Los Angeles Electric Scooter Accident Lawyers
California Civil Code § 1714 generally holds people responsible for harm caused by their failure to use ordinary care. Arash Law’s Los Angeles electric scooter accident attorneys help injured riders, pedestrians, and families pursue compensation after crashes caused by another’s negligence.
Los Angeles County includes some of Southern California’s busiest environments for electric scooter riders, from Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, and the areas around UCLA and USC to Santa Monica, Glendale, Long Beach, and other communities across the county. Local scooter programs, road conditions, enforcement agencies, and riding restrictions can differ depending on where a crash occurs.
Within the City of Los Angeles, LADOT reports millions of shared-micromobility trips each year, with particularly high activity in Downtown Los Angeles, around UCLA and USC, Hollywood, and coastal areas. Local restrictions also vary within the city, including special rules governing scooter use in the Venice Beach area.
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Reviewed by: Arash Khorsandi, Esq., California State Bar #249405, admitted 2007, last reviewed September 202
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Why Electric Scooter Crashes Across Los Angeles County Require a Localized Approach
Electric scooter claims can differ significantly depending on where in Los Angeles County the crash occurs. The City of Los Angeles regulates shared scooter operators through LADOT, while cities such as Santa Monica, Long Beach, and Glendale apply their own local programs, restrictions, or enforcement practices. The crash location can also determine which law enforcement agency investigates, which public entity maintains the roadway, and which Los Angeles Superior Court district handles a lawsuit.
Local Scooter Rules Vary Across Los Angeles County
Cities across Los Angeles County regulate shared e-scooters through different local programs and operating requirements. Within the City of Los Angeles, LADOT regulates shared scooter operators through its Shared Mobility Device Permit Program under Los Angeles Municipal Code § 71.29. Providers must comply with applicable requirements involving deployment, parking, maintenance, data reporting, insurance, and other operations.
Other cities use their own frameworks. Santa Monica regulates shared mobility through a separate permit program and uses geofencing to restrict or deactivate shared e-scooters in areas such as the Promenade, Pier, public parks, Beach Path, and other designated beach areas. Long Beach operates a citywide shared e-scooter permit program and separately regulates scooter use along its Beach Bike Path. Glendale also enforces state and local rules governing where and how e-scooters can operate.
These differences can matter after a crash because operator requirements, available records, enforcement practices, and responsible public agencies may change from one city to another. A violation of a local permit or operating rule does not automatically establish negligence, but it may be relevant when the violation relates to how the injury occurred.
Crash Location Determines Where Your Case Is Filed
Where a Los Angeles e-scooter crash occurs can determine which courthouse handles the lawsuit. Personal injury cases filed in the Central District are generally assigned to Independent Calendar departments at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Cases arising elsewhere in Los Angeles County may be assigned according to the applicable judicial district and other court-assignment rules.
The same analysis applies outside central Los Angeles. A crash in Santa Monica, Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, or another Los Angeles County community may fall within a different Los Angeles Superior Court judicial district. The correct filing location depends on the applicable venue and court-assignment rules. Attorneys usually confirm the location under Local Rule 2.3. You can also use the Filing Court Locator.
Scooter Activity, Data, and Crash Reports Across Los Angeles County
Scooter activity, available data, and crash-report procedures vary across Los Angeles County because cities operate different mobility programs and law enforcement systems. Within the City of Los Angeles, LADOT reported 5,475,366 shared micromobility trips from 2024 to 2025, with activity occurring throughout the city, particularly around Downtown Los Angeles, UCLA and USC, Hollywood, and coastal areas.
Venice Beach has additional restrictions. Under Los Angeles Municipal Code § 63.44(O)(1), motorized scooters may not be operated on boardwalks, sidewalks, bike paths, or other public ways within the covered beach lands between the southern boundary of Santa Monica and Washington Boulevard.
Shared-mobility providers exchange real-time and historical mobility data with LADOT through the Mobility Data Specification (MDS), including vehicle location, trip duration, and service-area information. LADOT permit requirements also require operators to maintain a vehicle maintenance plan and provide a sample maintenance log.
The investigating agency depends on where the collision occurs. LAPD’s four geographic traffic divisions investigate crashes within their respective areas. Motorized scooters generally cannot operate on roads with speed limits above 25 mph unless they are within a Class II or Class IV bikeway, so freeway travel is generally prohibited. If a freeway incident occurs, the California Highway Patrol has primary jurisdiction for traffic enforcement and collision investigation. LAPD collision reports can be requested through its Records and Identification Division.
