Now that state law has officially given the thumbs up to electric scooters in Florida, it is up to local governments to determine how to regulate the motorized two-wheelers increasingly popping up on streets from Tallahassee to South Beach.
Officials in St. Petersburg recently rolled out a pilot program that will allow scooter share companies to operate in the city, but with a number of important safety precautions. Scooter riders can’t take their vehicles on sidewalks and can’t ride after 10 p.m. They also will be required to park the vehicles in designated areas, instead of leaving them strewn haphazardly.
The St. Petersburg pilot program comes some four months after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed legislation making electric-powered scooters legal in the Sunshine State. The law allowed electric scooter sharing companies to start immediately operating across the state.
But it also gave significant power to local governments to set the rules for scooting. That includes designating where scooters can be operated and parked, as well as imposing certain insurance requirements.
In Orlando, city officials are hammering out a deal to bring scooters to the streets of Central Florida. That deal would reportedly limit scooters to max speeds of 10 miles per hour, but has sparked some ongoing debate about whether the vehicles belong on sidewalks, bicycle lanes and recreational trails.
Legal Rights for People Injured in Scooter Accidents
The rise of electric scooters is likely to bring with it a jump in electric scooter accidents. That’s particularly true as people who are not experienced with this mode of travel take to the streets with little training.
Fortunately, there are a number of important protections for people who are injured when accidents happen. Anyone injured in an accident has the right to seek compensation from those responsible from the collision, whether it is a negligent scooter rider or a rental company that puts defective products on the streets. That’s true even if you are partly to blame for the accident.
It is important to have a seasoned personal injury lawyer by your side. An attorney can help you understand your rights and options while building the strongest possible case for compensation.
Speak With a Villages Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a scooter or other accident, you have the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the crash. A Villages personal injury attorney can help you consider your legal rights and options while you focus on your physical recuperation.
Villages personal injury attorney Tim Babiarz has been representing people involved in scooter, golf cart, automobile, motorcycle and other collisions for more than two decades. Our office is conveniently located in The Villages. We are proud to fight for clients in Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield and beyond. Call (352) 205-7599 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Villages personal injury attorney.
