A Newport resident suffered fatal injuries in February 2024 when a driver rear-ended him as he rode his scooter on a highway in Jackson County, according to a report from the Arkansas State Police.
The 59-year-old man was riding a TaoTao motorized scooter when he was hit around 6:30 p.m. on Arkansas 384 in rural Jackson County. The vehicle that collided with the scooter was a 2014 GMC Acadia sport utility vehicle. The vehicle’s driver was not injured.
According to state troopers, the weather was cloudy at the time of the accident, without any recent rain.
Increases in E-Scooter and E-Bike Accidents
Scooters and electric bicycles are becoming more popular as commuters look for a low-cost, portable way to travel. As these forms of transportation become more popular, however, the number of accidents involving them has also increased.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 27,000 scooter-related injuries were reported in the United States between 2014 and 2020.
Head injuries are common in scooter crashes. One study found that 45 percent of all scooter crashes resulted in head injuries for the scooter’s rider.
Increases in scooter and bike accidents have resulted in increased injury rates. For example:
- Broken bones suffered in scooter accidents increased 222 percent over two years, according to one US study.
- Broken bones, bruises, and scrapes from scooter crashes increased by 81 percent between 2019 and 2020 in a study of patients in Tel Aviv.
- Scooter accidents and injuries involving tourists increased by 69 percent in the summer of 2018 for patients treated in San Diego emergency departments.
- Between 2017 and 2022, scooter and e-bike injuries in the US have increased 23 percent per year on average. These included 360,800 emergency room visits and 233 deaths
.
Many scooter riders are inexperienced; in one Australian study, 74 percent of those involved in a crash had previously ridden a scooter less than ten times. Yet many of these accidents were avoidable if others on the road had taken due care to prevent the crash.
Everyone on the roads has a responsibility to pay attention and use due care to prevent accidents. When a driver is intoxicated, speeding, or simply not paying attention, they are failing to meet this responsibility – and a serious accident or death can result.
What to Do If You Are Injured in a Jackson County Scooter Crash
The days and weeks after a scooter injury can go by in a blur. You may be struggling to recover from serious injuries. If a loved one lost their life in a scooter crash, you may struggle to carry the burden of grief while also dealing with the many ways your life is upended by your loved one’s sudden absence.
If you or someone you love is injured in a scooter crash:
- Get medical attention right away. At the scene, call 911 or have someone else do so. If you didn’t receive medical attention at the scene, see a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries aren’t obvious until days after a crash. Having a doctor examine you can help ensure you receive the right medical care promptly.
- Document what you can. If possible, take photographs, draw a diagram, or take notes at the scene to help preserve what you remember while it’s still fresh in your mind.
- Collect information from others. If you can, get the name, address, and license information from any other driver involved in the accident. Speak to witnesses as well to get their contact information and learn what they saw or heard.
- Stick to the facts. When speaking to police or insurance companies, stick to the facts – what you saw, heard, or felt. Don’t say, “It was my fault,” even if you suspect it was. Wait until all the facts are available – it may be that you didn’t cause the accident at all.
- Speak to a lawyer. An experienced attorney can gather information and preserve evidence, especially if you were unable to do so at the time of the crash. A lawyer can also answer your questions and help you protect your legal rights. When you hire an attorney, they can handle insurance company negotiations and other paperwork, giving you the time and space you need to focus on healing.
Scooter crashes can be devastating. What started as an ordinary commute or a fun trip turned into a catastrophic tragedy for you and your family.
Fortunately, you don’t have to fight for compensation alone. Talk to an experienced Arkansas scooter accident lawyer to learn more.