Simon Adamson, Personal Injury Specialist and Partner at Slater Heelis, gives us an insight into e-scooter crime and touches on some of the rules of usage.
E-scooters are a government initiative to lower carbon emissions and reduce congestion in our cities. They provide an alternative to car travel, and with low hiring costs, are easily accessible to all, including young people.
On a positive note, using an e-scooter over a car often results in shorter journey times. Plus, with designated parking spots, the difficulty finding inner-city parking has been taken away. What’s more is that e-scooters have even been shown to improve mental health! E-scooter riders have reported feelings of calmness and clarity and increased levels of happiness.
Having said this, e-scooters have not come without opposition. Crime is on the increase and we must remember, as with anything, there are rules and regulations to their usage.
The Law
It is illegal to use private e-scooters on public roads or public areas such as parks and pathways. Despite this, e-scooters are now being trialled by the government in certain areas and you can use these scooters perfectly legally on the road (excluding motorways). It is also possible to use them on cycle lanes when subject to the usual recommendations of riding bikes i.e. wearing a helmet and having the correct lighting.
This means that privately owned e-scooters can only be used on private land, but e-scooters which are part of the government scheme have more freedom.
E-scooter crime
“Notwithstanding the law, clearly people are buying them and using them illegally on roads, pavements, parks, shopping precincts and the like,” stated Simon. “This is causing a surge in accidents; not just to the individual using them, but to fellow pedestrians and road users. I understand the average speed is 12mph and therefore there is a serious risk of injuring yourself and others at this speed.”
Insurance is essential and those scooters which are part of the government scheme will have insurance provided by the e-scooter rental operator.
The concern is that those privately owned are not likely to be insured. If you are injured by someone on one of those, there may be no insurance company to recover damages from. Helmets are recommended but not compulsory and as you can only use the government scheme scooters on roads, there is a real risk you could have an accident with a motor vehicle and suffer severe injuries.
So, in terms of injuries, you could as a pedestrian, be the victim of someone illegally using an e-scooter in a public place such as pedestrianised shopping area or pavement. The e–scooter rider is unlikely to be insured for that purpose and you would need specialist legal advice to assist you. As an e-scooter rider using the government scheme, you could also be vulnerable using the vehicle on the road. Car riders may not be familiar with seeing e-scooters on the road, and as they are very slim (much smaller than motorbikes and even bicycles) drivers may not be aware of your presence.
E-scooters in the News
There have been reports of people being caught by the police for drink driving on e-scooters which, not only poses a risk to the public, but impacts on the individual too. This comes alongside reports of death due to collisions between e-scooters and vehicles, and so extra precautions and strict safety rules must be put in place if e-scooters are here to stay.
Drink driving:
E-scooter drink driver in Liverpool
Two men arrested in York for e-scooter drink driving
Deaths:
E-scooter rider dies after collision with car
It is important to remember that e-scooters should be used like any other motor vehicle. While they may not go as fast, they are still dangerous and, if not used appropriately, can come with serious consequences for users and the public.
Contact us
If you have been the victim in a crime involving an e-scooter, our Personal Injury team are on hand to help.
We specialise in all aspects of the law, so whether you were the victim of a crime, or an alleged perpetrator, our solicitors are highly experienced and will work at securing the best possible outcome for you.
Call us on 0161 969 3131 or fill in our contact form and we will be in touch.