Arkansas Veo Scooter Accident Attorneys
E-scooters are incredibly popular across the nation and in various locations in Arkansas, such as Fayetteville. Fayetteville had a fleet of 1,000 scooters for rent to ride when they first became available in 2022. Veo and Spin each had 500 scooters in the city. Potential scooter users can rent and ride them using an application on their phones.
Before 2022 and the increase in the presence of e-scooters, in 2020 Fayetteville had 500 scooters in operation, which culminated in approximately 370,000 rides. The distance traveled on the Veo scooters was roughly 1.9 miles. By February 2021, 1,000 scooters provided approximately 496,000 rides of about 2.6 miles. In 2021, scooters traveled close to 1.3 million miles, and in 2020 covered a distance of 703,000 miles.
Propelled by an electric motor, the scooters do not go any faster than 15 mph. While that may not seem very speedy, if something happens to the scooter, such as malfunctioning brakes or the scooter abruptly stopping, the rider can end up with serious injuries – serious enough to merit admission to the hospital and surgery.
How Veo Electric Scooters Got Started in Fayetteville, AR
It all began with Veo in 2018 with a bicycle share program. There were three partners in the venture, the city, the city’s Advertising and Promotion Commission, and the University of Arkansas. That program was in place until late 2019 when scooters came onto the scene.
The bicycles were removed and a state law was enacted giving the nod of approval to city scooter programs. Fayetteville has been virtually scooter accident-free, with the most severe injury reported being a broken jaw.
Before parking an e-scooter in Fayetteville, riders must take a photo of their ride before they can park it. If the rider parks improperly, they may receive fines or warnings via the app. Parts of the town are designated no-parking and slow-ride zones. In 2020 over 5,000 warnings were sent out, and in 2021 148 riders were fined and four banned. Parking is easier on campus where riders must start their ride and end it in designated areas on campus. Veo and Spin work together on campus even though they are competitors.
According to an online survey of 200 scooter riders from 2020, 60 percent were happy with the city scooter program, 27 percent were not happy, and 13 percent were neutral. The main complaint was scooters being dumped all over the place and unsafely blocking sidewalks. The city has a new online system in the works, SeeClickFix, that can allow riders to report issues.
Although the scooters may be ridden anywhere in the town, they may only be left in certain locations, such as a section at Lake Fayetteville, areas along the Razorback Greenway, a section close to Gulley Park, and all designated locations downtown. Since the micro transportation niche changes rapidly according to rider’s needs, Fayetteville may see even more changes and new scooter companies apply to do business there.
Why Veo E-Scooters Are Popular But Dangerous in Arkansas
In 2019 the Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 1015, the Electric Motorized Scooter Act. At the Act’s core, it allowed up to 1,000 e-scooters in the city, with each only doing a maximum speed of 15 mph.
Although 15 mph does not seem like much, any accident involving an e-scooter can result in serious, even life-threatening injuries. One notable study done in Texas involving the Trauma Department at Baylor University Medical Center between 2018 and 2019 showed 88 emergency visits for e-scooter trauma.
Twenty-three riders were admitted, 8 landed in ICU, and one individual died. Of those injured, 58 percent had extremity injuries, 43 percent had facial trauma, and 35 percent sustained head injuries. None of the riders were wearing a helmet.
Common Causes of Veo E-Scooter Injuries
Riding an e-scooter can be dangerous. There are many reasons for that, including:
- E-scooters are typically left in awkward, unsafe locations. This is a tripping hazard for pedestrians and other e-scooter riders.
- E-scooters may not have been properly maintained or regularly inspected, for bad brakes or sticking accelerators.
- Being hit by a car or hitting a vehicle can happen while out riding.
- E-scooters’ rate of speed and complexity has evolved, and thus the chances increase for more serious injuries in a crash.
- E-scooter safety is not up to speed with the rapidly changing ability or capability to move faster.
- There is little in the way of industry regulation for scooter-sharing services.
- Poor road conditions can cause an accident.
- Many e-scooter renters do not have experience riding them and do not even need a license to operate them.
If you are involved in a scooter accident in Arkansas, Fayetteville, or another location, call us immediately. At the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, we understand the difficult situation you are in, your concerns about medical care, your worry about paying the bills, your concern about when you can return to work, and your fear about the recovery process if your injuries are serious. Our Veo e-scooter attorneys are here to help you.
Types of Veo E-Scooter Injuries
The most common injury sustained in e-scooter accidents is a head injury, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) National Library of Medicine.
- Traumatic brain injuries – approximately 30 percent of e-scooter riders are diagnosed with neck and head trauma, including neck fractures, skull, and face fractures. Along with those serious injuries, there were also soft tissue injuries, serious dental damage, concussions, and intracranial hemorrhaging.
- Extremity injuries – include soft tissue trauma, dislocations, fractures, and upper or lower extremity fractures or dislocations. Hip fractures and open fractures.
- Polytrauma – multiple body traumas such as pelvic fracture, solid organ injury, spinal fractures/injuries, rib fractures, and torso trauma.
Injuries sustained in an e-scooter accident can be profoundly serious and life-altering. They often take months or years to heal. We understand your concerns about medical bills and being able to carry on with your life. We understand the anxiety over further surgeries and how they may affect you. At the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, we answer all of your questions and outline your legal rights and all options available to you.
Contact the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield Today
If you were involved in a Veo e-scooter accident, call the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield by calling 479-888-4789. Our dedicated team of Veo e-scooter accident attorneys is here to help.
Call us today for a free initial consultation and to find out what you can expect should you file a personal injury lawsuit. We know you have questions, and we can answer them for you. The Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield is just one quick call away: 479-888-4789.