Disabilities Rights Group Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Scooter Companies
Disabilities Rights Group Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Scooter Companies
A disabilities rights group has sued the city of San Diego and three electric scooter companies for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. According to news reports, Bird, Lime and Razor are named in the class action lawsuit, which alleges that the companies and the city have not kept sidewalks clear from an onslaught of unregulated dockless scooters.
Scooters Making Lives Difficult
The lawsuit, filed by Disability Rights California and three disabled residents of San Diego, says the scooter rental companies have “used and appropriated” varying portions of the city’s public sidewalks, crosswalks, transit stops, curb ramps, pedestrian crossings and other walkways by allowing dockless scooters to “proliferate unchecked.” One plaintiff who uses a mobility scooter said his life has been changed as a result of these scooter that whiz dangerously inches away from his scooter.
Another plaintiff who uses a scooter because of his Parkinson’s disease said he was unable to leave his home because of dockless scooters blocking the entrance to his home. The plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit are asking for statutory damages as well as for scooter companies to return money obtained as a result of wrongful and illegal conduct. They are also asking that the companies stop operating their scooters on sidewalks and other areas designated for pedestrians.
The lawsuit also states that even though the city of San Diego has laws in place requiring scooters not to use sidewalks or block them, those laws are hardly enforced. The city is currently served by Bird, Lime, Razor, Lyft and Uber scooters. Bird and Lime are facing another class action lawsuit in Los Angeles where plaintiffs allege they have been injured by the scooters. Both scooter riders and pedestrians say they have sustained severe injuries after collisions with scooters including broken bones, torn ligaments, lacerations and damaged teeth.
A Convenience or a Public Nuisance?
Complaints about electric scooters have been piling up especially in Southern California beach cities where a number of residents view them as a public nuisance. Some cities have even banned them. The bottom line is they have the potential to cause major injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in an electric scooter accident, you may be able to sue the city, the scooter company and/or the individual responsible for causing your accident. An experienced California personal injury lawyer can help you better understand your legal rights and options.
