At Binder & Associates, our Los Angeles County scooter accident attorneys have been following the media releases of the first Centers for Disease Control study to focus on scooter accidents and injuries.
As scooters gain popularity throughout the country, especially in Los Angeles, the report offered insight into how dangerous the social riding services can be — notably for first-time riders. According to the CDC, one in three riders who were hurt on a scooter was injured on their very first trip. And that is just the start of the study’s results.
How Many People Are Seriously Injured While Riding Scooters?
The study conducted by the CDC focused on the city of Austin, Texas, and was managed in conjunction with their Public Health and Transportation departments. While the sample size of Austin is not as large as the scooter influx in Los Angeles, it paints a vivid picture of how dangerous scooter riding can be.
The study was conducted to reflect a three-month period in 2018, from September through November, that included:
- 182,333 hours of scooter use
- 936,110 scooter trips
- 891,131 miles traveled on scooters
During the study period, the CDC listed:
- 271 scooter-related injuries
- 20 people were injured per 100,000 scooter trips
- Nearly half of the injured sustained head injuries
- 15% of the injured sustained traumatic brain injuries
The other half of injured riders reported sustaining severe injuries, which the study’s author defined as:
- Bone fractures
- Nerve, tendon, or ligament damage
- Severe bleeding
- Organ damage
Each of these injuries requires a different course of medical treatment that can leave riders in a difficult financial position, which can only be compounded by their time away from work. The biggest question is, how do you hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries?
The CDCs participation in a scooter study, which speaks volumes about the dangers involved in riding the popular devices, is just the beginning of how we track, record, and analyze the riding and injury data that accompanies the technology.
It also provides the information our law firm needs to pursue the proper party for financial damages when one of our clients is hurt while riding a scooter.
If you or someone you love has been hurt while riding a scooter, contact our Encino, California, Encino personal injury attorneys today by calling (818) 659-8588 to schedule a free consultation, and learn how we can provide solutions for your physical and financial recovery.
