Bird scooters are electric, dockless scooters that can be picked up and dropped off virtually anywhere, offering an affordable and convenient means of transportation. Unfortunately, the more cities Bird scooters appear in, the more injuries and accidents are reported. Sometimes, the victims are injured when hidden product defects create hazards or cause the scooters to malfunction. In other cases, the victims are struck by careless drivers.
If you were injured in a Bird scooter accident, and your accident was caused by a product defect or malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The product liability attorneys of the Reiff Law Firm can fight to recover damages for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, and other losses. At the Reiff Law Firm, we are award-winning personal injury lawyers who possess more than 34 years of experience litigating complex, high-stakes injury cases, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients in the process. Contact us online today to set up a free legal consultation, or call the Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help answer your questions about scooter injury claims.
What Cities Have Bird Scooters?
Bird, which originated in Santa Monica, California, made its debut quite recently, with the company forming in September 2017. Since then, Bird has expanded to dozens of U.S. cities. According to the company’s website, U.S. cities with Bird scooters include, but are not limited to, the following as of June 2019:
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Austin, Texas
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Chicago, Illinois
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Dallas, Texas
- Detroit, Michigan
- Los Angeles, California
- Miami, Florida
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Portland, Oregon
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- San Diego, California
- Louis, Missouri
- Washington, D.C.
Are Electric Scooters Dangerous?
When manufactured, maintained, and ridden properly, electric scooters can provide a safe and enjoyable means of transportation from Point A to Point B. Unfortunately, even when riders are careful and cautious, hidden product defects can lead to serious scooter accidents.
In June 2019, AP News reported on one emergency room physician who, as one of the authors behind a groundbreaking study of scooter injuries, found that “249 scooter injuries [occurred during a yearlong period], and more than 40% were head injuries.” Consumer Reports, a trusted non-profit organization that provides product safety reviews, estimates that at least 1,500 people have suffered scooter-related injuries since 2017. Public safety advocates, consumer advocacy groups, concerned citizens, and medical professionals alike have questioned whether the benefits of these scooters outweigh the potential risks.
In many cases, injuries are caused by collisions between passenger vehicles and scooters, which, like bicycles and motorcycles, offer little in the way of impact or injury protection. However, accidents can also be caused by manufacturing or design defects, or by defective parts which cause a scooter to malfunction or handle improperly. Faulty repairs, lack of routine inspection and maintenance, and other safety oversights should be thoroughly investigated to determine what role negligence might have played in your accident.
Injuries Caused by Electric Scooter Accidents
As noted above, a disproportionately high percentage of injuries caused by scooter accidents are brain or head injuries. A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is any brain injury caused by an external blow, or by the brain striking the inner walls of the skull during an accident. (By comparison, non-traumatic brain injuries have causes such as tumors or infections.) A concussion is an example of a “mild” traumatic brain injury, or mTBI. Other TBI examples include contusions (bruising), diffuse axonal injuries (DAI), and brain injuries caused by objects penetrating the skull.
At the Reiff Law Firm, our Bird scooter accident lawyers handle all types of injury claims, including lawsuits involving:
- Back injuries
- Broken bones (bone fractures)
- Broken teeth
- Cuts and bleeding
- Hand injuries
- Hip injuries
- Knee injuries
- Internal injuries
- Paralysis and spinal cord injuries (SCI)
- Permanent disability and impairment
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Shoulder injuries
- Skin injuries such as “road rash”
- Sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries
- Wrist injuries
- Wrongful death
Product Liability Lawyer for Bird Scooter Accident Injury Claims
Some law firms try to rush through their cases, pushing for injury settlements that may not always be in the client’s best interests. At the Reiff Law Firm, we have established a reputation as skilled and sophisticated litigators who are unafraid to take powerful businesses to trial. We will analyze your claim from every legal angle to determine the appropriate strategy, working tirelessly to maximize your recovery. Our objective is to see that you and your family have what you need to begin moving forward again.
If you believe you could have a claim against Bird or other electric scooter companies, the Reiff Law Firm is here to listen and offer guidance. Contact us online today to set up a free legal consultation, or call our law offices at (215) 709-6940. We handle Bird scooter injury lawsuits nationwide.