Outside the City of Los Angeles, different local systems may govern scooter activity and crash records. Santa Monica, Long Beach, Glendale, and other incorporated cities maintain their own transportation, enforcement, or shared-mobility rules. As a result, relevant evidence may come from a municipal transportation department, a local police agency, a scooter operator, or another public entity rather than from LADOT or LAPD.
Who Can File an Electric Scooter Accident Claim in Los Angeles County?
California law allows a range of parties to seek compensation after an electric scooter crash in Los Angeles County. Your role in the accident determines your eligibility.
The following parties may be able to bring a claim:
- Injured Scooter Riders: If a driver, road defect, or faulty scooter equipment caused your crash anywhere in Los Angeles County, including on streets in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Glendale, or another local community, you may be able to pursue a claim.
- Other People Injured in the Crash: A person injured in the same incident may bring a separate claim against the at-fault party. This category includes a bystander or pedestrian near the scooter at the time of the crash, such as a companion walking alongside a rider or a person standing near a shared scooter that collided with a vehicle.
- Pedestrians Struck by a Scooter: A pedestrian injured by an e-scooter rider may bring a claim if the rider’s negligence caused the collision. California scooter law violations, such as carrying a passenger or operating without a required brake, can be relevant in proving fault.
- Bicyclists and Other Road Users Injured in the Same Crash: A cyclist or driver injured when a scooter crash involves their vehicle may also bring a claim against the at-fault party.
- Spouses and Registered Domestic Partners: A spouse or registered domestic partner of someone seriously injured in a Los Angeles e-scooter crash may seek loss of consortium damages for the impact the injuries have had on the relationship.
Eligibility depends on the facts of your crash. A Los Angeles scooter accident attorney can evaluate the circumstances to determine if you have a viable case.
Common Injuries in Los Angeles County Electric Scooter Accidents
Peer-reviewed UCLA emergency department research found that the most common e-scooter injuries included head injuries, fractures, and soft-tissue injuries such as cuts, sprains, and bruises. The study also documented facial fractures, intracranial bleeding, cervical spine fractures, and serious internal injuries in some patients.
Injuries seen in Los Angeles scooter accidents may include:
Medical records from hospitals throughout Los Angeles County can help establish the extent of injuries after an e-scooter crash. Depending on where the collision occurs, treatment may take place at facilities such as:
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Los Angeles General Medical Center
- UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
- Long Beach Medical Center
Imaging, surgical records, therapy notes, work restrictions, and future-care recommendations from facilities like these can provide important evidence of the injuries, treatment, damages, and long-term effects of the crash.
Questions After An Electric Scooter Accident?
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What Damages Can You Recover from an Electric Scooter Accident in Los Angeles County?
After an electric scooter crash in Los Angeles County, California law allows you to seek compensation for both your financial losses and the personal impact the injury has had on your life.
Economic damages are losses you can prove with bills, pay stubs, and medical records:
- Medical Bills: Emergency room treatment, hospital admission, surgery, imaging, prescriptions, and physical therapy.
- Future Medical Care: The projected cost of ongoing treatment your injuries may require, including additional surgery, long-term physical therapy, pain management, or assistive devices.
- Lost Wages: Income you could not earn while recovering from your injuries.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries limit your ability to work at the same capacity long term, the difference in future income is recoverable.
- Property Damage: The cost to repair or replace your scooter, helmet, protective gear, phone, and other personal property damaged in the crash.
Non-economic damages cover the personal harm the crash caused:
- Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and the emotional toll of living with your injuries.
- Emotional Distress: Anxiety, post-traumatic stress, depression, and other psychological harm documented by a treating provider.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: The inability to participate in activities you valued before the crash: cycling, exercising, attending events, and caring for your family.
- Permanent Scarring or Disfigurement: Road rash and facial injuries that result in lasting physical changes are separately compensable.
- Loss of Consortium: A spouse or registered domestic partner of someone seriously injured in an LA e-scooter crash may recover for the loss of companionship, support, and intimacy caused by the injuries.
- Punitive Damages: Punitive damages may be available when clear and convincing evidence shows that the defendant acted with malice, oppression, or fraud. California law imposes additional requirements when punitive damages are sought against a corporation based on an employee's conduct.
The value of an e-scooter injury claim depends on factors such as the severity of the injuries, available insurance coverage, liability, and the documented financial and personal impact of the crash.
How Insurance Applies to Electric Scooter Claims in Los Angeles County
More than one insurance policy may apply after a Los Angeles County e-scooter crash. Available coverage depends on who caused the accident, the injured person’s status under each policy, and the type of loss involved.
