E-scooters are increasingly popular but just how dangerous are they?

There have been reports of people being injured whilst riding e-scooters and of pedestrians being hurt when e-scooter riders have failed to stop in time. If you’ve been hurt in an e-scooter accident, get in touch with our professional personal injury solicitors about whether you can make a claim for compensation for your injuries.

What Are E-Scooters?

E-scooters are electric scooters that provide an alternative way to travel to walking or cycling.

Quite new to our streets, e-scooters are becoming a familiar sight in some UK cities thanks to Government-led trials that have made them available to hire in certain areas.

What Is The Law For Riding E-Scooters?

You must have a valid provisional or full driving licence and be over the age of 16 to ride an e-scooter.

In England, the law states it is illegal to ride a privately-owned e-scooter on public roads and these e-scooters must only be ridden on private land with permission from the landowner.

An individual who is caught illegally riding a privately-owned e-scooter on a public road can be fined up to £300 and have 6 points added to their driving licence.

The Government is currently trialling e-scooter hire in more than 40 towns and cities – and it is legal to ride e-scooters in these areas. However, it is still illegal to ride e-scooters on pavements and they can only be ridden in cycle lanes and on the sides of roads.

The E-Scooter Hire Trials

The cities that have e-scooters available for hire under the Government trial scheme include London, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham.

During the trial period, it is compulsory for all e-scooters to have motor insurance – this is currently provided by the rental operator.

Each e-scooter provider has slightly different rules for e-scooter use so it’s always worth checking before deciding whether to hire an e-scooter or not.

E-Scooter Safety

Similar rules that apply to cycling, apply to e-scooters. Helmets are recommended but not mandatory.

The speed limit for most e-scooters available to hire is 15.5mph. In London, the speed limit is 12.5mph and you need to complete an online safety course before starting your journey when you hire one for the first time.

How Safe Are E-Scooters?

The combination of electric power, lack of training on how to ride one safely, and the speed they can travel at means they pose a certain danger to the rider and to pedestrians who may be in the path of one if the rider can’t stop in time.

Regardless of whether the e-scooter trials make it compulsory to have insurance whilst on the public road on an e-scooter, it’s always a good idea to have insurance – just in case you’re involved in an accident that causes injury to another person.

How We Can Help You With Your E-Scooter Accident Claim

If you’ve been injured in an accident involving an e-scooter, contact us for advice on whether you can make a claim for compensation and what your rights are.

We can also provide guidance and information on e-scooter safety and the law surrounding them, on a more general basis.

For more information on e-scooters and the law or to speak to one of our specialist solicitors about making an e-scooter accident claim for compensation, call Freephone 0800 988 3674  or via a Mobile 0333 200 4465 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will soon be in touch.

 

Petrol stations owe customers a duty of care which they may breach if the latter are exposed to a foreseeable risk of injury and an accident occurs. There are a number of potential hazards at petrol stations, especially those operating 24/7 and offering a range of facilities. As with all businesses offering services to the general public, petrol station owners, occupiers and staff are responsible for the safety of their visitors as per the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. Customers must be kept reasonably safe while visiting the premises, and all necessary measures must be taken to minimise the risk of accidents.

Typical examples of slippery surfaces at petrol stations include greasy areas in forecourts where oil or petrol has been spilled, and wet floors in bathroom facilities caused by recent cleaning or maintenance problems. Other internal floor surfaces may also be slippery if, for example, a customer spilled a product and it has not been cleaned up, or a recently cleaned floor has been left in a wet and slippery condition, in which case warning signs should have been positioned to warn and prevent customers from accessing the area.

Inadequate outdoor lighting at petrol stations is often a contributory factor in slip and trip accidents, and publicly accessible areas must be properly lit at all times to guard against this risk. Ice and snow in winter must be cleared from outdoor areas to prevent visitors from slipping over and injuring themselves, while measures should also be taken to prevent ice, snow and water from being trampled inside petrol stations. Petrol hoses on forecourts should recoil automatically after use and not be allowed to trail along the ground due to the risk of trips, falls and injuries.

