
Driving in Fort Lauderdale isn’t easy. You might be aware of the obvious dangers, like drunk drivers and distracted drivers. There is, however, a new hazard that you might not know about because it’s relatively new to Fort Lauderdale’s downtown: electric scooter rentals. Find out all about the dangers of electric scooters.
What Makes Electric Scooters so Dangerous?
In Fort Lauderdale, tourists use a variety of methods to get around. At first, bicycles were the most common form of transportation among tourists. Now, electric scooters are taking center stage.
Electric scooters are cheap, environmentally friendly, and reliable methods of transportation. For tourists, they check all the boxes.
But that could be bad news for you. There are many safety issues with electric scooters. As a result, there are more car accidents. Because of electric scooter rentals, you might need a car accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale.
In Fort Lauderdale, there have been over 15,000 electric scooter riders. All of those riders have made driving a little more dangerous. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Reckless Driving
People on electric scooters don’t often realize that they are on motorized vehicles. Instead, they feel as if they are on a toy. This creates a false sense of security. The riders tend to drive recklessly. As a result, they are a danger to themselves and to other drivers.
When scooter riders drive recklessly, car drivers often pay the price. They might need to swerve to avoid crossing paths with a scooter. Or, they might need to brake suddenly to deal with a scooter that cuts them off.
In any case, the scooter could cause an accident. You might need a car accident lawyer in Fort Lauderdale to deal with the aftermath.
2. Lack of Understanding of Laws
Laws in Florida regarding electric scooters are vague. Most scooter riders and drivers don’t understand the laws regarding electric scooters. For example, scooter riders are expected to yield to pedestrians on crosswalks. They also should follow all traffic laws. However, this isn’t always the case.
If the scooter rider fails to follow the rules and causes an accident, car accident law in Florida could be in your favor. You might not need to deal with all the consequences of your accident on your own.
3. Maintenance Issues
Fort Lauderdale’s scooter program is new. For that reason, there are many bugs to work out. It’s far from perfect.
One of the biggest troubles with scooter rental programs is maintenance. As people use the scooters, they require more frequent maintenance. But there is no guarantee that the scooters are getting worked on. And without the necessary maintenance, a scooter could stop working.
Unfortunately, a malfunction could result in an accident. If a scooter malfunctions while in use, the rider could inadvertently cause a car accident.
4. Drinking and Driving
After enjoying a few drinks, many people in Fort Lauderdale use electric scooters as a method of transportation. However, this puts drivers in danger. Drinking and driving on scooters is not legal, and it’s not safe. However, many scooter users don’t realize the harm.
By drinking and driving, scooter riders make a dangerous activity even more risky. They could weave into traffic and cause normal vehicles to react.
Placing Drivers at Risk
Electric scooter might be fun, but they’re placing drivers at risk. According to car accident law in Florida, you could be eligible for help. Contact a Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney for help.