City Wants to Improve Safety after First Electric Scooter-Related Death in Denver

On August 4, 2019, a 26-year-old man from Billings, Montana was riding an electric scooter eastbound down W. 32nd Avenue. He attempted to cross N. Eliot Street when he rode directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle. The man was transported to the hospital with critical injuries. Sadly, he died from his injuries later that week. Police confirmed that this was the first electric scooter-related death in the city since electric scooters were first introduced in June 2018. Following this accident, Denver city wants to improve scooter program.

The current pilot program in Denver allows for 2,840 electric scooters to operate on city streets. These electric scooters have offered residents a fun and economical way to get around town. However, they’ve also increased the risk of getting into a traffic accident and suffering serious injuries.

Emergency room doctors are seeing scooter crashes on a daily basis in local area hospitals. Fortunately, many of these accidents aren’t life-threatening. The majority of scooter accidents result in fractures, abrasions, and soft-tissue injuries. Some, however, have caused significant brain injuries.

To improve safety, Denver city officials have been trying to tweak the scooter program. Currently, scooter riders in Denver are supposed to ride in bike lanes and on roads with speed limits under 30 mph. Recently, they proposed an ordinance that would keep scooter riders off of the sidewalk. They’re also looking to shut down scooter use during certain hours of the day.

If the proposal passes, scooters will be shut down in ride-restricted zones, including near Coors Field before, during and after Rockies games. They would also be prevented from riding at certain times of night.

In addition, the city has explored the option of expanding education for scooter riders, as well as drivers. Traffic fatalities are on the rise in Denver, and at least 50 deaths have occurred on city streets in 2019 alone. Officials are hoping that increased education will not only help drivers pay attention to scooter riders on the street, but also help scooter riders understand the risks they’re taking on the road.

With the electric scooter pilot program ending in a month in Denver, city officials are hopeful they can make lasting changes that would improve safety for everyone on the street.

Contact Our Denver Scooter Accident Lawyers Today

If you or someone you love has been injured in an electric scooter accident in Denver, it is important that you assess your injuries fully. You may have suffered more serious injuries than you realize, and these injuries could lead to a lifetime of pain and suffering. As such, it is critical to discuss your accident and your case with an experienced Denver scooter accident lawyer before signing any settlement offer. Contact Gregory A. Gold of the Gold Law Firm today for a free consultation at (303) 694-4653.