Our firm has a team of personal injury lawyers with experience of successfully claiming compensation for accidents at petrol stations. If you have slipped and fallen over or been otherwise injured at a petrol station through no fault of your own, contact Bartletts for free legal advice that you can rely on:

Petrol Station Accidents – Case Studies

As with all commercial premises visited by members of the public, nightclubs and discos owe their customers a duty of care, and must take all reasonable measures to protect them from foreseeable injury risks while they are on the premises. The most common causes of accidents in nightclubs and discos include:

1) Spilled drinks in any area of a venue can create a slipping hazard for revellers, especially on dance floors and in bar areas and bathroom facilities. Inspections need to be routinely carried out by staff so that spillages are identified and cleared up as quickly as possible. Nightclub owners and organisers must make sure that a sufficient number of staff are on duty to monitor the behaviour of guests and maintain a reasonable level of safety.

2) Broken glasses and bottles are another regular cause of accidents in nightclubs and discos. Broken glass on dance floors, stairs and in other areas of a venue can cut people’s feet, hands or any other part of the body. Similarly to spilled drinks, an efficient system of monitoring and inspecting public areas of a venue, and clearing up broken glass as soon as it is identified will minimise the risk of injuries.

3) Tripping accidents at venues are also fairly common, and are often caused by damaged or uneven surfaces such as frayed carpeting, cracked tiles in bathrooms or damaged steps to stair. Clubs and discos are full of electrical cables linking up music equipment, lighting, screens and vending machines, and exposed trailing cables in public areas can easily cause revellers or venue staff to trip over and injure themselves.

4) Visitors to nightclubs and discos may also be injured when chairs, stools or tables collapse due to their defective state or poor assembly. Venue owners and organisers have a legal duty to provide safe furniture and furnishings which must be regularly inspected to monitor its condition and minimise the risk of injuries. A proper system of lighting is also important, particularly on stairs, in bathroom facilities, near entrances and exits, and on crowded dance floors. Inadequate lighting reduces the ability of visitors to move around a venue safely, and can result in trips, falls and potentially serious injuries.

If you have suffered an injury as a result of an accident in a nightclub that was not your fault, it will often be possible to claim compensation. Bartletts Solicitors has successfully represented guests injured at nightclubs across England and Wales. Find out more:

Compensation for Slipping on a Wet Dance Floor

Compensation for Being Cut by Broken Glass in Nightclub

The loss of a limb can be traumatic, leading to both physical and emotional life changes. Seemingly easy tasks can become difficult or even impossible, which is why making an amputation claim is so important – it is a means to secure your future wellbeing.

Whether your limb loss resulted from an accident at work, medical negligence, traffic accident, or a different accident that was not your fault, our experienced personal injury lawyers ensure you receive the compensation and rehabilitation care you need and deserve.

What Can You Claim Compensation For?

Amputation claims vary, and the level of your compensation will depend on the nature of your accident as well as your personal injury.

As a guide, however, your claim could include compensation for some or all of the following:

• Personal injuries
• Cost of prosthetic limbs
• Medical costs
• Rehabilitation and treatment
• Loss of earnings
• Specialist equipment
• Ongoing care

Why Make A Claim?

While making a claim may not be your top priority at the moment, as you adjust to life without the use of a limb or with the loss of a limb, it’s important that you consider this option to help ensure the best possible outcome and the highest possible quality of life in the future for you.

Making a claim for compensation may relieve the financial strain that serious injuries cause. You may no longer be able to work or need to reduce your working hours due to your amputation, and might now need to invest in professional equipment for your home along with expensive therapy sessions. By securing the compensation you are entitled to, you will also ensure you receive the medical treatment you need as well as any long-term care and support.

Bartletts Solicitors will work hard in securing the highest levels of compensation for your amputation claim, and obtain the finances and assistance for both your physical and emotional needs, now and in the future, Working in a sympathetic and friendly, yet professional way.

How Do I Make An Amputation Claim?

Making a claim for compensation with Bartletts Solicitors is straightforward and stress-free.

To discuss the details of your amputation claim with one of our personal injury solicitors, call Freephone 0800 988 3674  or via a Mobile 0333 200 4465 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will soon be in touch.