Electric scooters have become a common way to get around Los Angeles: convenient, eco-friendly and fast. Their rise has also brought more crashes. If you’ve been hurt in an e-scooter crash in Los Angeles County, whether you were riding, walking or driving, it helps to understand your rights and the recovery process.
How Dangerous Are Electric Scooter Rides in L.A. County?
- Researchers at UCLA estimated about 115 e-scooter injuries treated in their health system for every 1 million e-scooter trips in the area, and said the true rate is likely higher (UCLA study, PLOS ONE). The same study noted that this rate is higher than earlier national estimates for motorcycles (104 per million trips), bicycles (15) and cars (8).
- The UCLA study also found that before shared e-scooters arrived in 2018, the health system treated at most 13 e-scooter injuries a year. That rose to 595 in 2018 and 672 in 2019.
- According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), e-scooter injuries rose 22% from 2021 to 2022, and injuries from all micromobility devices rose nearly 21%.
Why Scooter Crashes Can Be Especially Serious
- Little protection: riders stand on a narrow deck with no frame or airbag, and helmet use is low.
- Small wheels: potholes, cracked pavement and uneven surfaces can stop a scooter suddenly and throw the rider.
- Shared roads and sidewalks: scooters mix with car traffic, and parked or moving scooters can injure pedestrians.
Common Injuries from Scooter Accidents
- Common outcomes include fractures, head trauma and upper and lower limb injuries. In a UCLA study of 249 people treated in emergency departments after standing e-scooter injuries, 31.7% had fractures and 40.2% had head injuries. Only 4.4% of injured riders were documented as wearing a helmet (UCLA study, JAMA Network Open). If a crash caused a head injury, see our page on brain injury accidents in Los Angeles County.
- Injuries often involve falling off the scooter, collisions with objects or vehicles, and pedestrians being hit by a scooter or tripping over one. In the same study, 8.4% of the injured people were not riding at all.
Who May Be Liable for an E-Scooter Crash?
- Drivers: a motorist who turns, opens a door or changes lanes without seeing a scooter rider may be responsible.
- Scooter companies or manufacturers: brake, throttle or battery defects and poor maintenance of shared scooters may create liability.
- Cities and other public agencies: a dangerous road or sidewalk condition may support a claim against the public entity responsible for it. These claims have a much shorter deadline; see our article on the six-month deadline for claims against cities, buses and schools.
- Shared fault: under California’s comparative fault rule, an injured rider may still recover even if partly at fault, with the recovery reduced by their share of fault.
What to Do After an E-Scooter Accident
- Seek medical care immediately, even for seemingly minor injuries.
- Document the scene: photos or video, statements from witnesses, and details about road conditions or scooter defects can help support your claim.
- Report the crash to the police and to the scooter company, especially if a collision or hazard was involved. Save the ride receipt and screenshots of the app showing the trip.
- Keep the evidence: don’t repair or throw away your own scooter, helmet or damaged clothing.
- Avoid recorded statements to an insurer before you understand your rights.
- Consult a personal injury attorney. Liability could lie with other motorists, scooter companies or manufacturers, or local governments responsible for infrastructure.
DJLAWCORP.COM: Your Legal Support After an E-Scooter Crash
At Djougourian Law Corporation, we represent people injured in electric scooter crashes across Los Angeles County, including:
- Los Angeles (City)
- Long Beach
- Glendale
- Pasadena
- Burbank
- Santa Clarita
- Torrance
- El Monte
- Downey
Trial attorney Arthur Djougourian graduated from UC Berkeley and Pepperdine University School of Law, was admitted to the California Bar in 2018 and was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2022. We help with:
- Investigating your accident and identifying who is at fault
- Gathering evidence: medical records, police reports and scooter trip data
- Presenting a demand for medical care, lost wages and pain and suffering
- Negotiating with insurers or litigating claims against liable parties, including scooter companies or public agencies
What You May Be Able to Recover
- Medical expenses, including future care and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage, such as a damaged personal scooter, phone or helmet
When a scooter crash is fatal, eligible family members may have a wrongful death claim, and the estate may have a separate survival claim. California law limits who may bring a wrongful death claim (Code of Civil Procedure §377.60) and which losses are recoverable.
Quick Overview: E-Scooter Accident Trends
- Injury rate (L.A.): about 115 injuries per 1 million e-scooter trips (UCLA Health, PLOS ONE; the true rate is likely higher)
- Increase after shared scooters arrived: at most 13 injuries a year, then 595 in 2018 and 672 in 2019 (UCLA Health, PLOS ONE)
- National trend: e-scooter injuries up 22% from 2021 to 2022 (CPSC)
- Common injuries: fractures (31.7%) and head injuries (40.2%); only 4.4% of injured riders documented wearing a helmet (UCLA, JAMA Network Open)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is riding an e-scooter dangerous?
It can be. UCLA researchers estimated about 115 injuries per 1 million e-scooter trips, and said the true rate is likely higher.
What injuries are most common?
Fractures, head trauma and limb injuries are most frequent. In a UCLA study of 249 people treated in emergency departments after standing e-scooter injuries, 31.7% had fractures and 40.2% had head injuries.
Do helmets make a difference?
Helmets help protect against head injuries, which were the most common injury in the UCLA emergency department study, where only 4.4% of injured riders were documented as wearing one. California requires motorized scooter riders under 18 to wear a helmet (Vehicle Code §21235).
Can I claim compensation after an e-scooter crash?
If someone else was negligent (another driver, a scooter company or a public agency responsible for an unsafe road) you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. You may have a claim even if you were the rider, and even if you were partly at fault.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Many California personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years, but exceptions can change that deadline; the California Courts deadline guide explains the general rules. If a city or other public agency may be responsible, a written claim is generally due within six months. Have your dates reviewed promptly.
What if I was riding my own scooter rather than a rental?
You may still have a claim against a negligent driver, the manufacturer of a defective scooter or the agency responsible for a dangerous road. Keep the scooter in its post-crash condition.
Do I have to pay anything upfront?
No. We work on contingency: no attorney fee unless there is a recovery. The written fee agreement explains the percentage and how case expenses are handled.
Why hire DJLAWCORP.COM?
We handle evidence collection, liability assessment and claim negotiation and, if needed, litigation to pursue fair compensation.
Recover with Confidence: Get Legal Support Now
If you’ve been injured in an electric scooter accident in Los Angeles County, you don’t have to face the recovery process alone. From medical care to financial compensation, Djougourian Law Corporation can guide you through each step. Call 818-530-0000 or request a free consultation. Acting quickly helps preserve evidence and protect your deadlines.
