San Bernardino Scooter Accident Lawyer

Electric scooters have transformed transportation across San Bernardino, offering convenient mobility through downtown corridors and connecting neighborhoods from Baseline to Highland Avenue.

Yet this accessibility comes with significant risk—scooter riders navigate city streets with virtually no physical barrier between themselves and two-ton vehicles, leaving them exposed to catastrophic injuries when drivers fail to share the road safely.

The combination of limited visibility, unpredictable traffic patterns, and drivers unfamiliar with scooter traffic creates dangerous conditions that lead to life-altering accidents every day.

When you suffer injuries in a scooter accident, the path to fair compensation requires a San Bernardino scooter accident lawyer who understands both the medical complexities of your injuries and the specific dynamics of Inland Empire traffic courts.

Krasney Law Accident Attorneys has practiced personal injury law from its San Bernardino headquarters since 1987, building relationships with local medical providers, accident reconstruction experts, and court personnel that strengthen your case.

Our scooter accident attorneys in San Bernardino know which intersections see the most accidents, which insurance companies operate in bad faith, and exactly what evidence judges in San Bernardino County find most compelling. This knowledge makes us effective personal injury attorneys for your case.

Your recovery deserves an advocate who combines decades of trial experience with genuine commitment to protecting your future.

Why Hire a San Bernardino Scooter Accident Lawyer

Scooter accidents create unique legal challenges that differ significantly from typical car crashes. Unlike vehicle occupants protected by steel frames and airbags, scooter riders face the road with minimal protection when accidents occur.

This exposure often results in severe injuries requiring extensive medical treatment and long recovery periods, much like bicycle accident victims experience on these same streets.

Insurance companies understand these vulnerabilities and frequently attempt to minimize payouts to scooter accident victims. They may argue that riders assumed the risk by choosing this transportation method or claim that helmet laws violations contributed to injuries.

Without experienced legal representation, you may accept inadequate settlements that fail to cover your long-term medical needs and lost income.

At Krasney Law Accident Attorneys, our San Bernardino headquarters gives us deep knowledge of local traffic patterns, accident hotspots, and court procedures. We’ve represented scooter accident victims throughout the Inland Empire for decades, securing maximum compensation while our clients focus on recovery.

Our attorneys understand the complexities of app-based rental agreements, product liability claims against manufacturers, and the tactics insurance companies use to deny valid claims.

• No upfront costs: We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case
• Direct attorney access: You’ll have your lawyer’s cell phone number, not just a case manager
• Local expertise: Our main office is in San Bernardino, not a distant satellite location

Injured on a scooter in San Bernardino? Contact us today for immediate help—we can meet you at home or in the hospital.

What to Do After a Scooter Accident

Taking proper steps immediately after a scooter accident protects both your health and legal rights. Many victims make critical mistakes in the moments following their crash that can jeopardize their ability to recover fair compensation later.

Get Medical Care and Document Injuries

Seek immediate medical attention even if you believe your injuries are minor. Head trauma, internal bleeding, and spinal injuries may not produce immediate symptoms but can become life-threatening without prompt treatment.

Emergency room visits create official medical records that insurance companies cannot dispute later.

Keep all medical documentation, including ambulance reports, emergency room records, and follow-up appointment notes. These documents form the foundation of your injury claim and help establish the full extent of your damages.

Call Police and Report the Crash

Always request police response to document the accident scene officially. Officers will create a police report containing witness statements, their assessment of fault, and important details about road conditions at the time of your crash.

California law requires reporting any accident involving injury or property damage exceeding $1,000. Failing to report can complicate your insurance claim and may result in legal penalties.

Preserve Scooter and App Data

If you were using a rental scooter, immediately screenshot your ride history, payment receipt, and any error messages within the app. Scooter companies regularly delete this data, making it impossible to recover later without legal action.

Do not return a malfunctioning scooter to the company. If brake failure, steering problems, or other mechanical issues contributed to your accident, the scooter itself becomes crucial evidence for product liability claims.

Gather Photos, Witnesses, and Video Evidence

Use your phone to photograph your injuries, vehicle damage, the scooter’s final position, and relevant road conditions like potholes or construction zones. Take pictures from multiple angles to show the complete accident scene.

