Disabilities Rights Group Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Scooter Companies

A disability 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 a class-action lawsuit alleging that the companies and the city have failed to keep sidewalks clear of 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 changed because scooters whiz dangerously close to his scooter.

Another plaintiff who uses a scooter because of his Parkinson’s disease said he was unable to leave his home because dockless scooters blocked the entrance. The plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit seek statutory damages and the return of funds obtained through wrongful and illegal conduct. They also ask that companies stop operating their scooters on sidewalks and other pedestrian areas.

Despite San Diego’s laws prohibiting scooters from using sidewalks or obstructing them, the lawsuit asserts that these laws receive minimal enforcement. Bird, Lime, Razor, Lyft, and Uber scooters serve the city.

Bird and Lime are facing another class-action lawsuit in Los Angeles, where plaintiffs allege the scooters have injured them. Both scooter riders and pedestrians say they have sustained severe injuries after collisions with scooters, including broken bones, torn ligaments, lacerations, and damaged teeth.

Is it 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. Ultimately, these electric scooters can cause serious injuries.

Let’s say an electric scooter accident has injured you or a loved one. In that case, 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 understand your legal rights and options better.