Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer — Queens & NYC
Were You Injured in an Accident Involving an Electric Scooter?
Electronic scooters can be a quick, convenient and cost effective way of getting around crowded cities. As many New Yorkers made the switch to e-scooters, there have been significant increase in accidents involving motor-vehicle collisions and pedestrian accidents. If you or a loved one were injured while operating an electric scooter, you may be entitled to having your medical expenses covered, your lost wages paid for if you are losing time from work as a result of the accident and a settlement for the injuries you have sustained. The experienced New York City electric scooter attorneys at Beck Law, P.C. have assisted in representing thousands of injured electric scooter riders recover top value settlements for their injury claims.
In order to secure your rights and maximize your settlement, contact the New York City Electric Scooter Accident Lawyers at Beck Law, P.C. today at (516) 388-7785.
The Current Rules for E-Scooters in New York City
New York legalized e-scooters in 2020. In Queens and across all five boroughs, the rules as of 2025 are:
- Use bike lanes wherever available. Riding on sidewalks is illegal and carries fines.
- Maximum speed of 15 mph on shared paths, 20 mph on roadways.
- Minimum age is 16. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet.
- Adult riders are not legally required to wear helmets, though it's obviously strongly recommended.
- No riding on highways or parkways.
- Rental companies operating in NYC are required to carry insurance for their riders.
Who Might Be Liable After a Queens Scooter Accident?
Liability in these cases depends on exactly what happened and who was involved. It’s rarely as simple as ‘the rider’s fault’ or ‘the driver’s fault.’
- A driver who hits a scooter rider — the driver's auto liability insurance is the primary source
- The rental company (Lime, Bird, Veo) — if the scooter had a mechanical defect, inadequate maintenance, or faulty brakes
- A scooter rider who hits a pedestrian — the rider can be sued directly
- The City of New York — if a pothole, broken asphalt, or missing bike lane markings caused the crash. These claims require a Notice of Claim within 90 days.
- A property owner — if a dangerous condition on their premises contributed to the accident
Injuries We See in Scooter Accident Cases
- Head injuries — TBI, concussions, and skull fractures, particularly when riders aren't wearing helmets
- Road rash — pavement abrasions that range from minor to injuries requiring skin grafting
- Wrist and arm fractures — the natural instinct to break a fall often breaks bones instead
- Knee and ankle injuries
- Spinal injuries in higher-speed crashes or vehicle collisions
One Thing People Don't Realize About Scooter Accidents
Electric scooters are not motor vehicles under New York’s no-fault insurance law. That means no PIP coverage automatically applies. There’s no $50,000 personal injury protection the way there is in a car accident.
Compensation has to come from somewhere else: the at-fault driver’s liability insurance, the rental company’s coverage, your own health insurance, or in some cases your own auto policy’s UM coverage if a vehicle was involved. Identifying every available source requires someone who knows how to look for them.
How Can the Lawyers at Beck Law, P.C. Help after an Electric Scooter Accident in New York City?
If you ride an electric scooter, it is important to understand what you are entitled to if you are ever injured while riding. Electric scooter riders are entitled to all benefits if struck by another vehicle such as:
- Past and Future Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages (If you are losing time from work and have medical evidence keeping you out of work)
- Lost Future Earning Capacity
- Medical Treatment such as physical therapy, doctor visits and surgeries
- Rehabilitation
- Property Damage
- Settlement for your pain and suffering
Insurance companies typically blame electric scooter drivers as many riders zip in between moving vehicles and oftentimes cause their own injuries in NYC roads. If you were involved in a New York City electric scooter accident, be sure to contact 911 as soon as possible and receive on-site medical attention if you are claiming injuries. Photographs and video evidence from the accident scene are vital as these pieces of evidence can be exchanged with insurance carriers when determining liability.
Here are the common causes for electric scooter accidents in New York City:
- Inexperienced drivers
- Reckless driving
- Lack of protected lanes for e-scooters
- Potholes and uneven pavement
- Riding on the sidewalk
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Speeding and aggressive driving
- Defects in the e-scooter
- Illegal lane changes
- Illegal or unsafe turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Call Beck Law, P.C. at (516) 388-7785 to determine the compensation you are entitled to.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Queens Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer?