Collect contact information from any witnesses who saw your accident occur. Their independent testimony can be invaluable when insurance companies dispute fault or claim the accident happened differently than you remember.

Contact Krasney Law Accident Attorneys

Early legal representation protects you from insurance company tactics designed to minimize your claim value. We immediately send preservation notices to scooter companies, preventing them from destroying important evidence. Our investigators can reach the accident scene quickly to document conditions before they change.

Once you have legal representation, insurance adjusters cannot contact you directly to pressure you into recorded statements or quick settlements. We handle all communication while you focus on medical recovery.

Who Is Liable for a Scooter Accident

Determining fault in scooter accidents often involves multiple parties who may share responsibility for your injuries. California’s legal system allows you to pursue compensation from all negligent parties, potentially increasing your total recovery.

Negligent Drivers

Motor vehicle operators cause the majority of serious scooter accidents through inattentive or reckless driving behaviors. Common scenarios include drivers making left turns without checking for scooters, opening car doors into bike lanes, or failing to maintain proper following distances.

Distracted driving has become increasingly dangerous for scooter riders. Drivers texting, using navigation apps, or talking on phones often fail to see scooters until impact occurs. These cases may involve enhanced damages if the driver’s conduct was particularly egregious.

Scooter Companies and Rental Providers

Companies like Bird, Lime, and Spin have legal obligations to maintain their fleets in safe operating condition. They can be held liable when accidents result from mechanical failures, inadequate maintenance, or deploying scooters in dangerous locations.

Some companies have faced lawsuits for placing scooters near busy intersections, blocking sidewalks, or failing to remove damaged units from service. Their liability extends beyond just mechanical problems to include negligent deployment and retrieval practices.

Manufacturers and Defective Parts

Product liability claims may arise when scooter defects cause accidents. Battery fires, brake failures, steering malfunctions, and tire blowouts can all lead to serious crashes even when riders operate scooters properly.

These cases often involve complex technical analysis requiring expert witnesses to prove the defect existed and caused your accident. Manufacturers may be liable for design flaws, manufacturing errors, or inadequate safety warnings.

Cities and Dangerous Road Conditions

Government entities can be held responsible when poor road maintenance or inadequate infrastructure contributes to scooter accidents. Large potholes, unmarked construction zones, missing bike lane barriers, and defective traffic signals create hazardous conditions for scooter riders.

Claims against government entities require special procedures and much shorter filing deadlines. You typically have only six months to file a formal government claim before losing your right to sue.

California’s Comparative Negligence Law

Even if you contributed to your accident, you can still recover compensation under California’s pure comparative negligence system.

For example, if you were 20% at fault for not wearing a helmet and suffered $100,000 in damages, you could still recover $80,000.

This system ensures that victims receive compensation even when they made minor mistakes that contributed to their injuries.

California Scooter Laws in San Bernardino

Understanding California’s scooter regulations helps protect your legal rights and may influence your accident claim. California Vehicle Code Section 21235 establishes statewide rules that apply throughout San Bernardino County.

Key legal requirements include possessing a valid driver’s license, maintaining speeds under 15 mph, and riding only in designated areas. You cannot ride on sidewalks, carry passengers, or operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Helmet requirements vary by age, with riders under 18 legally required to wear protective headgear. While adults may choose whether to wear helmets, insurance companies often argue that failure to do so contributed to head injuries.

• Where you can ride: bike lanes, roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less, and in some areas with 35 mph limits if local ordinances permit.
• Where you cannot ride: sidewalks, highways, and other roads where local laws prohibit scooter use.
• Equipment requirements: Working brakes, lights for night riding, reflectors

Violating these rules doesn’t automatically prevent you from recovering compensation, but insurance companies will attempt to use violations to reduce your settlement amount.

Compensation You Can Recover

Scooter accident victims often face substantial medical bills, lost wages, and long-term complications that insurance companies prefer to ignore. California law allows you to seek full compensation for all losses directly caused by someone else’s negligence.