Policies that may apply include:
- At-Fault Driver’s Auto Liability: If a motor vehicle driver caused the crash, their liability coverage may pay for bodily injuries and property damage they caused, subject to the applicable policy limits.
- Scooter Operator’s Commercial Liability Insurance: Shared-scooter operators may carry commercial liability insurance under state law and applicable local permit requirements. Within the City of Los Angeles, LADOT imposes insurance requirements on permitted operators. Coverage may apply when an operator’s own conduct contributed to the injury. The existence of a commercial policy does not by itself establish that the operator is liable for a particular crash.
- Pedestrian Injury Coverage: California Civil Code § 2505 requires shared-mobility providers to make at least $10,000 in coverage available, or confirm that the user maintains qualifying coverage, for bodily injury or death suffered by a pedestrian when the injury involves, at least in part, the negligent conduct of the shared-mobility-device user. Separate limited coverage also applies to damage involving qualifying assistive technology devices.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage: Your own auto policy may provide coverage if you qualify as an insured and the driver who caused the crash was uninsured, underinsured, or cannot be identified.
For an unknown hit-and-run driver, California Insurance Code § 11580.2 generally requires physical contact with the unknown vehicle, a law-enforcement report within 24 hours, and a sworn statement to the insurer within 30 days.
Named insureds, their spouses, and qualifying relatives who reside in the same household may have UM/UIM protection even when injured outside the insured vehicle, subject to applicable law and the policy.
- Health Insurance: Health insurance may cover accident-related medical treatment according to the terms of your plan, including applicable deductibles, co-pays, and network requirements. Depending on the coverage involved, you may need to address reimbursement, subrogation, or medical lien issues when the injury claim resolves.
- Other Personal Insurance Policies: Homeowner’s, renter’s, or automobile insurance may provide additional coverage in some scooter-related claims, but the extent of that coverage varies substantially by policy and by the type of loss involved. California law requires shared-mobility providers to warn users that these personal policies might not cover liability arising from use of a shared mobility device, so the specific policy terms should be reviewed.
Identifying relevant policies early can clarify which sources of compensation may be available.
What Happens When You Hire a Lawyer for an Electric Scooter Claim in Los Angeles County
After a Los Angeles e-scooter crash, an attorney can preserve relevant evidence, obtain available collision reports, identify potentially liable parties and insurance coverage, document your damages, negotiate with insurers, and file a lawsuit when necessary.
- Investigate and Preserve Evidence: An attorney usually sends preservation demands to the scooter operator for relevant trip data, maintenance records, deployment records, and other available information. Requests may also be sent to nearby businesses or other parties that could hold surveillance footage or records related to the crash.
- Obtain the Traffic Collision Report: The investigating agency depends on where the crash occurred. LAPD may investigate crashes within the City of Los Angeles. In cities such as Santa Monica, Long Beach, Glendale, or Pasadena, the respective municipal police department may instead handle the collision. Incidents in unincorporated areas may involve other county agencies, depending on jurisdiction. Your attorney can obtain the applicable collision report and review it alongside witness statements, video, scooter data, and other available evidence.
- Identify Potentially Liable Parties and Insurance Coverage: Your attorney determines whether responsibility may rest with a driver, scooter operator, maintenance provider, manufacturer, public entity, or another party and identifies potentially applicable insurance coverage.
- Document the Full Scope of Damages: Your attorney gathers evidence of medical expenses, future care, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other compensable losses to support the value of the claim.
- Negotiate With Insurers: Your attorney presents the claim, responds to disputes over liability or damages, and challenges attempts to shift fault onto you unfairly. Liability waivers or other provisions in scooter rental agreements may also require review. Los Angeles car accident lawyers handle issues arising from multi-party insurance disputes.
- File a Lawsuit If Necessary: If the claim does not resolve through negotiation, your attorney can file a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court and use discovery, expert testimony, and other evidence to pursue the case.
A claim may be resolved through settlement or proceed to a verdict, depending on the facts, available evidence, disputed issues, and the parties’ positions.
Proving Fault in a Los Angeles County Electric Scooter Accident Case
Many e-scooter claims against private parties are governed by California negligence principles. Under Civil Code § 1714, people generally must use reasonable care to avoid harming others. To establish an ordinary negligence claim, you generally must prove four elements.
- Duty: The at-fault party owed a duty of care. Under Civil Code § 1714, that duty extends to all road users. A driver anywhere in Los Angeles County has a duty to use reasonable care around scooter riders, including checking for riders before opening a vehicle door or merging across a bike lane.
