Scooter Deaths Continue to Rise in the Atlanta Area
What makes e-scooters so dangerous?
Recently, a fourth person in the past four months was killed in the Atlanta area while operating an e-scooter. Police report that a man riding a scooter around 6:30 a.m. ran a red light and crashed into an oil truck. The driver of the truck informed police that he saw the scooter rider approaching, but could not stop in time to avoid an accident. This accident follows close on the heels of at least three others. At the end of July, a 34-year-old riding a scooter was hit by a car, resulting in her death. Earlier in July, a scooter rider was hit and killed by a bus near the MARTA station. Lastly, in May, yet another scooter rider was hit and killed near the MARTA station.
Atlanta Has the Highest Number of Scooter Deaths
Atlanta is not alone in this surge of e-scooter deaths. E-scooter fatalities have thus far been reported in Washington, D.C., Nashville, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Cleveland. Atlanta leads the pack with the most e-scooter accidentss of any city to date. E-scooters have only operated on streets in Atlanta since May, but already the city is recognizing these devices pose a danger to users.
Atlanta has introduced a ban on the operation of e-scooters and e-bikes during nighttime hours. All permitted, company-deployed scooters will be banned from operating between the hours of 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. Further, the city will strive to create safer, dedicated spaces for e-scooter and e-bike devices. The city also plans to limit the number of companies who will be permitted to operate a scooter business within the Atlanta area.
The Dangers of E-Scooters
Electric scooters or E-scooters have become a nationwide trend, with a plethora of companies now offering scooters for rent for as little as a dollar a day, plus usage time. This quick and fun new way to travel may seem appealing, but it has proven dangerous for some users. E-scooters can reach far higher speeds than traditional scooters and riders are afforded little protection should they fall, run into something, or be struck by a car. Emergency room data published in the JAMA Network Open reveals that e-scooter accidents may leave riders with broken bones, head trauma, and cuts or sprains. Anyone who has been injured in an e-scooter accident that was not their fault should contact a personal injury attorney right away to protect their legal rights.
Posted in: Electric Scooter Accident