Miami’s warm weather, dense neighborhoods, and heavy traffic have made electric scooters a popular way for residents and tourists to get around the city. From the Wynwood Arts District to Brickell and Miami Beach, riders use them to navigate traffic and explore neighborhoods, but the growing number of crashes means our Miami scooter accident lawyers are seeing more injured riders than ever.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a scooter accident in Miami, whether you were riding when a car struck you, or you were a pedestrian hit by a negligent rider, our Miami scooter accident lawyers at Aigen Injury Law are ready to help you understand your rights. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. We’ll aggressively pursue the compensation you need for your medical bills and lost income.
Electric Scooters and Traditional Gas-Powered Scooters (Mopeds) in Miami
Widespread scooter safety violations, such as helmetless riders, underage use, and multiple riders per scooter, led Miami to revoke permits for five companies, including Bird, Bolt, Lime, Lyft, and Wheels, in January 2022.
Residents and visitors often turn to alternatives like Unagi’s subscription service or private rentals such as Miami Scooter Rentals, while others own personal e-scooters. Popular riding areas include Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue, Wynwood, Brickell, the Venetian Causeway, and the Underline.
It’s also important to understand that, under Florida law, gas-powered mopeds are classified as motor vehicles and require registration, insurance, and a valid driver’s license, while electric scooters do not. However, both types of scooters pose serious injury risks, and the legal framework governing accident claims can differ significantly depending on the type of vehicle involved.
Why Electric Scooter Accidents Are So Dangerous
Electric scooters may appear to be a low-risk mode of transportation, but their design makes accidents much more dangerous than anticipated, as one recent Miami scooter accident near NW 7th Avenue illustrates. Several key factors make e-scooter accidents more likely to result in serious injuries:
- E-scooters have small wheels and narrow frames, making them unstable and more likely to throw riders off when they encounter potholes, uneven pavement, cracked sidewalks, or road debris.
- E-scooters are silent, so pedestrians and other road users miss them, especially in congested areas like Wynwood or Bayside Marketplace.
- E-scooters are low to the ground and narrow, making them difficult for drivers to see, especially when turning or backing out of parking spaces.
- Riders, particularly those new to e-scooters, often underestimate their speed, leading to slower reaction times in dangerous situations.
Mopeds pose different but equally serious risks. They travel at higher speeds, share lanes with cars, and rely on more complex mechanical systems, which increases the risk of brake failures, tire blowouts, and engine malfunctions. These are the factors that frequently result in more severe injuries in accidents.
Common Causes of Miami Scooter Accidents
Some of the most common causes of scooter accidents in Miami include:
- Vehicle Driver Negligence: Speeding or reckless driving, refusing to yield to scooter riders at intersections, and dooring accidents where a car door is opened in the path of a scooter rider
- Scooter Driver Errors: Driving while distracted, like texting or phone use, and riders operating scooters while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Hazardous Road Conditions: Poor road conditions, such as potholes, cracked asphalt, and inadequate bike lane markings
- Defective Scooter Components: Faulty brakes, malfunctioning throttles, battery failures, and other manufacturing defects that can cause riders to lose control
- Negligent Rental Scooter Maintenance: Failing to inspect, repair, or properly maintain rental scooters before allowing them to be used by the public
Common Injuries in Scooter Accidents
With scooter riders having minimal protection compared to car occupants, the injuries they sustain are often serious. Injuries seen in Miami scooter accident cases include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Skull fractures
- Facial lacerations and fractures
- Road rash
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
What to Do After a Scooter Accident in Miami
The steps you take after a scooter accident can affect both your health and your ability to recover compensation. If you are involved in a scooter accident in Miami:
- Move to safety if it won’t worsen your injuries.
- Call 911 to report the accident and request emergency services. A police report is critical for your claim.
- Seek medical care immediately, even if you feel fine, as injuries like concussions or internal bleeding may not show right away. For emergency care in Miami, visit Jackson Memorial Hospital. Additional care is available at Jackson South Medical Center or University of Miami Hospital.
- Take photos of the scene, including the scooter, vehicles, road conditions, and injuries.
- Get contact details of any witnesses.
- Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies before speaking with a lawyer.
- Contact a scooter accident attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Miami Scooter Accident?
Proving liability in a Miami scooter accident may rest with one or more parties, depending on the circumstances of the accident.
- If you were hit by a negligent driver, they and their insurance company would typically be responsible. If the driver lacks sufficient coverage, your own policy may apply, depending on your situation.
- If a defective rental scooter caused the accident, the rental company could be liable for poor maintenance. Liability waivers don’t always prevent claims, especially in negligence cases.
- If another scooter rider caused your injury, they may be personally liable, sometimes with limited insurance coverage through the rental platform.
- If a poorly maintained Miami street or a defective crosswalk contributed to your accident, a government entity could be liable, though this involves strict claims and requirements.
What If You’re a Driver Involved in a Scooter Accident?
Not every Miami scooter accident involves a negligent driver. If a scooter rider darted into traffic, ignored a signal, or rode erratically and caused a collision with your vehicle, you may face unfair blame from insurance adjusters. An experienced Miami scooter accident attorney can investigate the facts, preserve evidence, and protect your rights regardless of which side of the accident you were on.
Types of Compensation You Can Claim in a Miami Scooter Accident
If you or a loved one was injured while riding a scooter in Miami, you may be eligible to receive compensation to cover your damages:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Wrongful death damages
Florida uses a modified comparative negligence rule. If you’re partly at fault, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re more than 50% at fault, you can’t recover damages. This makes working with a skilled attorney essential to building a strong case.
Florida’s Statute of Limitations for Scooter Accident Claims
Florida law sets a strict two-year deadline for filing most personal injury lawsuits for accidents occurring on or after March 24, 2023. This applies to negligence-based cases, including scooter accidents. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to recover compensation entirely, no matter how strong your case is. Acting quickly is essential, as evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories fade, and insurers begin building defenses immediately. Consulting a Miami scooter accident lawyer early helps protect and strengthen your claim.
Contact Our Miami Scooter Accident Lawyers Today
At Aigen Injury Law, we understand how overwhelming it can be to face a serious injury while also dealing with medical bills, missed work, and the challenges of navigating an insurance claim. Our personal injury lawyers work to investigate the case while also dealing with insurance companies on your behalf, all on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
If you have been injured in a scooter accident in Miami, the personal injury lawyers at Aigen Injury Law is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Make the Call. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Results in individual cases are based on the unique facts of each case. Principal office: 1 SE 3rd Ave, Suite 3020, Miami, FL.