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Were you hurt on a rental e-scooter?

We are sorry this happened to you. Whether you were riding a rental scooter, hit by one, or tripped over one left on the sidewalk, you are not alone.

Are you in an emergency right now?

  • Check yourself and others for injuries, breathing, and bleeding.
  • Call 911 if anyone is hurt or the road is not safe.
  • Move away from traffic if you can do it safely.
  • Get medical care even if you feel fine.
  • This page is for after you are safe.

This page covers scooter accident deadlines and what to do right now. We are the injured person's advocate. We connect you with a lawyer who handles cases like yours, so you get the full settlement your recovery deserves. Always free. Talk to an advocate. We usually reply within minutes, at most one business day.

Rental e-scooters (electric scooters you unlock with an app, like Bird or Lime) are common in many cities now, and injuries are not rare. Research cited by public health researchers estimates roughly 20 injuries for every 100,000 e-scooter trips taken.

Why scooter claims get tricky

Scooter claims run into a problem most other crash claims do not: the fine print you agreed to before your first ride. The terms of service you accept usually include a forced arbitration clause, meaning that if you get hurt, you often cannot take the scooter company to court, even for a serious injury caused by a broken scooter. Instead, your claim goes to a private arbitrator, and in many cases you also waive your right to join a group or class action.

Courts have gone different ways on whether these clauses are enforceable. This matters differently depending on who caused the injury. If a scooter rider hits you as a pedestrian or cyclist, the arbitration clause the rider agreed to typically does not bind you, and an ordinary injury claim against that rider may apply. For general crash documentation steps, see our car crash guide.

What real scooter cases have involved

In one closely watched case, a Colorado cyclist who suffered a broken clavicle, a fractured bone, and lasting injuries after colliding with a scooter fought the scooter company in court, but the Colorado Court of Appeals ultimately ruled the scooter company was not liable for how a rider used its scooter (9News, Denver). That case shows how hard it can be to hold the scooter company itself responsible, as opposed to the individual rider.

Because outcomes depend heavily on which company was involved, whether you rode the scooter yourself, and your state's approach to arbitration clauses, we cannot list typical settlement figures here. We are not a law firm, and no one can promise or predict what any case is worth. Check our state pages for what is documented in your state.

When it goes wrong: a true story

A Colorado cyclist crashed into a scooter and suffered a broken clavicle, a fractured radial bone, severe whiplash, and lasting muscular problems that took two and a half years of physical therapy and around $100,000 in medical bills to address. When the case reached the Colorado Court of Appeals, the court sided with the scooter company, finding it could not be held liable simply because a rider used its scooter negligently (9News, Denver).

The legal path in scooter cases often runs through the individual rider's insurance or assets rather than the scooter company. Talk to an advocate early so you understand that path rather than assuming the company will simply pay.

Protect your case

  1. Photograph the scooter itself, including any visible damage, the brand, and its ID number if visible.
  2. Take photos of the scene, the road or sidewalk surface, and your injuries.
  3. If you were riding, note whether the scooter malfunctioned. If another rider hit you, get their name and contact information.
  4. Get names and contact information for any witnesses.
  5. Save the app confirmation or trip record from your phone if you were the rider.
  6. Warning: don't wait! Your filing deadline is a trap, and waiting too long can end your claim. Find your state on our state pages now.
  7. Talk to an advocate at WeHelpInjured. It is free.

Never do these

What we can help with

We help you understand what happened and whether your claim is against the rider, the scooter company, or both. We explain, in plain language, what an arbitration clause means for your options, and we connect you with a lawyer who handles cases like yours. All of it is free to you.

Talk to an advocate. Start the form or open the chat.

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