- Breach: The party failed to meet that duty by speeding, failing to yield, dooring a rider, or negligently deploying or maintaining a defective scooter.
- Causation: The breach directly caused the crash and the resulting injuries.
- Damages: The rider suffered compensable harm: medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and related losses.
Product liability claims involve different requirements, and claims involving a dangerous condition of public property are governed by Government Code § 835.
Who Can Be Held Liable In An Electric Scooter Accident In Los Angeles County
Multiple parties can share fault in a Los Angeles e-scooter crash. California’s pure comparative fault rule, established in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, means that even if you bear some responsibility, you can still pursue compensation. Your damages are only reduced by your percentage of fault, not eliminated. For example, a Los Angeles rider found 20% at fault for riding in an unauthorized lane may still recover 80% of their proven damages.
Liable parties in a Los Angeles e-scooter case can include:
On county-maintained roads, the County of Los Angeles is responsible. Los Angeles traffic accident lawyers handle road-defect claims on the same corridors where e-scooter crashes occur.
If a scooter rider violated CVC § 21235, for example, by carrying a passenger or operating without functioning brakes, the defense may raise that violation in the fault-allocation process, meaning the legal determination of each party’s share of responsibility.
If the jury or judge finds that the violation was a substantial factor in causing the crash, the rider may be assigned a percentage of fault. That percentage may then reduce the rider’s recoverable damages.
Filing Deadlines for Electric Scooter Accident Claims in Los Angeles County
California law sets multiple deadlines for e-scooter accident claims. Missing an applicable deadline can bar some or all of your claim, subject to limited exceptions.
- Personal Injury Lawsuits (Two Years): Under California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) § 335.1, you have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit against a private party, including a driver, a scooter company, or a manufacturer.
- Property Damage Lawsuits (Three Years): You generally have three years to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for damage to personal property.
- Government Entity Claims (Six Months): If a public entity may share fault, including the City of Los Angeles, another Los Angeles County municipality, Los Angeles County, or Caltrans, you generally must present a government claim within six months of the injury. Claims involving LADOT, for example, follow the City of Los Angeles claim process. Missing the deadline can bar the public-entity claim, although limited late-claim procedures exist. A lawsuit generally cannot proceed until the claim has been rejected or the agency’s response period has passed.
- Deadline After a Government Claim Is Rejected: Presenting the government claim does not preserve the case indefinitely. If the public entity sends a written rejection notice that complies with Government Code § 913, Government Code § 945.6 generally requires the lawsuit to be filed within six months after the notice is personally delivered or mailed. If no compliant written rejection notice is given, the statute generally allows two years from the date the cause of action accrued.
- UM/UIM Claim Preservation (Two Years): If uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage applies, California Insurance Code § 11580.2(i) generally requires action within two years of the accident to preserve the claim. Within that period, the insured must file suit against the uninsured motorist, reach an agreement with the insurer as to the amount due, or formally institute arbitration by providing the required written notice to the insurer.
Evidence preservation is time-sensitive regardless of which deadline applies. GPS data, surveillance footage, and camera records can disappear quickly, so acting early is critical.
Results Arash Law Has Recovered for Injured Clients
The results below show examples of recoveries that Arash Law has obtained in significant injury matters, including cases involving vehicle crashes, roadway conditions, and product liability.
Arash Law secured a $3.5 million settlement for a six-year-old boy who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a pickup truck struck and ran over him while he was riding his bicycle across the street.
The defense attempted to place responsibility on the child for crossing outside a designated intersection. Instead, our legal team examined the driver’s conduct. Through discovery and deposition testimony, we established that the driver had been distracted at the time of the collision.
Arash Law obtained a $1.45 million settlement for a motorcyclist injured after she encountered uneven pavement in an active construction zone. The crash left her with fractured ribs and head trauma.
Both the contractors involved in the project and the city disputed responsibility throughout the case. The matter proceeded to trial, and a settlement was reached after the first day, when the defendants increased their offer.
In October 2021, Arash Law secured a $3.68 million result in a case that initially presented several possible legal theories. What first appeared to be a standard personal injury or work-related claim ultimately developed into a complex product liability matter.
The case required the team to address both workplace-related issues and the defective-product component. By identifying the correct theory of liability and navigating overlapping issues, Arash Law secured a substantial recovery for the client.
