Electric scooters, or e-scooters, have become a popular means of transportation in New Mexico with the introduction of rentable dockless e-scooters. Companies such as Lime and Bird allow riders as young as 16 years old to rent e-scooters and ride them alongside motor vehicles. Unfortunately, this mode of travel is not always safe.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an e-scooter accident in or around Alamogordo, contact The Fine Law Firm for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. We can help you understand your legal rights and seek fair financial compensation for your injuries.
Why Choose The Fine Law Firm?
- Your lawyer will put you first throughout your case. We dedicate individualized care and attention to each client to ensure you have everything you need.
- We are trial-prepared and ready. Our law firm has a 99 percent case success rate and has collected millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
- Our lawyers in Alamogordo accept e-scooter accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you will not pay us anything in attorney’s fees unless we win your case.
Common Causes of E-Scooter Accidents
Most e-scooter accidents that occur in New Mexico can be prevented. All road users, including motorists and e-scooter operators, have a responsibility to act with reasonable care. This means following all traffic laws and behaving in a way that a reasonable person would in the same or similar circumstances. Any failure to fulfill this duty can result in electric scooter accidents.
Common causes of e-scooter accidents in Alamogordo include:
- Distracted driving
- Cell phone use
- Texting and driving
- Intoxication
- Speeding
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Running red lights or rolling through stop signs
- Following too closely
- Making unsafe lane changes
- Violating traffic laws
- Road defects or hazards, such as potholes
- E-scooter defects, such as software malfunctions
It can be difficult to determine the cause of your e-scooter accident on your own. You may need a car accident attorney and investigators to revisit the scene of the crash, speak to eyewitnesses, hire experts, and take other steps to identify the cause and name the liable party or parties.
Who Has the Right-of-Way on Electric Scooters?
Under state law (New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 66-3-1104), riders of electric scooters have all of the same rights and responsibilities as bicycle riders, with some exceptions when a law cannot apply to a scooter by its nature.
Electric scooters do not automatically have the right-of-way in every situation. E-scooter riders in New Mexico only have the right-of-way when traffic laws grant them this right, in the same manner as bicyclists and motor vehicle drivers.
E-scooter riders must ride in the same direction as motor vehicle traffic when traveling on a public road. They must abide by all traffic laws and roadway rules, such as stopping at stop signs and red lights. E-scooter riders have the right-of-way when faced with a steady green light at a traffic control-signaled intersection.
At a four-way intersection with stop signs, an e-scooter rider has the right-of-way if he or she is the first to approach the intersection. In these situations, motor vehicle drivers must yield to e-scooter riders.
Who Is at Fault in an E-Scooter Accident in Alamogordo?
The answer to this question depends on the circumstances surrounding the crash. In many cases, a re-creation of the e-scooter accident is necessary to determine the person at fault. In general, the at-fault party is often someone who broke a traffic law in the moments leading up to the collision.
Motor vehicle drivers are often found liable for e-scooter accidents in New Mexico, as they can make many errors that result in collisions. If a motor vehicle driver ran a red light or failed to yield an e-scooter the right-of-way, for example, his or her car insurance company would be financially responsible for the rider’s injuries.
However, a third party could also be at fault, such as the e-scooter manufacturer for a defective device or part malfunction that causes a crash. In other cases, the Alamogordo government could be liable for a dangerous road defect that causes an e-scooter accident, such as a pothole.
What Types of Damages Can You Recover?
If you or a loved one has been involved in an e-scooter accident in Alamogordo, you may qualify for financial compensation for various economic and noneconomic damages. One or multiple parties may be financially responsible for the past and future losses you suffered due to the crash.
Three main types of financial compensation are available:
- Economic damages: the financial losses suffered or money spent on recovering from the e-scooter accident, such as your medical bills, property repairs, lost wages, lost capacity to earn, disability costs, and travel or transportation.
- Noneconomic damages: the intangible or invisible ways in which the accident and injury have impacted your life, such as physical pain, emotional suffering, mental distress, psychological trauma, loss of consortium and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Punitive damages: additional compensation that may be awarded as a means of punishing the defendant for especially egregious acts of wrongdoing. In New Mexico, punitive damages are available if it can be proven that the defendant’s actions were reckless or intentional.
Discuss the potential value of your e-scooter accident case with an attorney at The Fine Law Firm for more information. While a car insurance company may try to undervalue your losses and minimize your case’s value, we will give you an accurate and honest case evaluation.
Call Our Alamogordo E-Scooter Accident Lawyer
At The Fine Law Firm, our Alamogordo e-scooter accident attorneys understand the unique elements and nuances of these cases. We can guide you through the recovery process from start to settlement with tailored legal services. Find out how we can help you during a free initial case evaluation. Contact us online anytime or call (505) 889-3463 to speak to an attorney.