Legal Help After an E-Scooter vs. Vehicle Collision
Electric scooter riders face extreme vulnerability when sharing the road with cars, trucks, and SUVs. Unlike motor vehicle occupants who are protected by airbags, crumple zones, and seatbelts, e-scooter riders have virtually no barrier between their bodies and a multi-ton vehicle traveling at speed. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), injuries related to e-scooters have surged dramatically in recent years, with vehicle collisions accounting for the most severe outcomes including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and fatalities.
At Roden Law, our e-scooter accident attorneys represent riders struck by negligent motorists throughout Georgia and South Carolina. These cases often involve distracted drivers who fail to check for smaller vehicles in traffic, at intersections, and in bike lanes — and our job is to hold them accountable for the devastating injuries they cause.
Georgia & South Carolina E-Scooter Traffic Laws
Georgia law classifies electric scooters as “personal transportation vehicles” under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-320 et seq., which grants e-scooter riders many of the same rights and responsibilities as bicyclists on public roadways. Riders may use bike lanes, multi-use paths, and roadways with speed limits of 35 mph or less. Motorists owe e-scooter riders a duty of care and must maintain a safe passing distance when overtaking, as with a bicycle. Georgia sets that distance at three feet (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-56); South Carolina requires a safe operating distance without naming a figure (S.C. Code § 56-5-3435).
South Carolina does not yet have a comprehensive statewide e-scooter statute, meaning regulation often falls to local municipal ordinances in cities like Charleston, Columbia, and Myrtle Beach. However, general negligence principles under South Carolina tort law still protect e-scooter riders who are injured by careless motorists. Drivers who fail to yield, run red lights, or operate while distracted can be held fully liable for injuries they cause to vulnerable road users.
Similar to bicycle accident cases, e-scooter riders injured by negligent motorists can pursue claims for the full extent of their damages, including catastrophic injuries that may require lifelong medical care.
Common Causes of E-Scooter vs. Vehicle Collisions
Our attorneys have handled e-scooter collision cases arising from a wide range of driver negligence, including:
- Distracted driving — texting, phone use, or adjusting GPS while failing to notice a scooter rider
- Failure to yield at intersections, driveways, and parking lot exits (see also e-scooter intersection crashes)
- Unsafe lane changes and merging without checking blind spots
- “Dooring” — a parked vehicle occupant opening their door into the path of an approaching scooter
- Right-hook and left-turn collisions at intersections
- Speeding in areas where e-scooter traffic is common, especially near downtown corridors
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Injuries in E-Scooter vs. Vehicle Accidents
Because e-scooter riders lack physical protection, collisions with motor vehicles routinely produce severe injuries. The most common injuries our clients sustain include traumatic brain injuries (even with helmet use), facial fractures and dental injuries, broken collarbones and wrists from impact, spinal cord injuries and herniated discs, road rash requiring skin grafts, and internal organ damage. Many of these injuries require emergency surgery, extended hospitalization, and months or years of rehabilitation — resulting in medical bills that can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Proving Fault in an E-Scooter vs. Vehicle Case
Georgia follows a modified comparative fault rule under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, meaning you can recover damages as long as you are less than 50% at fault. South Carolina applies a similar modified comparative negligence standard, barring recovery only if you are 51% or more responsible. Insurance companies frequently try to shift blame to the scooter rider — claiming they were riding recklessly or ignoring traffic signals — which is why thorough evidence preservation and skilled legal representation are essential.
Why Choose Roden Law for Your E-Scooter Collision Case
Our team has recovered over $300 million for injured clients across Georgia and South Carolina. We understand the emerging legal landscape surrounding electric scooters, and we bring the same aggressive representation to e-scooter cases that we apply to all motor vehicle accident claims. We work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case.