Electric Scooter accidents are undoubtedly a stressful experience and hiring a knowledgeable attorney is vital to achieve maximum compensation for your case. Our electric scooter accident lawyers offer a free case review to inform and educate you about your claim. Our experienced attorneys operate on a contingency which means that you do not pay us unless we recover for your case. Once our car accident attorneys have recovered the maximum compensation for your claim, our legal fee is 1/3 of the settlement.
What Should I Do After An Electric Scooter Accident in New York City?
Being involved in an electric scooter accident is a shocking experience and missing an important step following an accident is easy to make. Below is a list of important actions that you should take in order to help your case:
- Do NOT Leave the Scene: Stay at the location of the accident and exchange information with the other driver.
- Take Photographs: A photo is worth a thousand words. Photos are an effective tool during negotiations with insurance adjusters. Photographs depict the extent of the damage your scooter sustained and can also help determine how much compensation you will receive. Be sure to take photographs of the damaged vehicle involved in the accident and your injuries.
- Call The Police: Contacting 911 is critical following a car accident. Having the police at the scene of the accident will secure your version of the events that led up to the accident in the form of a police accident report. A police accident report identifies all of the parties involved in the accident, any tickets or violations that were received and insurance codes which will help determine fault. The police accident report will be used in evaluating your claim and negotiating with the insurance.
- Obtain Eye Witness Information: Car accidents happen fast and recalling the events that led to the accident may be hard to recollect. This is where eyewitnesses can potentially help you in your claim. Eye witnesses can be used during negotiations and trial, therefore obtaining their information can be vital to your claim.
- Seek Medical Attention: Seeking medical attention following an electric scooter accident is highly recommended to rule out any serious injuries. It is also very important to have your complaints documented by medical personnel as this will be used to support your claim. It is important that you use No-Fault insurance for all of your medical appointments relating to the car accident (more on that below).
- Hire a New York Electric Scooter Accident Attorney: E-scooter accidents are unexpected and leave you with questions. The experienced attorneys at Beck Law, P.C., will handle the legal process while you take care of your health. Insurance companies will do whatever it takes to try and minimize their fault in the accident, in turn effecting your settlement. Our Queens accident lawyers have the knowledge, expertise and resources to fight out every penny for your case. Contact our office today at (516) 388-7785.
Insurance companies typically blame electric scooter drivers as many riders zip in between moving vehicles and oftentimes cause their own injuries in NYC roads. If you were involved in a New York City electric scooter accident, be sure to contact 911 as soon as possible and receive on-site medical attention if you are claiming injuries. Photographs and video evidence from the accident scene are vital as these pieces of evidence can be exchanged with insurance carriers when determining liability.
Here are the common causes for electric scooter accidents in New York City:
- Inexperienced drivers
- Reckless driving
- Lack of protected lanes for e-scooters
- Potholes and uneven pavement
- Riding on the sidewalk
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Speeding and aggressive driving
- Defects in the e-scooter
- Illegal lane changes
- Illegal or unsafe turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Call Beck Law, P.C. at (516) 388-7785 to determine the compensation you are entitled to.
How Much Time Do I Have to File an Electric Scooter Accident Lawsuit in New York?
After an electric scooter accident, New York has a strict three year statute of limitations where you may file your claim in court against the at-fault party. This three year period includes property damage and injuries. If a victim has died as a result of the accident, the estate has two years from the date of the death to file the lawsuit.
FAQ
Common Questions After an E-Scooter Accident
I rented a Lime scooter and the brakes failed. Can I sue them?
Possibly, yes. Rental companies have a duty to maintain their fleet and take defective scooters out of service. If a mechanical failure caused your crash, there may be a product liability or negligence claim against the company. We’d look at their maintenance logs and any prior complaints about that specific scooter.
A scooter ran a red light and hit me on the sidewalk. What do I do?
Get the rider’s information if possible. Seek medical attention immediately. Then call us. As a pedestrian who was where they were legally supposed to be, you typically bear no fault, and that’s a strong starting position for any injury claim.
I wasn't wearing a helmet and hit my head. Does that kill my case?
No. Adult helmet use isn’t legally required, and even if it were, New York’s comparative negligence law means you can still recover. The insurer may argue helmet non-use contributed to your head injury, but that argument goes to the percentage of fault assigned to you — it doesn’t eliminate your right to recover.
The driver who hit me while I was on my scooter drove away. Now what?
If the driver’s vehicle made contact with you, the incident may be covered under your own auto insurance’s uninsured motorist provision even though you weren’t in a car. Call us and we’ll figure out what coverage is actually available.
