Electric scooters, or e-scooters, have become a more common sight in the UK in recent years. Many places have a private e-scooter rental scheme for use on the road. However, it also means that the potential for an electric scooter accident is only likely to rise.
Our detailed personal injury claim guide explains when you can seek compensation for the effects of collisions involving e-scooters, whether you were an e-scooter rider or were struck by one.
By reading through this guide, you can learn how compensation for a road traffic accident claim is awarded. You will also read about the benefits of making a No Win No Fee claim with the support of a specialist solicitor from our panel of experts.
If you’ve been in an e-scooter accident and want to learn more about claiming, we operate a 24/7 support service. Call today and you can have your chances of claiming evaluated by an advisor. All routes are totally free, so simply pick one to get started:
- Call 020 8050 2736
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Jump To A Section
- What Is An Electric Scooter Accident Claim?
- Can I Claim Compensation For An Electric Scooter Accident?
- How Much Compensation Will I Receive For An E Scooter Accident?
- How Do I Make An E Scooter Accident Claim?
- Make An E Scooter Accident Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Learn More About Claiming Personal Injury Compensation
What Is An Electric Scooter Accident Claim?
There are specific rules and guidance set out by the government that e-scooter riders must follow:
- No privately owned e-scooters can be used on public roads. Using private e-scooters in public spaces could lead to a fine, points on the user’s licence, or the scooter being impounded.
- In e-scooter trial areas, most qualified drivers and provisional driving licence holders can use a scooter.
- E-scooters can be used on the road or in cycle lanes, but never on the pavement.
Additionally, electric scooter users must follow the same laws and guidance as other road users to uphold their duty of care. This duty entails using the roads safely and with due care in order to maintain their safety, as well as the safety of others. To achieve this, e-scooter users should follow the Road Traffic Act 1988, as well as the rules laid out by the Highway Code, many of which are based on law.
It’s possible to make an electric scooter accident compensation claim if the following conditions are met:
- Someone else using the road owed you a duty of care.
- They acted in a way that breached this duty.
- You suffered physical and/or mental harm as a direct result of these actions.
What Types of Injuries Can Be Caused By An E Scooter Accident?
Government statistics suggest that accidents involving e-scooters are on the rise. Complete road casualty data for 2022 revealed that there were 1,402 collisions where an e-scooter was involved, a 4% increase on the 2021 total. Most casualties were not fatal, but 11 e-scooter riders and one pedestrian were killed. Also, 356 e-scooter users suffered serious injuries.
Among the injuries that could result from an e-scooter accident are:
- Nerve damage or paralysis.
- A back injury or neck pain.
- Fractures and breaks, such as a broken leg or fractured wrist.
- Head injuries, ranging from concussion to brain damage with serious and permanent effects.
- Psychological harm like anxiety or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
You can find out if you have a valid e-scooter accident claim by calling us today. Our advisors can also share further useful information about what makes road traffic accident claims eligible. The next section also looks at situations where e-scooter accidents could lead to a claim.
Can I Claim Compensation For An Electric Scooter Accident?
If you meet the eligibility criteria we discussed earlier, you can claim for an electric scooter accident. While this naturally includes e-scooter riders, other road users might be impacted and have a right to claim.
Injured As An E Scooter Rider
A rider could claim compensation for an injury suffered in an accident caused by another e-scooter user or someone else using the road. For example, someone using an electric scooter suffers a head injury because a driver was looking at their mobile and not the road. They are then able to make a head injury road traffic claim against the driver.
Injured As A Pedestrian By An E Scooter
Out of the other road users involved in a 2022 e-scooter accident, more than half were pedestrians. As e-scooter riders must stay off motorways, they are almost always used on public roads where pedestrians could also be walking.
If a pedestrian crossing the road was struck by a rider who was not in control of their scooter, they could make a compensation claim.
Injured By An E Scooter As Another Road User
Cyclists, motorbike riders and motor vehicle drivers can claim if an e-scooter user is responsible for a collision or other accident in the same way that a pedestrian could.
Examples of this include a cyclist being knocked off their bike and hurting their leg. Alternatively, a driver could sustain a bad neck injury by swerving to avoid a scooter rider going the wrong way down a one-way street and crashing.
If you’ve suffered a minor or serious injury in an accident involving an e-scooter, you may be able to claim. Call now to discuss your potential electric scooter accident case with an advisor.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive For An E Scooter Accident?
You might be wondering how much compensation is given out for successful e-scooter accident claims. The payout for every case can differ significantly because unique factors decide the outcome.
Any personal injury claim compensation payout will include a general damages payment. This means that you are compensated for the physical pain and emotional harm suffered because of the accident.