Past results are not a guarantee of outcome. Every case is different, and results depend on the unique facts and circumstances of each matter. Past results do not predict or guarantee future outcomes. This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
Talk to Arash Law About Your E-Scooter Crash in Los Angeles County
Critical digital evidence, including GPS logs and commercial dashcam footage, can be deleted or overwritten within days of a collision. Arash Law moves quickly to issue formal spoliation letters, subpoena local municipal data, and verify every applicable policy limit before deadlines pass.
Call (213) 277-5878, our local Los Angeles line, or (888) 488-1391, available 24 hours, for a free case evaluation.
Why Hire Arash Law for Your Electric Scooter Claim in Los Angeles County
Arash Law represents riders, pedestrians, and families throughout Los Angeles County in e-scooter cases involving local shared-mobility rules, insurance coverage, and court procedures. If you are searching for a personal injury lawyer after an e-scooter crash, Arash Law’s team can identify who may share fault, which policies may apply, and what compensation may be available.
Arash Law’s electric scooter accident attorneys can evaluate your claim at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electric Scooter Accidents in Los Angeles County
After an e-scooter crash in Los Angeles County, different rules may affect helmet use, road-hazard claims, insurance, product liability, available damages, and filing deadlines.
Am I Required to Wear a Helmet While Riding an E-Scooter in Los Angeles County?
Adults 18 and older are not required to wear a helmet under CVC § 21235. Riders under 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet. If an adult suffers a head injury without a helmet, the defense may argue that helmet non-use contributed to the injury. Any reduction in damages would depend on whether the evidence supports assigning comparative fault; non-use of a helmet does not automatically bar a claim.
Can I Sue Bird or Lime If Their Scooter Malfunctions?
Yes. If the scooter had a defect such as faulty brakes, a folding stem, deck cracks, or throttle problems, you may have a claim against the manufacturer. Depending on the defect and its origin, you may also have a claim against operators like Bird or Lime for negligent maintenance, inadequate inspection, or failure to remove a defective scooter from service. Prior incident reports or maintenance flags may help show notice, but the operator’s failure must also have contributed substantially to the injury.
Does Signing the User Agreement Mean I Cannot Sue?
Not necessarily. A scooter user agreement may contain an enforceable liability waiver, but California law does not enforce every waiver in every circumstance. Enforceability can depend on the agreement’s language, the type of conduct involved, and whether the claim concerns a statutory public-safety duty. An attorney can review the specific agreement and claim.
What If a Pothole or Dangerous Road Condition Caused My Scooter Crash in Los Angeles County?
A public entity may be liable if a dangerous road condition caused your scooter crash and the requirements of Government Code § 835 are met. The responsible entity depends on who controls the road. A City of Los Angeles street may involve the City, while streets maintained by Santa Monica, Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, or another incorporated city may involve that municipality. County-maintained roads may involve Los Angeles County, while state-controlled roadways may involve Caltrans.
If a public entity may be liable, Government Code § 911.2 generally requires an injury claim to be presented within six months, subject to limited exceptions and late-claim procedures.
Can I Use My Auto UM Policy If I Was Hit While on a Scooter in Los Angeles County?
Possibly. Your uninsured motorist coverage may apply if you qualify as an insured under the policy and the crash meets the applicable UM requirements. You can also have an attorney review your coverage and confirm your options.
What If the Driver Who Hit Me Fled the Scene?
Your applicable uninsured motorist coverage may still apply if the hit-and-run driver is never identified. For an unknown driver, California Insurance Code § 11580.2 generally requires physical contact with the vehicle, a report to the appropriate law-enforcement agency within 24 hours, and a sworn statement to the insurer within 30 days. Other deadlines also apply to preserving a UM claim.
How Does the Government Claims Act Deadline Differ from the Regular Statute of Limitations?
The two-year deadline under CCP § 335.1 applies to claims against private parties, such as a driver, a scooter company, or a manufacturer. A shorter six-month claim-presentation deadline generally applies when a public entity may be at fault, such as the City of Los Angeles or another incorporated municipality for a city-street condition, Los Angeles County for certain county-maintained roads, or Caltrans for a state-controlled roadway.
Get Legal Help From Our Electric Scooter Accident Lawyers Today
Contact Arash Law for a free evaluation of an electric scooter accident in Los Angeles County. These cases may involve multiple at-fault parties, insurance policies, and time-sensitive scooter data. Our attorneys handle claims involving local shared-mobility permit issues, operator coverage, and shared liability among drivers, companies, and public entities.
Call (213) 277-5878, our local Los Angeles line, or (888) 488-1391, available 24 hours, for a free case evaluation. There is no cost, no obligation, and no attorney fees unless Arash Law recovers for you.
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