California Electric Scooter Laws and Accidents
Electric scooters are growing in popularity as a means of transportation for people who only need to go short distances. Scooter share programs such as Lime Bike and Bird Rides make it possible to take advantage of using a scooter as transportation without even purchasing your own scooter. While electric scooters are convenient and an environmentally friendly method of transportation, it’s important to be familiar with electric scooter laws in California before you decide to ride one. It’s also important to consider the risk of injury when using this way of getting around. Overview of California Electric Scooter Laws An electric scooter has two wheels, handlebars, a floorboard to stand on, and a motor. It also has a kickstand to use when parked. Registration or license plates don’t have to be displayed on this type of vehicle, and insurance isn’t required, although users of these vehicles may want to speak to an insurance agent about whether it’s possible to purchase coverage. In order to operate an electric scooter in California, you have to be at least 16 years old and have a driver’s license or learner’s permit. A scooter shouldn’t be operated on a sidewalk but can be used on a bike path. On roads, if there is no bike lane, scooters can be operated on roads where the speed limit is 25 miles an hour or less. Safety regulations are in the process of loosening to allow scooters on roads with speed limits up to 35 miles per hour. Riders are required to ride as close to the right-hand side of the road as possible, except when making a left turn. Safety When Riding a Scooter It’s a good idea to wear a DOT-approved helmet whenever you use a scooter as transportation. Until recently, wearing a helmet was legally required, but the law is in the process of changing to only require helmets for riders under the age of 18. At least one hand should be on the handlebars at all times. Anyone who rides an electric scooter shouldn’t allow any passengers on the scooter with them. Electric Scooter Accidents Although laws regulating scooters are becoming less strict, accidents on electric scooters can and do happen. Anyone who rides a scooter needs to always be alert to the possibility of road hazards such as potholes, fallen branches, rocks or puddles. Accidents can also happen that only involve the scooter rider, such as running into a tree or hitting an obstacle. If a scooter rider isn’t paying attention, he or she may run into a pedestrian or a moving vehicle. It’s possible to be injured while riding an electric scooter by being hit by another motorized vehicle, which could be a car, truck, or another scooter, or injury may occur if a car door unexpectedly opens when the rider is passing a parked vehicle. Injuries Sustained in a Scooter Accident If you were hit by a scooter rider while walking, it may be difficult to obtain compensation since scooter riders are not required to carry insurance. If you were riding a scooter and were hit by a motor vehicle driver who was negligent, you may be able to obtain compensation if it can be proven that the driver was negligent. Get in touch with Kuvara Law Firm for a free consultation by filling out the form on this page. By speaking to an expert in the field of personal injury law, you can learn about your rights and find out if you have a case.
Dooring Accidents in the Bay Area
When you ride a bicycle or a motorcycle on a street in the Bay area, one of the hazards you face is dooring, which is when someone opens a car door in your path. If someone suddenly opens their vehicle door while you are riding by, there’s a good chance that you won’t have time to react in order to prevent a dooring accident and getting hurt. Even when you are traveling at a slow speed, getting doored can cause you to lose control of your bicycle or motorcycle. You may be thrown over the handlebars or suffer a number of other possible injuries. Serious Injuries from Dooring Dooring can lead to very serious injuries. Whether you collide with the door that was opened in your path or swerve to avoid the door and collide with another vehicle, there are many types of serious injuries that you may sustain from a person’s carelessness in opening a door without looking. As a bike rider, you aren’t protected by the metal of a vehicle surrounding your body, or by airbags. Some of the injuries that may occur from dooring include: Spinal cord injuries Neck injuries Broken bones Traumatic brain injury Damage to internal organs California’s Dooring Statute In the Bay area and throughout California, there is a dooring statute which clearly prohibits opening the door of a vehicle on the side of moving traffic. The exception would be if it’s safe to open a door without interfering with moving traffic, which includes bicycles or motorcycles. This statute falls under California Vehicle Code 22517. It also prevents leaving a door open on the side of traffic for any longer than it takes for passengers to get in or out of a vehicle. Who’s to Blame for a Dooring Accident? A bicyclist or motorcyclist who has been hurt in a dooring accident in the Bay area can file a claim for