Electric scooters are everywhere in Fresno, from the Tower District to the streets around Fresno State. They are quick, affordable, and easy to grab from an app. Unfortunately, they are also far more dangerous than most riders realize. A scooter gives you almost no protection, so even a low-speed crash can leave you with broken bones, a head injury, or worse.
If you were hurt in a scooter accident in Fresno because of someone else’s carelessness, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The experienced scooter accident lawyer team at Berg Injury Lawyers can help you understand your rights and pursue a claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Fresno and California Electric Scooter Laws
California treats electric scooters as motorized vehicles with their own set of rules. Knowing those rules matters for two reasons: it keeps you safer on the road, and it can affect who is found at fault if you are in a crash. The main law is California Vehicle Code 21235, and it applies whether you own your scooter or rent one through an app.
Under state law, scooter riders must follow several core rules:
- Wear a helmet if you are under 18. Riders under 18 are legally required to wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet. Adults are not required to, but a helmet is still the single best way to prevent a serious head injury.
- Carry a valid license or permit. You need a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit to operate an electric scooter in California.
- Stay off the sidewalk. Riding on the sidewalk is not allowed, except briefly to enter or leave a property. Scooters belong in bike lanes or on streets with a speed limit of 25 mph or less.
- Mind the speed cap. Electric scooters are limited to 15 mph in California, even if the scooter can go faster.
- Ride solo and keep a hand on the bars. No passengers are allowed, and you cannot carry anything that keeps you from holding onto the handlebars.
Fresno has its own layer of rules on top of state law. The city brought in Lime under an agreement meant to keep shared scooters under control, including limits on where scooters can be left and geo-fenced zones around places like Fresno State and Fashion Fair Mall that restrict riding and parking. Breaking these rules can lead to fines, and it can also become an issue if you need to prove who was at fault after a crash.
What to Do After a Scooter Accident in Fresno
What you do in the first hours after a scooter crash can protect both your health and your ability to recover compensation. If you have been in an accident, take these steps when you are able:
- Get medical care right away. Some injuries, including concussions and internal injuries, do not show obvious symptoms at first. A prompt medical evaluation protects your health and creates a record that ties your injuries to the crash.
- Report the accident. Call the police so there is an official report, and notify the scooter company if a rented scooter was involved.
- Document the scene. Take photos of the scooter, the roadway, any vehicles involved, and your injuries. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
- Preserve the app and ride data. Rental scooters log GPS and trip data through their apps. Save screenshots of your ride history before that information disappears.
- Talk to a lawyer before talking to the insurance company. An experienced Fresno scooter accident lawyer can deal with insurers and rental companies for you, so you do not say something early on that hurts your claim.
Common Causes of Scooter Accidents in Fresno
Scooter crashes usually come down to a mix of factors involving the rider, the road, and other people on it. Understanding how they happen helps make sense of who may be responsible:
- Reckless drivers: Because scooters cannot legally use the sidewalk, riders share the road with cars and trucks. Drivers who fail to yield, turn without looking, or pass too closely put scooter riders directly at risk.
- Road hazards: Fresno’s streets are not always scooter-friendly. Potholes, cracked pavement, and uneven surfaces along busy corridors like Shaw Avenue, Blackstone Avenue, and the routes through downtown and the Tower District can throw a rider off in an instant.
- Scooter malfunctions: Faulty brakes, a failing accelerator, or other defects can cause a crash. Rental companies are responsible for keeping their scooters maintained and safe to ride.
- Negligent riders: Riders themselves can cause crashes by speeding, ignoring traffic laws, or riding under the influence, sometimes injuring pedestrians or other riders in the process.
Common Scooter Accident Injuries and Medical Evidence
With nothing between the rider and the pavement, scooter accidents often cause serious injuries. The most common include:
- Road rash and soft tissue injuries: Sliding across the pavement can cause painful abrasions and lacerations that may become infected. Sprains and strains are common as well.
- Fractures and broken bones: Falls frequently break wrists, arms, legs, and collarbones, sometimes requiring surgery and a long recovery.
- Head and brain injuries: Without a helmet, riders are especially vulnerable to concussions and traumatic brain injuries, which can have lasting effects on memory, thinking, and mood.
- Spinal cord injuries: In severe crashes, riders can suffer spinal cord injuries that lead to partial or complete paralysis and require lifelong care.
Serious injuries call for serious care, and Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno is the only Level I trauma center in the region. Whatever your injury, get evaluated and keep up with treatment. Your medical records, imaging, and follow-up visits do more than help you heal. They become the evidence that connects your injuries to the crash and shows how they have affected your life, which is the foundation of a strong claim.
Who Is Liable in a Fresno Scooter Accident?
Figuring out who is responsible for a scooter accident takes a close look at how it happened, and more than one party can share the blame. Liability may fall on:
- Drivers: A motorist who fails to yield, drives recklessly, or otherwise acts negligently can be held responsible for a rider’s injuries.
