If You Were Injured by a Rider Downtown‚ We’re Here to Help You
You see them in a myriad of colors throughout downtown San Diego. They’re parked on sidewalks or zipping through the streets. We’re talking about the latest transportation phenomenon in “America’s Finest City” – dockless bikes and scooters.
These two-wheeled vehicles are referred to as “dockless” because unlike other shared-use bikes and scooters‚ they don’t need to be returned to a docking station once the rider is done using them. That’s right; you can just lock them up and park them anywhere. This “leave it anywhere” feature is both a convenience and inconvenience‚ depending on who you talk to. Riders like this feature‚ because they don’t have to locate a docking station. Restaurant and store owners‚ as well as pedestrians‚ don’t like bikes and scooters cluttering up the city’s sidewalks.
Another issue regarding these bikes and scooters that has yet to be addressed is liability. Who can be held liable if you’re injured while riding one of these vehicles‚ say because of a cracked sidewalk or storefront obstacle? Who can be held liable if someone riding a dockless vehicle hits and injures you? If you have questions about a shared-use bicycle or scooter incident‚ contact the experienced San Diego personal injury attorneys at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers. Call (888) 233-5020 today for a free consultation.
How Dockless Bikes and Scooters Work
There are a number of dockless bicycle and scooter operations in San Diego‚ and they all work in a similar fashion. Among them are Bird (black and white electronic scooters)‚ Spin (orange and black bikes)‚ LimeBike (green and yellow bikes)‚ Ofo (yellow and black bikes)‚ and Mobike (silver and orange bikes). To use one of these bike or scooter providers‚ you first need to:
- Download the provider’s app to your cell phone.
- Create an account and link it to your credit or debit card.
- Use the app to locate an available bike or scooter.
- Scan the code on the app on the bike or scooter‚ which unlocks it.
- Ride the bike or scooter to your desired destination.
- Park and lock the bike or scooter.
Important Regulations to Be Aware Of
Before you hop on a shared-use bike or scooter‚ there are a few laws you need to be aware of. First of all‚ bicycle riders under the age of 18 years old are required to wear helmets. Also‚ stand-up scooter riders of all ages are required to wear helmets. While all shared-use bike and scooter companies recommend wearing a helmet‚ only Bird will provide riders with helmets when they request them through the app.
Electric bicycles and scooters cannot be ridden on sidewalks in California‚ only in bike lanes‚ roads‚ or on designated trails. Non-powered bikes and scooters CAN ride on sidewalks in most Southern California communities‚ the exceptions being Carlsbad‚ El Cajon‚ Vista‚ and National City.
Only one rider per bicycle or scooter is permitted.
Questions of Liability
Most shared-use bike and scooter companies require users to agree to or sign a waiver‚ absolving the company of any liability. However‚ the primary purpose of such waivers is to make those who sign them believe the rental company cannot be held liable for accidents or injuries. In reality‚ these waivers don’t entirely shield a company from liability.
If you feel a bike/scooter rental company is‚ to any degree‚ responsible for your injuries‚ you need to contact the experienced legal team at San Diego’s Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers. Call (888) 233-5020 for a free case evaluation.
