Injured On a Scooter?

The joy of riding a scooter can change in an instant when you are injured in a scooter accident.  Electric scooters hit the streets of Wichita in July 2019.  The city requires that people using Zagster or Spin scooters ride on bike paths or city streets, but there are dangers in both places.  If you’ve been injured in a scooter accident, you may be facing medical bills and lost wages.  If the injury was caused by a vehicle, you may have a claim for pain and suffering for the injuries caused in the scooter accident.

How Can Scooters Be Dangerous?

Scooter riders face a host of risks.  There are no legal licensing or training requirements for scooter riders to ensure that the rider is competent with using the scooter and stays safe.  Riding while intoxicated, riding on sidewalks, not wearing a helmet, are all potential dangers that can be avoided.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for My Injuries?

If someone else caused the accident, they may be held legally responsible for your medical bills and money for pain and suffering.  It can be a challenge figuring out which person or insurance company will pay for your injuries.  There are situations where individuals or multiple people can be held responsible:

• A Fellow Scooter Rider
• A Vehicle Driver
• Scooter Company
• Your Auto Insurance Company

What are the Rules in Wichita that Scooter Riders Must Follow?

Wichita City Council passed Section 9.03.405 in June 2019 which governs electric scooters on park property.  This ordinance does not apply to gas powered scooters or motorized skateboards. The rules are as follows:

(a) The operation of electric-assisted scooters shall be permitted only on designated bicycle and multiuse paths and in designated areas.
(b) Electric-assisted scooters shall not be operated on sidewalks or unpaved surfaces.
(c) Electric-assisted scooters shall not be parked in a manner which impedes pedestrians, bicycles or motor vehicles.

The City of Wichita gets into even greater detail with Section 11.50.010:

(a) Except as set forth below, the operation of electric-assisted scooters shall be permitted upon a street, highway or roadway and on designated bicycle and multiuse paths and in designated areas.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an electric-assisted scooter on the sidewalk.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an electric-assisted scooter on a street with a posted speed limit of forty (40) miles per hour or higher unless there is a bike lane on such roadway.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any activity that interferes with the safe operation of the electric-assisted scooter.
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an electric assisted scooter in such a manner as to indicate a careless or heedless disregard for the rights or safety or others or in such a manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property.
(e) Every person riding an electric-assisted scooter upon a street, highway or roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this Title except as to special ordinances so designated and except to those provisions of this code which by their nature can have no application.
(f) Every person operating an electric-assisted scooter upon a street, highway or roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic shall ride as near to the right side of the street, highway or roadway as practicable except when:
(1) Preparing to make a left turn at an intersection or into a private drive or roadway;
(2) Reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or narrow width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand edge of the street, highway or roadway.
For the purposes of this section, “Narrow width lane” means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or stand up electric-assisted scooter and a vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane.
(g) Any person operating an electric-assisted scooter upon a one-way street, highway or roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes shall ride as near to the left side of the roadway as practicable.
(h) Persons riding electric-assisted scooters upon a street, highway, or roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or electric-assisted scooters.
(i) No electric-assisted scooter shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed or equipped.
(j) It shall be unlawful for any person while riding an electric-assisted scooter on the streets, highways, bicycle or multiuse paths of the City, to hitch or otherwise attach him or herself onto other moving vehicles.
(k) A person operating an electric-assisted scooter across a street, highway or a roadway or along a crosswalk shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian and shall give the audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
(l) Any person operating an electric-assisted scooter across a roadway or along a crosswalk shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
(m) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an electric-assisted scooter upon the roadway, street, highway or bicycle or multiuse path between the hours of dusk or 9:00 P.M., whichever is earlier, and sunrise.
(n) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an electric-assisted scooter at a speed in excess of twenty (20) miles per hour.
(o) Vehicle registration and driver’s license shall not be required for operation of an electric-assisted scooter.

Free Scooter Accident Consultation

If you or a loved one have injuries from a scooter accident, reach out to a scooter accident lawyer today.  We handle injury cases every day and have recovered millions for our clients.  The call is free, the consult is free, and the advice is free.  We only charge a fee if we win your case and get you money for your pain and suffering.  Call (316) 550-0000.