Medical Bills and Future Care

Your compensation should cover all accident-related medical expenses, from initial emergency treatment through long-term rehabilitation. This includes ambulance transportation, hospital stays, surgeries, diagnostic tests, prescription medications, and physical therapy sessions.

Future medical costs become particularly important in cases involving permanent injuries or disabilities. We work with medical experts to calculate the lifetime cost of ongoing treatment, adaptive equipment, and home modifications you may need.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity

You can recover income lost during your recovery period, including wages, salary, bonuses, and self-employment earnings. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or reduce your earning ability, you may also claim diminished future earning capacity.

These calculations consider your age, education, work history, and career trajectory to determine how your injuries will impact your lifetime earnings. Economic experts help establish these complex damages in serious injury cases.

Pain and Suffering

Physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of life enjoyment represent significant damages that deserve compensation. California places no caps on pain and suffering awards in personal injury cases, allowing juries to award amounts that truly reflect your experience.

Factors influencing pain and suffering awards include injury severity, treatment duration, permanent disabilities, and impact on daily activities. Visible scarring, ongoing pain, and inability to participate in favorite activities all contribute to these damages.

Property Damage and Additional Costs

You can recover the cost of replacing or repairing personal property damaged in your accident, including phones, clothing, helmets, and other belongings. Additional expenses like transportation to medical appointments, home care services, and mobility aids are also compensable.

These seemingly minor costs can add up quickly during extended recovery periods. We carefully document all accident-related expenses to ensure you receive complete reimbursement.

Filing Deadlines You Must Know

California’s statute of limitations creates strict deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits. Missing these deadlines permanently bars you from recovering any compensation, regardless of how strong your case might be.

Two-Year Statute for Injury Claims

California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 gives you exactly two years from your accident date to file a lawsuit. The clock begins ticking immediately after your crash occurs, not when you discover the full extent of your injuries.

This deadline applies to most personal injury claims, including those against drivers, scooter companies, and manufacturers. Waiting until the last minute creates unnecessary risks and may compromise your attorney’s ability to build a strong case.

Six-Month Government Claim Requirement

Claims against government entities follow much shorter deadlines under the California Tort Claims Act. You must file a formal administrative claim within six months of your accident before you can pursue a lawsuit.

This requirement applies when suing cities for dangerous road conditions, counties for inadequate signage, or state agencies for highway defects. Missing this initial deadline completely bars your right to sue, even if the government was clearly at fault.

Special Rules for Minor Victims

The statute of limitations is typically extended for accident victims under age 18 at the time of their crash. However, evidence deteriorates over time, and witnesses’ memories fade, making early action beneficial even in cases involving minors.

Parents or guardians should consult with attorneys promptly to preserve evidence and protect their child’s legal rights. Waiting years to pursue a claim often results in reduced compensation due to lost evidence.

How Krasney Law Accident Attorneys Proves Your Case

Building a successful scooter accident case requires immediate action to preserve evidence and develop compelling proof of liability and damages. Our systematic approach maximizes your chances of obtaining full compensation.

Rapid Scene Investigation

Our investigators respond quickly to document accident scenes before evidence disappears. We photograph skid marks, measure distances, identify sight line obstructions, and locate surveillance cameras that may have captured your crash.

Road conditions change rapidly due to weather, construction, and normal wear. Early documentation ensures we can demonstrate exactly what hazards existed when your accident occurred, not weeks or months later.

Preserve Ride and App Data

We immediately send legal preservation notices to scooter companies requiring them to maintain all data related to your ride. This includes GPS tracking information, speed data, maintenance records, and any mechanical alerts the scooter may have generated.

Scooter companies routinely delete this information unless legally required to preserve it. Acting quickly prevents the loss of crucial evidence that may prove mechanical failures or demonstrate you were operating the scooter properly when your accident occurred.

Medical Expert Collaboration

Our network includes medical specialists who can evaluate your injuries and provide expert testimony about their long-term impact. These experts help establish the full extent of your damages and counter insurance company arguments that your injuries are minor or unrelated to the accident.

For catastrophic injuries, we retain life care planners who calculate the complete cost of your future medical needs. These detailed projections ensure your settlement covers lifetime care requirements, not just current medical bills.

