We are Bay Area Bicycle Law. We are the only law firm in Northern California specializing exclusively in representing injured cyclists. And that support extends to anyone one injured in an accident on alternative forms of one, two, three and four-wheeled transportation.
This includes victims who were riding electric scooters, tricycles, segways, rollerblades, skateboards, and many other forms of ride-on machines. Our law firm has spent years advocating for the bicycle community. We want safer rides for every cyclist and those riding other craft like longboards and scooters.
To learn more about how our team of lawyers can help you with your injury claim, contact us today for a free consultation at (415) 650-4333.
San Francisco Travel Options
We love San Francisco for many reasons but one of the biggest positives is the many, many travel options to chose from while moving across our beautiful city.
Alternative forms of transportation are often economical, efficient, and fun. The rise of pay-per-ride electric scooters, segways, mopeds, and bike-share programs offer some unique ways to roll around the Panhandle or Nob Hill.
Scooters and Electric Bikes on San Francisco Streets
These transportation alternatives can provide a distinctive way to take in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, many of these exciting forms of travel make use of already congested streets and thoroughfares. Conflict with vehicles traveling much faster and carrying much more metal is inevitable.
Bicyclists already know these risks in traffic. Motorists in cars and SUVs who hit riders often say they didn’t notice the much smaller cyclist. Distracted driving often contributes to these accidents. How much more likely is it for a careless driver to miss an even smaller profile from someone on an e-scooter or a hoverboard?
Riders Face Dangerous Accidents
The Mercury News reported on a UC San Francisco study on electric scooter accidents in 2020. San Francisco trauma specialists and researchers found the number of hospital admissions due to e-scooter accidents climbed by 365% between 2014 and 2018. Nearly a third of the patients suffered head trauma. That’s more than twice the rate of head injuries to bicyclists.
These alarming numbers highlight the fact that non-vehicular travelers are at a higher risk of harm in an accident. Riders on scooters, mopeds, and rollerblades may have a helmet and pads on but that’s little protection against a two and a half-ton car.
Recovery from a devastating accident can be long and expensive. A rider may wonder who can be held responsible when the accident was someone else’s fault. They may hope to recover medical expenses and lost wages from a job they can no longer physically make it in for. A Bay Area Bicycle Law Attorney can answer these questions and help you find the best place to start when building evidence to make a claim.
Common Scooter and Other Accidents Around San Francisco
San Francisco and the Bay Area is a leader in innovation for the entire world and new transportation ideas are often tested here first. In fact, the Lime bike and e-scooter corporation started in San Francisco, joining Uber and Lyft as successful homegrown companies.
These scooter, segway, and bike-share services may have seemed like a fad, but new companies seem to be taking advantage of the trend every year. Unfortunately. until drivers get used to sharing the road with e-scooters and other riders on small wheels the accident rates will remain high.
This is a list of just some of the unique forms of transportation around San Francisco that are in need of extra protection in traffic:
- Lime Accessible Scooter Accidents
- Bike share Accidents
- Hoverboard Accidents
- Longboard Accidents
- Moped Accidents
- One-Wheel Bike Accidents
- Rollerblade Accidents
- Scooter Accidents
- Segway Accidents
- Skateboard Accidents
- Tricycle Accidents
Common Injuries in Pedal and Push Traffic Accidents
These machines offer new ways to get across the city without getting into a car or bus. That’s a big positive for many. Safety needs to be the first priority if you decide to hop on a scooter or skateboard. Whether it’s a pothole that sends you into a spill or a speeding car, the injuries can be severe.
Common injuries from scooter accidents include:
- Head Trauma
- Dental injuries
- Bone fractures
- Road rash
- Dislocations
- Organ damage
Scooter Laws and Skateboard Laws
Scooter and e-scooter riders have the same right to ride on city streets as any car, and the law allows them to ride outside a bike lane if the speed limit of the street is 25 mph or less. Skateboards and Longboards are a bit trickier as it can depend on what part of the city you’re in if you’re able to ride on the street.
If you’ve been in an accident, an attorney at Bay Area Bicycle Law will be open with you regarding your rights, and will likely correct much of what a driver’s insurance company will try to get you to believe.
In California, victims have up to two years after an accident to file a claim. Bay Area Bicycle Law recommends filing a claim as soon as possible after an injury. The more time that passes, the harder it’ll be to collect evidence and documents to build a strong case.
San Francisco Bicycle & Scooter Accident Lawyers
Bay Area Bicycle Law works with clients all over the Bay Area and is a personal injury law firm that specializes in working with injured cyclists, including those that have been in accidents involving scooters, segways, skateboards, and any other forms or ride-on machines.
Years of advocacy for bicycle crash victims have seasoned our attorneys with the necessary skills to handle accident cases with the utmost level of professional expertise. We will always offer you legal advice which is in your best interest. Contact us today for a free consultation.
We handle cases in your area, and there are many benefits to working with a specialist.