Is Boston Safe for Electric Scooters?

Are you surprised to hear that Boston has a problem with traffic congestion? Perhaps not if you live here. INRIX, a traffic-management company, reports that Boston ranks first as the worst city for traffic in the United States in 2022. Drivers in Boston spend an average of 164 hours per year caught in traffic. The report estimates Boston drivers pay $2,291 just to sit in traffic.

Electric Scooters as an Alternative Transportation Method

With Boston ranking even higher than New York and Los Angeles for bad traffic conditions, the city plans to become carbon-neutral by 2050. One solution is to reduce emissions by implementing more eco-friendly transportation methods.

Clean-energy vehicles such as electric scooters are gaining popularity around the country. Riders have been using them in Boston for a couple of years now.

Electric Scooter Hazards

If you’ve seen people riding electric scooters around the city, you may wonder about their safety. After all, riders are using them on the streets in traffic. Unfortunately, electric scooters can be dangerous.

Researchers in Europe — where electric scooters gained popularity before coming to the U.S. — conducted a safety study. They found that people are more likely to sustain injuries riding a scooter than on a motorcycle, bicycle, car, or walking. In fact, electric scooter riders made 1.8 million trips to the emergency department between April 2019 and April 2021.

Types of Electric Scooter Injuries

Falling from a scooter or having a passenger vehicle strike you while riding can lead to severe injuries. According to a medical study, many are orthopedic, resulting in bone fractures. Of the patients studied, more than 30% required surgery, and almost 4% went on to have multiple surgeries.

Other ways of getting hurt include:

Head and Neck Injury

Head and neck trauma is the most common type of injury. It represents nearly 30% of injuries. This category includes:

• Dental injuries
• Skull fractures
• Face fractures
• Neck fractures
• Soft tissue injuries
• Bleeding in the brain

Arm and Leg Injuries

You can damage your extremities during a scooter accident by sustaining a fracture or damaging soft tissue. You can also dislocate a shoulder or hip.

Other Injuries

Some accident victims sustain pelvic, spinal and rib injuries. They can also have spinal trauma or damage to internal organs. While not as common, these injuries can be pretty serious.

Staying Safe on an Electric Scooter in Boston

You can’t control what other riders or passenger vehicles do on the road. However, you can take steps to protect your safety while riding.

Learn To Ride

If you think you can hop on an electric scooter with little to no training, you may quickly find out otherwise. Electric scooters can be fast. Most rented scooters average between 15-17 miles per hour. High-powered scooters can go faster than 30 miles per hour. However, Massachusetts law requires motorized scooter riders to sustain a speed of 20 miles per hour or less.

It’s a good idea to practice riding in a safe place before hitting the streets. You can also search for scooter lessons around Boston.

Wear a Helmet

Massachusetts law requires motorized scooter riders to wear a helmet. It is an excellent way to protect yourself from head injuries. A full-face helmet offers optimal protection.

Always Ride Sober

Electric scooter riders can sustain injuries because they have been drinking before they ride. Never ride while intoxicated. If you need a safe ride home, call a cab, ride-hailing service or friend.

Inspect the Scooter Before Riding

Before you get on the scooter, check:

• Throttle
• Brakes
• Tires
• Lights

It’s crucial to make sure the equipment is in shape for your ride before you head out.

Put Away Your Phone

Riding an electric scooter requires balance and concentration. Holding a phone or trying to scroll or text takes away from your ability to ride.

Watch the Pavement

Electric scooters have very small tires, making them susceptible to road hazards such as bumps and uneven pavement. Keep an eye on the road conditions directly in front of you and several feet ahead.

Obey Traffic Laws

Massachusetts law requires motorized scooter riders to have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit. It also prohibits riders from carrying passengers. Keep to the right of the road, even when passing, and use signals when stopping and turning. Also, it’s against the law to ride a motorized scooter after sunset or before sunrise.

What To Do if You Are in an Electric Scooter Accident

If you are in an accident, get to a safe location and call the police. Get the information of anyone else involved in the accident, including:

• Names
• Addresses
• Phone numbers
• Insurance information

If you were in an accident with a passenger car, get the vehicle’s make, model and license number.

• Document the details at the accident scene:
• What were the weather conditions?
• Did you have road hazards in your path?
• Are there witnesses?

Also, note your direction and the scooter’s position at the accident scene. Take pictures if you can do so safely.

Getting Medical Treatment

It’s a good idea to seek medical treatment after an electric scooter accident. You may have injuries even if you don’t realize it at first. The doctor can tell you what symptoms to watch for in the future. If you do sustain accident-related injuries, having medical documentation may help your case if you need to file a claim.

Seeking Legal Help After an Electric Scooter Accident

An accident can leave you wondering what to do next. Jason Stone Injury Lawyers are here to help you.

Investigating the Accident

You may not know who is at fault after your accident. Determining fault is not always a cut-and-dry process. The team at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers can investigate the crash for you. We can collect evidence, speak to witnesses, take photos of the scene, and review the accident report.

Negotiating With the Insurance Companies

Insurance companies know you are probably ready to settle your case as soon as possible. They may offer you a low settlement immediately, knowing you may be glad to receive any compensation.

The attorneys at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers know that you may deserve more than the insurance companies initially offer you. We can negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf.

Our team has handled personal injury cases for decades, and we know when an offer is solid. If it doesn’t include all the compensation you have coming, we will continue negotiations until you get the amount you deserve.

Taking Your Case to Court

Sometimes it is necessary to file a lawsuit. While we will work to settle your case before it reaches that point, you can rest assured that we can take your case to court if necessary.

Paying for Medical Expenses

The financial burden of an accident can be extensive. Between lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering, you may worry about paying for an attorney. That’s why Jason Stone Injury Lawyers has the Stone Cold Guarantee. It ensures that we don’t get paid until we settle your case.

Call Jason Stone Injury Lawyers Today

Contact our office today to see how Jason Stone Injury Lawyers can assist you after an electric scooter accident. We don’t get paid until you do. There’s No Obligation, Just Information (R).