personal injury against the person who opened a door in their path. Most of the time the person who opened the door can be found in violation of California’s Dooring Statute for not checking that the path was clear before opening the door. Damages that a victim can collect if the other person is found to be negligent may include: Medical bills including those that may be incurred in the future Lost wages Compensation for disfigurement Pain and suffering Coverage for final services and burial in the event of a death caused by dooring Comparative Negligence The person who opened the car door isn’t always automatically found to be responsible for a dooring accident. In order to avoid the high cost of financial responsibility, a person who opened a door in the way of a cyclist may try to prove that the victim was at least partially responsible for the accident. If the victim was found to be partly responsible for the accident, this is known as comparative negligence. This would mean that the victim would collect damages minus the percent that they were found to be at fault. Getting Legal Representation for a Dooring Accident If you or a loved one has sustained an injury in a dooring accident, it’s a good idea to consult with an expert in the field of personal injury law. At Kuvara Law Firm, we have more than 40 years of experience in this field. We offer a free consultation so that you can find out your rights and whether you should proceed with filing a lawsuit. Get in touch with us by filling out the form on this page. Let’s talk about what happened and see if we can help.
Important California Motorcycle Laws Riders Need To Know
Riding a motorcycle on an open California road can give the rider a sense of exhilaration and total freedom. Although motorcycle riders may feel like they own the road, they have to follow the same rules of the road that drivers of cars and trucks have to follow. Motorcyclists also have to follow laws pertaining specifically to driving motorcycles. These laws aren’t meant to take the fun out of driving a motorcycle. They are meant to protect motorcyclists and the other drivers they share the road with. Following these laws can help reduce the risk of motorcycle riders being involved in a serious accident that could cause injuries or death. Motorcycle Licensing Laws To obtain a motorcycle license, you must be at least 16 years old and you will need to take a vision test, written test and driving test. Riders under the age of 21 are required to complete the California Highway Patrol’s Basic Rider Course. It’s a good idea for riders over 21 to complete this course as well, but they have the option of completing a skills test in order to be exempt from taking it. All motorcycle riders have to obtain a learner’s permit before applying for a license. Riders under the age of 18 must have a permit for at least six months before they can apply for a license. A rider with a learner’s permit is prohibited from: Driving at night Driving on the freeway Carrying passengers Motorcycle Safety Laws Helmets are required for both motorcycle drivers and riders in California at all times and they must be in compliance with standards set by the United States Department of Transportation. A daytime headlight should be used to improve visibility in traffic unless the vehicle was manufactured before 1978. After sunset, headlights are mandatory on all motorcycles. When the driver is seated, handlebars can be no more than six inches above the height of the driver’s shoulders. Working turn signals are required in both back and front. A mirror is required on the right and the left. If a passenger is riding, footrests and seats are required. Riders are permitted to wear earplugs as long as they can still hear sirens or horns. Lane Splitting and Lane Sharing Lane splitting is when a motorcycle maneuvers between two lanes of slow or stopped traffic. This is legal in California, and even though it appears to be dangerous, it prevents motorcycles from being sandwiched between cars and reduces the amounts of toxic exhaust fumes they inhale. Lane sharing is when two vehicles are traveling side by side in the same direction and in the same lane. It can be done by two motorcycles or by a motorcycle and car. This can be done on big roads that have at least two lanes heading in the same direction. Motorcycle Crashes Vehicle accidents happen with all types of vehicles including motorcycles, but motorcycle riders are much more vulnerable to sustaining serious injuries if an accident occurs. Motorcycle riders have to be alert to sudden moves by cars and to drivers that drive aggressively and tailgate motorcycles or try to cut them off. No matter how careful you are, you may end up being injured in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another driver. If this happens to you, your injuries may be very serious. An expert personal injury lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you deserve, which may include lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. To find out how we can help you, contact Kuvara Law Firm using the form on this page and one of our lawyers will get back to you soon.
