Mark Roman | July 17, 2019 | Brain Injuries

As cities like Tampa agree to let electric scooters onto public streets, riders and drivers alike could see a major increase in road collisions – and fatal injuries for e-scooter riders. Such was the case in June, when one unfortunate Tampa man was struck by a semitrailer truck while riding an e-scooter.

Caused when scooter rider John Michael Edgerton accidentally veered into a semi-truck’s path, the collision took place on June 20th near Ybor City, on N 20th Street. According to reports, Mr. Edgerton suffered serious injuries during the crash, and required immediate hospital care for his critical condition. A more recent report has confirmed that he has since passed away due to his injuries.

At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we are deeply saddened by the news of this tragic e-scooter accident. Although companies like Bird and Lime have been eager to paint their products as safe for users, the truth is that many areas across the country are seeing increased injuries and even fatalities from these electric scooters.

Why Are Electric Scooters So Dangerous?

The motorized, app-driven electric scooters popularized by Bird, Lime, Uber, and other companies have continued to increase in popularity since their first debut in 2017. With more and more cities across the country agreeing to allow these “micromobility vehicles” to operate within city limits, it seems that the e-scooter trend shows no signs of slowing.

Of course, the risks of injury have not slowed either, and a recent study performed at the University of California Los Angeles found that serious head injuries make up almost half of all electric scooter-related ER visits. Researchers also found that 92% of the injury victims admitted for e-scooter accidents were riders, most of whom were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Some of the most common e-scooter injuries reported have included:

Need Help with an E-Scooter Claim in Florida?

On June 18th – just two days before the fatal crash that ultimately took Mr. Edgerton’s life – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill making it legal for electric scooters to ride on city streets, right alongside other vehicles and bicycles. While this particular regulation may protect pedestrians on city sidewalks, it does little to protect the e-scooter riders from harm.

At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re committed to protecting those who have been injured while riding electric scooters. Because riders face such severe risks, we believe it’s important to hold the companies and manufacturers accountable if there is a scooter malfunction, or pursue damages from negligent drivers. With over 60 years of legal experience, our personal injury lawyers in West Tampa, FL are ready and able to help you recover fair compensation after a serious e-scooter accident.

Contact the Tampa Brain Injury Law Firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today

For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a brain injury lawyer in Tampa. We have four convenient locations in Florida: Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.

We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588

Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442