In 2018, U.S. electric scooter riders took 38.5 million trips on shared scooters, according to the National Association of City Transportation officials. As electric scooters become more prevalent in cities in Maryland and across the country, accidents involving electric scooters are also becoming more common. Riders can be injured, and can also hurt others while riding the scooters. In the event of an injury or even a death in a Maryland electric scooter accident, more people are questioning whether electric scooters are covered under their insurance policies.
Electric scooters rental companies usually place liability on riders in their rental agreements or carve out coverage for specific instances. Generally, electric scooters are not covered under an auto insurance policy. Electric scooters also are not generally covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy. Some insurance policies may allow an insured to add coverage for an electric scooter onto their auto, homeowner’s, or renter’s insurance policy.
At Least 29 Killed in Electric Scooter Accidents Since 2018
At least 29 people died in electric scooter accidents since 2018, as rental scooter companies like Lime and Bird have become increasingly popular, according to one news source. One 20-year-old rider was heading home from work in Atlanta around midnight. He pulled out a parking lot and was hit and killed by an SUV. The SUV driver later said that she could not avoid the scooter rider.
Most of those killed were riding on the scooter, though some pedestrians were also killed after being hit by electric scooters. Most deaths occurred after a collision with a motor vehicle. Four people died while riding electric scooters in the Atlanta metro area last year, each after a crash with a motor vehicle. According to the article, more people have died on electric scooters in Atlanta than in any other city worldwide. The Journal of American Medical Association released a report finding a dramatic increase in injuries involving the use of an electric scooter from 2017 to 2018.
Because the electric scooter industry is new, there is little regulation. Some scooters were pulled from service after defective batteries made some more likely to catch fire, and another defect caused baseboards to break apart while they were being used. The deaths of electric scooter riders have caused some to call for banning electric scooters altogether. A spokesperson for Bird stated that the best way to create a safe environment is to build safe infrastructure by segregating electric scooter users from motor vehicles.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Scooter Accident?
If you have been injured in a Maryland motorcycle accident, electric scooter accident, or other accident, you can retain an accident lawyer at Lebowitz & Mzhen, Personal Injury Lawyers to pursue compensation for your damages. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, we have the tenacity and resources to pursue all of the parties that were responsible for causing your injuries and losses. Our Maryland personal injury attorneys take pride in advocating for the rights of victims. To set up a free consultation regarding a personal injury claim, call us at (410) 654-3600 or toll-free at (800) 654-1949, or you can contact us online.