Strategic Negotiation and Litigation

We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, a strategy that consistently produces better settlement offers. Insurance companies know we’re willing to fight in court and often prefer to negotiate reasonable settlements rather than risk larger jury verdicts.

When negotiations fail to produce fair offers, we’re fully prepared to present your case to a jury. Our trial experience and reputation for thorough preparation give us significant leverage in settlement discussions.

What Makes Krasney Law Accident Attorneys Different

Choosing the right attorney significantly impacts your case outcome and recovery experience. Krasney Law Accident Attorneys offers personalized service and dedicated advocacy that larger firms cannot match.

San Bernardino Roots and Statewide Experience

Our main office is located in San Bernardino, providing us with strong familiarity with local courts, judges, and legal procedures. We’re part of this community, with additional offices in Ontario and Riverside to serve clients throughout the region.

This local presence combines with statewide experience handling complex personal injury cases across California. We understand how different counties approach scooter accident cases and adjust our strategies accordingly.

Direct Attorney Access and Personal Service

You’ll work directly with your attorney, not just paralegals or case managers. We provide our clients with direct phone access to their lawyers and maintain regular communication throughout the legal process.

Unlike mega-firms where cases get lost in the shuffle, we limit our caseloads to ensure each client receives the attention their case deserves. Your case won’t be handed off to junior associates or processed through assembly-line procedures.

No Fee Unless We Win

We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover money for you. We advance all case costs, including expert witness fees, court filing fees, and investigation expenses.

This arrangement aligns our interests with yours and ensures you can afford experienced legal representation regardless of your financial situation. You keep more of your settlement with our competitive fee structure.

Bilingual Support and Cultural Understanding

Our team includes Spanish-speaking attorneys and staff who can communicate with clients in their preferred language. We provide all documents and explanations in Spanish when needed and understand the cultural factors that may influence your case.

This comprehensive language support ensures you fully understand your legal rights and options throughout the process. Clear communication helps you make informed decisions about your case strategy and settlement opportunities.

Free Case Review Process

We make obtaining legal help as convenient as possible for injured scooter riders. Our consultations are always free, confidential, and come with no obligation to hire our firm.

Same-Day Consultation Availability

Our attorneys are available 24/7 to discuss your case and can often schedule same-day consultations for urgent situations. We offer evening and weekend appointments to accommodate your schedule and recovery needs.

During your consultation, we’ll evaluate the strength of your case, explain your legal options, and provide honest assessments of potential outcomes. This information helps you make informed decisions about pursuing legal action.

Hospital and Home Visits

If your injuries make traveling difficult, we’ll come to you. We regularly meet clients at hospitals, homes, and rehabilitation facilities to ensure your injuries don’t prevent you from accessing quality legal representation.

Video consultations are also available for clients who prefer remote meetings or live in distant locations. We adapt our services to meet your specific needs and circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scooter Accidents

Can I Sue if I Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet During My Accident?

Yes, you can still pursue compensation even without wearing a helmet. California law only requires helmets for riders under 18, so adults have no legal obligation to wear protective headgear while riding scooters.

What if I Was Partially at Fault for My Scooter Accident?

California’s pure comparative negligence law allows you to recover damages even if you were partially responsible for your accident. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still receive substantial recovery even with some shared responsibility.

How Do I Handle a Hit-and-Run Scooter Accident Case?

Hit-and-run accidents may qualify for compensation through your auto insurance policy’s uninsured motorist coverage or through California’s victim compensation programs. We’ll explore all available options to maximize your recovery even when the at-fault driver cannot be identified.

Will Scooter Rental Agreement Terms Prevent My Lawsuit?

While rental agreements contain liability waivers and arbitration clauses, these terms often don’t protect companies from gross negligence claims or prevent lawsuits against third-party drivers who caused your accident. We’ll review your specific rental agreement to determine how it affects your legal options.

How Much Money Can I Expect from My Scooter Accident Claim?

Case values depend on multiple factors including injury severity, medical costs, lost wages, and degree of fault among involved parties. We provide free case evaluations to help you understand the potential value of your specific claim based on similar cases we’ve handled.