Bird electric scooters can be purchased for personal use, but are also becoming more popular in big cities that rent them out. While they’re a convenient way to get around town, and a fun way to enjoy time with those you love, they can also be dangerous. Some common accidents involving Bird scooters include malfunctions, being hit by a car, colliding with pedestrians, the scooter flipping over, failing brakes, defective equipment and user negligence. If you were in an accident while riding a Bird scooter and wonder what to do next, check out the next few tips.
Get Seen By a Medical Professional
Whether you are able to get yourself to the emergency room or are seen by an EMT at the scene of your accident, it’s important you receive medical care. Scooters offer no protection, and although you may have been wearing a helmet, there are a lot of opportunities for injuries while riding a scooter. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be released from the hospital that day, or you may need to undergo more medical care. In any case, be sure you don’t skip this step.
Make a Report of the Accident
Whether you were hit by a car or fell into traffic because of a scooter malfunction, it’s important you report the accident. If you’ve got serious injuries, call 911. If your injuries are minor, you could call the local authorities to have someone meet you at the scene to make a police report. There’s no need to exaggerate what happened, and there’s no reason to lie about any of the details. Simply give the officer a factual report of what happened and let him or her take it from there.
If there were witnesses, be sure you point them out to the officer so they can make a statement about what happened as well. You can request a copy of the report at the scene, or you can make a trip to the police station a few days later to get a copy of it.
Contact Your Lawyer
Personal injuries come in many forms, and regardless of your situation, you should have a lawyer by your side. If you were injured in an accident while riding a Bird electric scooter, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your options and to see what you need to do to move forward with an insurance claim or lawsuit.