Those responsible for arriving at a valuation could use medical evidence to help their decision. Guidance can also come from payout brackets that give a rough idea of what compensation could be awarded for various injuries. Such brackets can be found in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a document we’ve collected figures from to make the table you see below.
Payout Guidelines
The top line of this table doesn’t come from the JCG. While the others do, it’s worth remembering that they only act as a guide.
| Injury | Severity | Guideline Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numerous Serious Injuries, Loss of Earnings and Other Financial Damage | Severe | Up to £750,000+ | Compensation addressing multiple significant injuries and considerable financial losses. |
| Head | Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 | The level of award is determined using factors like the degree of insight (if any) and life expectancy. |
| Head | Moderate (iii) | £52,550 to £110,720 | Memory and concentration are impacted while working ability reduces. |
| Paralysis | Paraplegia | £267,340 to £346,890 | An award above this level might be given if there is a presence or risk of increasing paralysis. |
| Back | Severe (ii) | £90,510 to £107,910 | Features of these injuries include nerve root damage with a loss of sensation. |
| Neck | Severe (iii) | £55,500 to £68,330 | Injuries leading to severe soft tissue damage, ruptured tendons, fractures or dislocations. |
| Arm | Less Severe Injury | £23,430 to £47,810 | Substantial recovery is expected. |
| Leg - Less Serious | Fractures or Serious Soft Tissue Injuries | £21,920 to £33,880 | In the case of a fracture, there is a reasonable recovery but the injured person might have a disability or limp. |
| Knee | Moderate (i) | £18,110 to £31,960 | For example: a torn cartilage or meniscus, or dislocation. |
| Wrist | Less Severe | £15,370 to £29,900 | Injuries still cause some permanent disability. |
Can I Claim For Loss of Earnings After An Electric Scooter Accident?
General damages is the main head of compensation, but it may not be the only one that appears in payouts for electric scooter accident compensation claims.
A potential second head, called special damages compensation, accounts for the financial impact of a collision. A loss of earnings is one example of expenses that you could seek to reclaim. If you were badly injured and couldn’t go back to doing your job, the special damages payment can account for past, current and future losses.
Additionally, you could claim for:
- Medical bills.
- Travel expenses.
- Costs related to home adaptation or buying mobility aids.
You need to keep any documents that show these losses, such as payslips, invoices or receipts. This is worth doing because, in many cases, the special damages payment makes up a considerable percentage or even a majority of the overall settlement.
Get a more detailed and personalised review of what e-scooter accident compensation you could potentially get by calling our helpline now.
How Do I Make An E Scooter Accident Claim?
One of the most important things to bear in mind is that evidence is central to any road traffic accident claim. The more relevant evidence you can produce, the better your chances of making a successful claim. In an e-scooter accident claim, good examples of proof include:
- Photos of the accident scene and any other vehicles involved.
- Footage from CCTV or a road traffic camera.
- A police report (if the police attend the scene).
- A record of your medical treatment, which you can request a copy of.
- Witness contact information.
If you instruct them to, a personal injury solicitor can work closely with you to collect and present this evidence. Find out what else a solicitor can do for you by calling our team of advisors today.
Make An E Scooter Accident Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
It’s possible to take on a claim by yourself and try to reach an agreement with the defendant’s insurance provider. However, many people benefit from having an expert on their side. Our panel’s solicitors can use their legal expertise to push for the best possible outcome.
If a solicitor from our panel takes your case, they will offer their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement. It’s an arrangement that works well for clients because there’s no payment for the solicitor’s work either before the claim or at any point during it.
Winning the case means the solicitor collects a proportion of the compensation awarded to you as their success fee. However, The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 is a piece of legislation that sets a strict cap on the percentage that a solicitor can take.
Losing the case leads to absolutely no solicitor fees being paid at all, meaning that any compensation claim for an electric scooter accident pursued by our panel’s solicitors is on a No Win No Fee basis.
You can find out whether you’re able to claim without ever leaving this browser. Simply select one of these contact options, and then you’ll be able to speak to an advisor for guidance and a free claim evaluation:
- Phone us on 020 8050 2736
- Contact us via our web form.
- Chat to an advisor now using the live support pop-up.
Learn More About Claiming Personal Injury Compensation
Here is some further guidance on personal injury claims:
- Claims that fall under the personal injury category.
- Claiming for anxiety after an accident.
- Will your claim go to court or not? Learn more here.
These resources could also be of use:
- Some advice for e-scooter riders from the Metropolitan Police.
- Guidance on Statutory Sick Pay from GOV.UK.
- The NHS A-Z of health conditions.
Call today for free support if you’ve been hurt in an electric scooter accident and want to know your options.
