A victim who suffered catastrophic injuries in a Bird scooter accident has been hit with a shocking bill from the scooter company. Daniel Pena, who suffered catastrophic injuries in a Bird scooter accident in Los Angeles that left him paralyzed, has needed help paying medical bills and myriad other expenses relating to his situation. Pena was suing the city of Los Angeles, claiming that a damaged sidewalk caused his accident three years ago. But he has now received a massive bill from Bird scooter company.
Shocking Letter Demanding Legal Expenses Related to Bird Scooter Accident
Pena was on the way to a job interview, riding a Bird scooter on the sidewalk on La Brea when he suffered the accident. He hit his head against a tree while falling and suffered lasting damage.
However, according to an ABC7 news report, Pena was shocked to get a letter from the scooter company saying he owed them $322,000. Pena says the broken sidewalk caused him to lose control of the scooter. He says doctors have said he may never walk again. Court documents show photos of the uneven pavement where there was also trash and debris – the location where Pena says he tripped and fell from the scooter. His injury lawsuit alleges the city failed to maintain the tree, which contributed to the condition of the sidewalk.
As part of its agreement with the city of Los Angeles, Bird scooter company is supposed to indemnify or protect the city against lawsuits. In a letter, Bird’s attorneys told Pena that he owes the company about $322,000 in legal fees. Those terms are in the fine print when you rent a scooter from Bird. It’s a contract where a person renting a Bird scooter through the app is quickly checking off boxes and doesn’t quite realize what they are agreeing to.
There is, however, some good news. When ABC contacted Bird, the scooter company assured investigators that they would not sue Pena and had no intention of collecting any money from him. While that’s good news, it should be a warning for anyone who plans on using these scooters or is involved in an accident with an e-scooter.
E-Scooter Injuries
A recent UCLA study showed that the injury rate for riders of electric scooters in one section of Los Angeles was higher than the national rates for riders of motorcycles, bicycles, cars, and pedestrians. The study’s authors found that those injured in e-scooter accidents were the vehicle’s riders and pedestrians who were hit by moving e-scooters or tripped over parked e-scooters.
The researchers found that patients often were treated for injuries to the head and extremities. Overall, of the 1,354 patients who were part of the study, 533 sustained injuries to more than one part of the body, 72 were admitted to the hospital, 21 were sent to the critical care unit and two died from their injuries.
Suppose you or a loved one has been injured in an e-scooter accident, such as this Bird scooter incident. In that case, it is important that you contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who can help you navigate what can be a complex legal process. A knowledgeable injury attorney will also help you secure maximum compensation for the injuries, damages, and losses you have sustained.
Sources: https://abc7.com/bird-scooter-lawsuit-los-angeles-david-pena-man-paralyzed-after-accident/11722705/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266097
