Electric Scooter Accident Attorney

At Mintz Law Firm, our attorneys have spent decades helping injured Coloradans recover the compensation they deserve. With founder David J. Mintz bringing over 35 years of experience and managing attorney Eric C. Staton contributing more than 15 years of his own, our personal injury team knows how to navigate complex liability situations, including those involving electric scooters.

How Colorado Law Treats Electric Scooters

Electric scooters may seem casual, but Colorado law takes them seriously. That is important to understand because how your scooter is legally classified directly affects your rights after an accident.

The Legal Definition

For a long time, electric scooters existed in a legal gray area. That changed with House Bill 19-1221, which formally redefined electric scooters as vehicles under Colorado law, giving riders the same rights and responsibilities as electric bicycle riders on the road. Under the law, an electric scooter is defined as a device that weighs less than 100 pounds, has handlebars and an electric motor, and reaches a maximum speed of 20 mph on a paved surface.

Denver's Local Ordinances

Denver has also implemented its own rules on top of state law. The Denver City Council voted unanimously to prohibit the use of electric scooters on city sidewalks, with limited exceptions. When riders are permitted on sidewalks, their speed is capped at 6 mph. Otherwise, riders are required to use the road or designated bike lanes. These rules exist to protect both riders and pedestrians, but violations are common, and that can complicate liability when an accident occurs.

Who May Be Liable for Your Electric Scooter Accident?

Since electric scooters are now legally classified as vehicles, liability in scooter accidents is handled much like other motor vehicle accidents. That said, these cases often involve multiple parties, and determining who is at fault requires a careful look at the facts.

There are several parties who may bear responsibility depending on the circumstances of your accident, including the following:

• Electric scooter riders: Any rider who may have been operating recklessly, traveling too fast, or riding while under the influence could be liable.
• Scooter manufacturers: If a defect in the scooter's design or components contributed to the accident, the manufacturer may be to blame.
• Scooter companies and service providers: Bird, Lime, or Lyft could be at fault, particularly if a scooter was improperly maintained, negligently deployed, or left obstructing traffic.
• Other drivers: Fault can be assigned to any motorist who failed to yield to a scooter lawfully traveling in the road or bike lane. 
• Pedestrians or cyclists: Other road users whose actions contributed to the collision are also scrutinized.

Anyone who played a role in causing your accident may be held financially responsible for the resulting damages. Sorting through these parties requires careful investigation and an in-depth knowledge of Colorado's vehicle laws, and that is exactly where having the right legal team makes a difference.

What Compensation May Be Available to You?

Colorado law protects victims of electric scooter accidents by requiring at-fault parties to compensate victims for their losses. The types of damages available to you will depend on the specifics of your case, but generally include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Understanding Comparative Negligence

One important factor to be aware of is Colorado's comparative negligence law. Under this rule, your compensation may be reduced if you are found partially at fault for the accident. As long as you are not more than 50% responsible, you may still recover damages, though the amount awarded will be reduced proportionally to your degree of fault. This makes building a strong, well-documented claim from the start critically important.

Why Evidence Matters

To recover compensation, you will need to identify all responsible parties, gather supporting evidence, and document your losses thoroughly. This includes medical records, accident reports, photos, witness statements, and records of any lost income. Micromobility incidents, including electric scooter accidents, continue to rise as ridership increases nationwide. These are not minor incidents, and the physical and financial toll they take on victims is real.

If you are unsure where to start, an attorney can help you gather and organize this evidence so nothing important gets overlooked. Our team also handles communication with insurance companies, which is critical because insurers are motivated to minimize payouts, not protect your interests.

Why Work With Mintz Law Firm?

Recovering compensation after an electric scooter accident is rarely straightforward. Scooter companies often have terms of service designed to limit their liability, and the relatively recent legal classification of scooters as vehicles means there is still evolving case law to navigate. A personal injury attorney with experience in Colorado vehicle law is well-positioned to handle the complexities of your case.

What Sets Us Apart?

At Mintz Law Firm, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our team of 12 attorneys brings an average of 20 years of experience each, and collectively we have over 300 years of combined experience advocating for injured Coloradans. We have recovered more than $20 million annually for our clients since 2016. Beyond our results, we take a personal approach to every case, treating each client as a person, not a number, and staying in regular communication throughout the entire process.

Whether your accident involved a negligent driver, a defective scooter, or a company that failed to properly maintain its fleet, we know how to investigate the facts, identify all liable parties, and pursue the maximum compensation available. We also handle bicycle accident and pedestrian accident cases, so if your incident involved multiple types of road users, we have the background to address every angle.

Speak With a Denver Electric Scooter Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in an electric scooter accident in Denver, do not wait to seek legal guidance. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better positioned you will be to protect your rights and pursue the full compensation you may be owed. Evidence fades, witnesses become harder to reach, and Colorado's statute of limitations puts a deadline on how long you have to file a claim.

Our attorneys are ready to evaluate your case, answer your questions, and help you understand your options. Fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with Mintz Law Firm today.