Plaintiffs Sue Scooter-Makers for Abetting Assault
Facial lacerations, broken teeth, and fractured fingers.
It wasn't a fight; it was a scooter. But the injuries have turned into a legal battle against the scooter-makers.
In a proposed class-action filed in Los Angeles, plaintiffs say the manufacturers are responsible for their injuries. They say electric scooter riders assaulted them.
"Abetted Assault"
Attorney Catherine Lerer told the Washington Post that she received calls from more than 100 people who have been injured by scooters. With electric scooters pouring into cities around the country, the personal injury lawyer is dedicated to fixing the problem.
"We filed this class-action lawsuit against Bird and Lime and the manufacturers of their electric scooters to address the terrible injuries they have inflicted on their riders and pedestrians, and the continuing harm they are causing," she said.
The complaint alleges the scooter companies "abetted assault" and created a "public nuisance." Some plaintiffs say riders crashed into them; others say they were injured while riding; some tripped over scooters left on sidewalks.
The complaint names Bird, Lime, Segway, and Xiaomi as defendants. Representatives for Bird, based in Los Angeles, and Lime, a San Francisco company, told reporters that their scooters are safe.
"There is no evidence that riding an e-scooter presents a greater level of danger to riders than riding a bike," Bird's spokesperson said. "Cars remain the greatest threat to commuters, killing over 40,000 people in the U.S. yearly."
According to reports, a 20-year-old man was killed while riding a Lime scooter in Washington D.C. The Associated Press said an SUV pinned and dragged the man about 20 yards.
Another man died when he fell off a Lime scooter and hit his head. He reportedly was not wearing a helmet.
Related Resources:
- SF Tenants Unite to Sue City's Biggest Landlord (FindLaw's California Case Law)
- Highlights From California's High Court Year in Review (FindLaw's California Case Law)
- California Legal Research (FindLaw's Cases & Codes)