The Dangers of Electric Scooter Accidents in Pittsburgh

There’s no shortage of transportation options in Pittsburgh, and one more has taken center stage recently: electric scooters. While electric scooters do come with many advantages, they can also be quite dangerous when used incorrectly or in busy settings.

As electric scooters have become more commonplace across the United States, accidents have become more common. If you have been injured in a scooter accident, don’t wait to seek compensation. Call the personal injury attorneys at Caroselli, Beacher & Coleman now at 412-253-2925.

Electric Scooters Are Gaining Traction in Pittsburgh

As Spin vehicles pop up all over Pittsburgh, you’ll see more and more people taking advantage of their convenience. The city is home to several mobility hubs that are expected to eventually hold over 1,000 electric scooters. Despite the fact that there are strict regulations on how these scooters are to be used, it’s common to see people flying down sideways on scooters or zigzagging in 30 MPH traffic.

People Often Misuse Electric Scooters

There are reasonable regulations in place for the use of e-scooters, but if you take a walk in downtown Pittsburgh, you’ll see that they are rarely followed. These scooters should only be ridden in bike lanes, on streets with 25 MPH or lower speed limits, or on paved, shared-use trails.

Electric scooters are not meant to be used on sidewalks, on high-speed streets, in parks, on bridges, or on private property. Additionally, riders must be 18 or older and must ride alone. Riders are expected to yield to pedestrians and keep the scooters inside Pittsburgh at all times.

These rules seem simple enough, but enough people ignore them that the scooters are an annoyance to many in the city.

Injuries Are on the Rise

Research indicates that electric scooters are among the most dangerous vehicles on the market today. A study showed that there were 4,582 e-scooter injuries in the United States in 2014.

By 2018, after the e-scooter rental craze took off, the number was nearly 15,000. Not only is the number of injuries increasing, but so is the rate of injuries. During the same time frame, the injury rate went from 6 in 100,000 to 19 in 100,000.

Stop-and-Go Traffic is an Issue

E-scooter riders note that they are notoriously difficult to steer. It takes time to adjust to how sensitive electric scooters are, and even small obstacles or inconsistencies in the road can cause collisions. This is even harder in stop-and-go traffic, which you’ll find in Pittsburgh pretty frequently. During rush hour traffic, e-scooter riders are at serious risk of collisions.

Helmets May Help, But…

Helmets are an excellent way to minimize the risk of traumatic brain injury, which is perhaps one of the greatest risks of electric scooter accidents. Emergency room physicians note that the vast majority of patients they see were not wearing a helmet at the time of their scooter accident, even though it is recommended by the manufacturer.

Unfortunately, the majority of e-scooter riders do not use helmets. This may be due to a cultural bias against helmets or a belief that electric scooters are safer than bikes and do not require helmets. Some cities have enacted helmet laws, but Pittsburgh is not currently one of them.

Accidents May Be Underreported

Even though the accident rate is already shockingly high—in line with motorcycle accident rates—many experts still believe it is actually higher than what is reported. Why? Not every electric scooter accident ends in a trip to the emergency room or doctor’s office. Unreported accidents could drive up these alarming numbers even more.

Motorcycles are only accessible to a limited subset of drivers who have passed specific tests about using their chosen mode of transportation. Their injury rate is similar to e-scooters’ injury rate. The difference is that e-scooters are available to anyone who is at least 18 and can download a rental app.

Explore Your Legal Options with Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman

Have you been hurt in a scooter accident? If you have, it’s time to talk to our team about your next steps. Call us at 412-253-2925 or contact us online to set up a time to talk now.