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Electric scooters have taken over the streets of the San Fernando Valley, offering a quick, eco-friendly way to travel through neighborhoods like Van Nuys, North Hollywood, and Reseda. Services like Bird and Lime have made it easier than ever to hop on a scooter and cruise to your destination. But with their growing popularity, there's also been a sharp rise in scooter-related accidents—many of them serious.
From congested intersections to poorly maintained roads, riding a scooter in the Valley can be risky. Scooter riders are often at the mercy of distracted drivers, hidden road hazards, or malfunctioning scooters, and the injuries from these crashes can be devastating—ranging from broken bones to head trauma. In heavily trafficked areas like Ventura Boulevard or Sepulveda, a single careless moment by a motorist can lead to life-altering consequences for a rider.
In the chaos following a scooter accident, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But the steps you take in the minutes and hours afterward can make a major difference in both your recovery and your legal claim. Whether you were hit by a car in Van Nuys or injured by road hazards in North Hollywood, here’s what you need to do:
Your first priority should always be your safety and well-being.
Always report the scooter accident to local authorities.
Before the evidence disappears, take time to carefully photograph and document the scene.
If you were using a rental scooter from Bird, Lime, or another company, avoid returning it right away.
One of the most important parts of any scooter injury claim is identifying who was at fault for the accident. In the San Fernando Valley—where traffic is heavy, sidewalks are uneven, and scooter use is widespread—multiple parties could be responsible for your injuries. Understanding who may be liable can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
In many scooter accidents, negligent motorists are to blame. A driver may be held liable if they:
Since scooters offer little protection, these types of collisions often lead to severe injuries. If a driver’s carelessness contributed to your crash, their auto insurance may be responsible for your damages.
If you were riding a rental scooter from Bird, Lime, Spin, or another provider, the company could be liable if the scooter was defective or poorly maintained. Examples include:
These companies have a legal responsibility to maintain safe equipment. If their failure to do so caused your accident, they can be held accountable through a product liability or negligence claim.
In some cases, the condition of the roadway or sidewalk is the real problem. Cities like Los Angeles, Burbank, and San Fernando are responsible for maintaining safe public infrastructure. If your accident was caused by:
—you may have a claim against the city or county. However, claims against government agencies have shorter filing deadlines (often just six months), so it’s important to act quickly.
If the accident occurred on private land—such as in a shopping center, parking lot, or apartment complex—the property owner may be responsible. They have a duty to:
If the owner failed in these duties and that failure caused your accident, they could be held liable under premises liability law.
Other individuals or businesses can also play a role in scooter crashes. For example:
Every accident is unique, and more than one party may share liability. That’s why working with an experienced personal injury attorney is so important—to investigate the facts, identify all responsible parties, and pursue every available source of compensation.
In most cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim in California. This is known as the statute of limitations. However, if your claim involves a government agency (such as a city or county responsible for unsafe roads), you may have just six months to file a formal notice of claim.
Delaying your case could result in losing your right to compensation altogether, so it’s best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
A successful personal injury claim can help you recover a wide range of damages, including:
This includes everything from your emergency room visit to ongoing care, such as:
If your injuries forced you to miss work, you can seek compensation for the income you’ve lost—and even future earning potential if your injury prevents you from returning to your job.
Physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life all fall under this category. While harder to quantify, pain and suffering damages are a key part of many scooter accident claims.
If your phone, helmet, glasses, or other personal items were damaged in the crash, those costs may be recoverable as well.
If your injuries are permanent or require long-term rehabilitation, you may be entitled to additional compensation for:
In order to win a personal injury claim, you must prove that someone else’s negligence—whether it was a driver, scooter company, or city agency—caused your injuries. This usually requires:
Establishing fault is the foundation of your case and the key to unlocking your compensation.
If you’ve been hurt while riding a scooter in the San Fernando Valley, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to face the recovery process without support. Whether your accident happened in Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Reseda, or elsewhere in the Valley, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, lost income, and pain and suffering.
At the Law Offices of Tim D. Wright, we understand how overwhelming life can feel after an unexpected crash. That’s why we’re here to help you take the next step with confidence. We’ll investigate your case, identify all responsible parties, and fight for the full compensation you’re entitled to—with no upfront fees and no payment unless we win.
📍 Van Nuys Office
16555 Sherman Way, Suite B2
Van Nuys, CA 91406
📍 Burbank Office
1112 W. Burbank Blvd., Suite 302
Burbank, CA 91506
📞 Phone: (818) 428-1080 or (323) 379-9995
📧 Email: firm@timwrightlaw.com
🌐 Website: www.timwrightlaw.com
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