What Happens When You Get into an E-scooter Accident with No Insurance?

Published on Apr 8, 2022 at 5:12 pm in Electric Scooters and Bikes.

There are different types of e-scooters that people use around the Los Angeles area, and most scooters have no insurance requirements in California. This means that if you are riding a scooter, you likely do not have any insurance to cover yourself in the event of an accident. This doesn’t mean you do not have options, however, and if you are injured, you should immediately discuss the matter with an e-scooter accident lawyer. 

If Someone Else Caused the Accident

Often, e-scooter accidents happen when a driver negligently hits a scooter. Drivers are often distracted, and they can easily miss an e-scooter crossing the street or using streets with lower speed limits. When a negligent driver causes your scooter accident and injuries, that driver’s auto insurance should cover all of your losses. 

You would start this process by having your scooter accident lawyer file an insurance claim with the driver’s insurance company. Your attorney will need to provide proof of liability and the damages you seek. Such damages can include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost income and future lost earning ability
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disabilities or disfigurement

The insurance process can be complicated, as the insurer might try to pin the blame on you as the e-scooter rider. This is a common tactic among insurers these days, as they assume that an e-scooter rider did something wrong to cause the accident. However, as long as you were riding the scooter in a proper bike lane or otherwise according to the law, the driver should be fully accountable for hitting you and causing you injuries. 

Rented Scooter Insurance Coverage

When you rent an e-scooter, you will not have your own scooter insurance. However, Lime provides coverage for its riders in the event of accidents and injuries. This is the case whether the accident was the rider’s fault or not. Lime provides coverage for:

• Bodily injuries the rider suffered while using a rented Lime scooter
• Damage the rider causes to another person’s property

To qualify for this coverage, you must be at least 18 years old, register yourself with the Lime app, and rent a scooter through the app. On the other hand, Bird does not provide any coverage unless an accident happens due to a defective scooter. 

In either case, getting the compensation you need from these scooter rental companies can be difficult. Lime insurance only applies to “covered” claims, and it is unclear which claims will be covered or not. The best thing to do following an e-scooter accident is to get medical care and then contact an e-scooter accident law firm right away. 

Let a Los Angeles E-Scooter Accident Attorney Help You

Most people do not know their options after an e-scooter crash, as the options and insurance issues are confusing. The Ride App Law Group, LLP, can determine the best course of action to seek compensation for you. Contact us for a free consultation if you are in the Los Angeles, San Diego, or San Jose area.