- The city or a public agency: If a dangerous road condition, such as a deep pothole or missing signage, caused the crash, the City of Fresno may bear some responsibility for failing to maintain safe streets.
- Scooter and rental companies: Rental companies must provide safe, well-maintained scooters. When a malfunction contributes to a crash, the company may be liable.
- Other riders: A rider who breaks traffic laws or rides recklessly can be held responsible for the injuries they cause to others.
California follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault for the crash. Your recovery is simply reduced by your share of the fault. Proving who was responsible takes a thorough investigation, including police reports, witness statements, GPS data, and medical records. An experienced Fresno scooter accident lawyer can help you build that case.
Hit by an E-Scooter? Rights for Injured Pedestrians
In 2023, Americans took an estimated 65 million trips on shared e-scooters, and emergency rooms have seen the injuries climb right along with the ridership. Not everyone hurt in a scooter accident is on the scooter. Pedestrians get struck by riders who speed, ignore the rules, or ride where they should not, and those injuries can be just as serious. If a rider hit you while walking in Fresno, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries.
The rider who hit you is the most likely responsible party, especially if they were breaking the law at the time. In some cases, the scooter company may share responsibility, for example, if a defective scooter played a role. The same evidence that helps an injured rider helps you here, too: medical records, photos, witness accounts, and any available scooter data. A lawyer can help you identify who is responsible and hold them accountable.
Compensation in a Scooter Accident Claim
A scooter accident can leave you with bills piling up and time lost from work. If someone else caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation that covers both your financial losses and the toll the accident has taken on your life. That can include:
- Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, medication, and any assistive devices you need.
- Lost income: Wages lost during your recovery, plus reduced earning capacity if your injuries keep you from returning to the same work.
- Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and the loss of activities and experiences you once enjoyed.
Securing fair compensation depends on careful documentation of your injuries, expenses, and losses, both now and in the future. An experienced Fresno scooter accident lawyer can handle that process and fight for everything you may be owed. Reach out to our team to talk through your options.
Why Berg Injury Lawyers for Your Fresno Scooter Case
Recovering from a scooter accident is hard enough without having to take on insurance companies at the same time. When you work with Berg Injury Lawyers, you do not face that alone. Here is what our team brings to your case:
- Experience with scooter accident claims: We have handled scooter cases involving disputed liability, catastrophic injuries, and tough negotiations with insurers.
- A full team on every case: Each client works with attorneys, paralegals, case managers, and investigators, all focused on building the strongest claim possible.
- Knowledge of Fresno: We understand the local roads, courts, and conditions that shape these cases, and we put that understanding to work for you.
- A focus on real recovery: We can negotiate firmly for a fair settlement and take your case to trial if that is what it takes to help ensure you are treated fairly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Electric Scooters Legal to Ride in Fresno?
Yes. Electric scooters are legal in Fresno as long as you follow California Vehicle Code 21235 and the city’s local rules. That means staying off sidewalks, keeping under 15 mph, carrying a valid license or permit, and wearing a helmet if you are under 18. Fresno also uses geo-fenced zones that limit where shared scooters can be ridden and parked.
What Should I Do Right After a Scooter Accident in Fresno?
Get medical attention first, even if you feel fine, because some injuries are not obvious right away. Then report the accident to the police, document the scene with photos and witness information, and save your scooter app’s ride and GPS data. Contact a lawyer before speaking with any insurance company.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for My Scooter Accident?
It depends on what caused the crash. A negligent driver, the scooter rental company, another rider, or even the city for poor road maintenance can all potentially be held liable. More than one party may share responsibility, which is why a thorough investigation matters.
What If I Was Partly at Fault for the Crash?
You can still recover compensation. California uses a pure comparative negligence rule, so your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault but not eliminated. Even if you were largely at fault, you may still be entitled to something for the other party’s share of the blame.
I Was Hit by Someone Riding an E-Scooter. Do I Have a Claim?
Quite possibly. Pedestrians struck by scooter riders have the right to pursue compensation, especially when the rider was breaking the law. The rider is usually the responsible party, though the scooter company may share liability in some situations, such as a malfunction.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Fresno Scooter Accident Lawyer?
Nothing upfront. Berg Injury Lawyers works on a contingency basis under our No Fee Guarantee®, which means if you don’t win, you pay nothing. Your first consultation is free, so there is no risk in finding out whether you have a claim.
Contact Our Fresno Scooter Accident Lawyers Today
A scooter accident can change your life in seconds, but you do not have to sort out what comes next on your own. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we have spent over 45 years standing up for injured people across Northern California, and we are ready to do the same for you. With our No Fee Guarantee®, if you don’t win, you pay nothing.
If you were injured in a scooter accident in Fresno, contact us today for a free consultation. We are here to listen and help you understand your next steps.
