to get used to them in advanced. That way, if you end up in a traffic accident then you will know exactly how to claim compensation. Click the link below to find out more about traffic accident claims:
What is an e-scooter?
Don’t worry if you don’t actually know what an e-scooter is yet. It’s still relatively new and has only recently become legal to drive on the road. An e-scooter has all the proponents that come with a normal scooter. The main difference is that it has a motor that can propel the vehicle forward. These scooters can reach up to 30 mph. This is why you may have some problems when you finally encounter them. Not only are they small, but they can move fast. That means it makes them a vulnerable vehicle when it comes to traffic accidents. However, they also come with a range of benefits that include being:
- Practical for storage
- Eco-friendly
- Cost-effective
Drivers are required to have a validated license and are recommended to wear a helmet at all times.
What dangers can come with an e-scooter?
E-scooters are very small vehicles. That means that they can be difficult to see and too fast to stop if they do end up unfortunately travelling onto the road. If you take a look at the infographic below, you can get an idea of what dangers you need to watch out for if you do spot an e-scooter on the road:
Unfortunately, collisions with E-scooters can have fatal consequences. Back in July 2019, YouTube star Emily Hartridge actually died in an e-scooter collision with a lorry. She was only 35-years-old.
Sadly, there have been many similar incidents around the UK that have resulted in the deaths of loved ones due to the lack of safety provided whilst operating an e-scooter. This is a big reason why only rental e-scooters being allowed to be operated on the road.
Keeping safe on an e-scooter
Now, an e-scooter can reach speeds of over 30 mph. That means that they can actually be quite dangerous if they interfere with traffic. Some e-scooters only have one break, which can also mean that braking can actually be very difficult. So, always try to brake in advance when you go out with your e-scooter. You may not be required to wear a helmet, but if you are going anywhere near a road or pathway, you should wear one anyway. You may also want to invest in bright clothing or flash gear in order to make sure that you are always quickly seen when you are out and about.
E-Scooters and the “Duty of Care”
Just like any other type of vehicle, it is essential that you understand the rules of the road. Of course, learning how to drive is one thing, but another thing you will need to have an understanding of is the “duty of care”. When a driver operates a vehicle on the road, whether it be a motorcycle or a car, they need to be aware of other road users.
You need to make sure that you do not breach your duty of care towards these drivers. Instead, you need to be conscientious of what other drivers are doing when you are on the same road together. The same thing applies if you are driving a scooter. Take a look around you to see if there are any drivers around you. Keep a safe distance, as you are classified as a vulnerable vehicle, and watch for the direction they are going. It can be tempting to try and overtake them, but you should resist this urge.
If you follow this duty of care, you should be able to remain safe whilst you operate your e-scooter. It is important to realize that as you can get insurance for e-scooters, if you are found negligent of your duty of care, it is likely that you could be taken to court for a compensation claim. To avoid this, try and keep as safe as possible. Do not take any unnecessary risks!
What should you do if you have recently been involved in an e-scooter accident?
As an e-scooter rider, you owe your duty of care towards cyclists, pedestrians and all vehicle users on the road. However, they also owe you the same type of treatment. Unfortunately, collisions do happen and you may up quite badly hurt. After all, you have less protection than many of the other vehicles. You are in the same bracket as motorcycles and pedestrians. Therefore, you need to wear bright clothing and have lights that can make sure that you are recognisable in both summer, winter, night and daytime.
If you have taken these precautions but still get hurt, it is very unlikely that it is going to be your fault. No matter what type of accident you have had, the first thing you should do is either ring for an ambulance or ring the police. That way you can have your wounds assessed in hospital and get a medical report. If you ring the police, you can also get an unbiased police report that can serve as good evidence if you decide to take you electronic scooter compensation claim to court.
You may be too injured to collect evidence, but if you are waiting for an ambulance then you may want to consider collecting evidence. Your evidence can include:
- Photographs of your injuries and damaged vehicle
- Videos/CCTV/Dash-Cam footage of your injuries, the collision and your damaged vehicle
- Witness statements
- Medical reports
- Police reports
- Receipts
- Wage Slips (To prove loss of opportunity/pay)
- Diary Entries
- Insurance paperwork
What sort of injuries can I get from an electronic scooter accident?
If you are looking to get electronic scooter compensation, you will also need to consider how bad your physical injuries are. Life-changing injuries are going to get you more compensation than if you have only suffered from a few breaks. Have a look at our example below:
As you can see from our example, minor injuries can only get a small amount of compensation. This is because they have not changed your life or had an ongoing negative consequence. It may take you a little bit of time to recover, but ultimately you will be back on your feet in no time. However, if you have lost a limb, suffered mobility issues or are struggling to get back to your day-to-day life, it’s very likely that you will receive a higher amount of compensation.
E-scooter injuries may include:
- Bumps, bruises and scrapes
- Internal bleeding
- Nerve damage
- Broken bones
- Loss of limb
- Brain damage
- Neck damage
Of course, there are many other types of injuries that you may suffer from. Make sure to discuss these with your solicitor. You may need to get a medical report in order to prove how bad the damages are in court. The same can apply if you have suffered from any emotional damages alongside your physical damages.
Will I get electronic scooter compensation if I did not wear a helmet?
Whilst you may have to claim for partial compensation and may be seen as liable if you do not wear a helmet, there is no law saying that you have to wear a helmet whilst operating a rented e-scooter. However, you may not get compensation if you were operating a privately own e-scooter. Instead, you may also be liable for a criminal prosecution charge.
Are there any other types of ways that I could get hurt and claim electronic scooter compensation?
Not every accident needs to be caused by another person. In fact, you and your e-scooter may have ended up in an accident because of the e-scooter itself or your environment. For instance, if you encountered a pothole as you were driving your vehicle, it was up to local government to fix that, not you. That’s why you would ask for local government to pay for your compensation.
Additional problems could happen that cause an accident. These include:
- Environmental factors (i.e. lack of road signs)
- Problems with your e-scooter (i.e. mechanical trouble)
- Repair jobs with your e-scooter going wrong
Keep an eye on these before you go out onto the road. That way you can keep safe when you venture out.
How long will it take to make an electronic scooter compensation claim?
This is the type of question we get asked quite often. Honestly, it does not matter what type of claim you have. It entirely depends on your own individual circumstances. For instance, if the third party refuses to accept your settlement agreement, you will find that it takes longer to address due to the fact that it will need to go to court. During this time you will need to find evidence and build your case up to prove you are a victim of negligence. This will naturally take longer than it would for someone who has a third party that takes responsibility for the accident and is willing to come to a settlement outside of court with their insurer.
Be patient with your solicitor. You have to keep in mind that they need to take into account the full details of your case. Not only that, but they have to also work under the current lockdown and lack of access to their work place. There is also a chance that your case goes to remote court in order to lower the amount of exposure for you and your solicitor. This will all take time.
How much will I get from my electronic scooter compensation claim?
Again, this depends on your own individual circumstances. Someone who has broken their leg is going to naturally get more compensation than someone who has just come out of an accident with scrapes and bruises. Speak to your solicitor about how much you could be owed. This will help you figure out the type of evidence you need to prove and win your case.
Need help making an electronic scooter compensation claim?
Gowing Law is here to help you! All of our traffic accident specialists want to make sure that you get the justice and compensation that you deserve. They can offer their advice through free consultations. If you are happy to work with them, our lawyers in Manchester can offer their services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means even if you do not win your case, you will always come out on top!
Get in touch with Gowing Law Solicitors today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claims checker. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
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