Tips To Avoid Scooter Accidents
Even though scooters can serve as a great alternative to four-wheeled vehicles, they carry serious risks. The most serious risk of riding a scooter is the risk of being involved in an accident with a four-wheeled vehicle and suffering serious injuries or even death. According to one particular USA Today article, electric scooter injuries have increased along with their popularity in America. According to the article, almost 40,000 cuts and bruises, broken bones, and head injuries resulting from scooter accidents were treated in U.S. emergency rooms from 2014 through 2018.
Florida is one of the states where scooters are quite popular, meaning that quite a number of scooter accidents happen in the Sunshine State. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid scooter accidents. And when a scooter accident occurs because of another driver’s negligence, the injured rider can recover compensation. If you’ve sustained severe injuries in a scooter accident because of another driver’s negligence, reach out to a skilled attorney to talk about your legal options.
So, how can you avoid scooter accidents and injuries? The following are some tips to prevent scooter accidents and injuries.
Always Focus on the Road
When riding on a scooter, it is natural to want to admire the view and look at whatever is around you. However, this can be a dangerous habit. It is crucial to observe the surrounding traffic when on a scooter. Many scooter accidents can be avoided if you are keen on the road. Even though the speed you are going at may seem easy and comfortable, not observing the traffic and thinking ahead can increase the risk of an accident and injury.
Avoid Riding Under the Influence
Most people, if not everybody, knows that driving under the influence is dangerous. However, not many people know that riding a scooter under the influence can be just as dangerous. Riding a scooter while under the influence puts the rider and other road users at risk of injury or death. Alcohol negatively affects your reaction time and makes you a liability on the road. When drunk, call a ride-share service or ask a sober friend or family member to give you a ride.
Keep Both Hands on the Handlebars
When riding a scooter, you need both hands to make small adjustments that even out your balance point. When you take one hand off a handlebar to, for example, send a text to a friend, you only have one hand to adjust and naturally, making adjustments using one hand is challenging.
Ride Defensively
It can be hard for other motorists to spot scooters on the road. Therefore, it is crucial that you ride defensively. For instance, when riding your scooter next to a truck, ensure you avoid the truck’s blind spots.
Contact a Key West & Marathon Moped & Scooter Accident Lawyer
There are things you can’t control while out on the road, such as other drivers’ driving behaviors. Fortunately, you can recover compensation if you sustain injuries in a Florida scooter accident because of another driver’s negligence. In such a case, our Key West & Marathons moped & scooter accident lawyers at Florida Keys Injury can assist you.
Source:
usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/01/09/electric-scooter-injuries-sent-nearly-40-000-u-s-er/4421041002/