It’s legal to ride an electric scooter in Austin as long as you obey the rules of the road and specific requirements for “micro-mobility” riders operating electric scooters or bikes.
You don’t need a license to ride an electric scooter, nor do you need to insure a scooter you purchase. Helmets are only mandatory for minors riding electric scooters, but are recommended for everyone, regardless of age. There’s no specific age requirement to ride electric scooters in Austin, though scooter rental companies often set age requirements. Riding an electric scooter poses the risk of injury, and victims may file lawsuits if another person is negligent and injures them.
For a free case assessment from Cap City Injury Attorneys, call our Austin personal injury lawyers at (512) 612-3110.
FAQs About Austin’s Electric Scooter Laws
Are Electric Scooters Legal in Austin?
Electric scooters are legal in Austin, but riders must adhere to local rules. You can easily rent electric scooters and bikes from “shared mobility providers” throughout the city.
Do You Need a License to Ride an Electric Scooter?
You do not need a driver’s license to ride an electric scooter in Austin. You do, however, have to follow the same rules of the road as drivers and bicyclists, such as following speed limits.
Do You Need to Insure Your Electric Scooter?
You do not have to purchase liability insurance if you regularly ride your electric scooter in Austin, though you may be able to. Electric scooters don’t have to be registered or titled either.
Do You Need to Wear a Helmet When Riding an Electric Scooter in Austin?
Micro-mobility riders 17 and under must wear helmets at all times when operating electric scooters in Austin. Though adults do not legally have to wear helmets when riding electric scooters, they should to help reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Can You Ride an Electric Scooter on the Sidewalk in Austin?
You can ride an electric scooter on the sidewalk when it’s “reasonable” in Austin, so avoid sidewalks in crowded areas and slow down when approaching pedestrians.
Does Austin Have Age Requirements for Electric Scooters?
There’s no age limit to operate an electric scooter in Austin, though you most likely must be 18 or older to rent one.
How Does Texas’s Comparative Fault Law Impact Scooter Accidents?
Like in any injury case, the jury will consider the plaintiff’s potential negligence during a scooter accident. Sharing fault can lower the victim’s damages proportionally to their liability, and compensation is only blocked if the plaintiff is more at fault than the defendant.
Who Can You Sue for Injury After an Electric Scooter Accident in Austin?
For an accident caused by a defect, the scooter provider or manufacturer may be held liable. For accidents due to another driver’s negligence, that driver must compensate the injured electric scooter rider.
Scooter Provider
Austin has electric scooter rental services throughout the city, and the companies that rent out micro-mobility devices have a duty to ensure their scooters are safe and in good working condition. If scooters are defective or dangerous, the provider may be liable.
Though you may have to sign a waiver before renting an electric scooter, that may not fully absolve the rental company of liability, so clarify with our lawyers whether you can file a lawsuit.
The scooter manufacturer may also be liable for a production defect.
Negligent Driver
If a negligent driver hit you while you were legally riding an electric scooter on the street or sidewalk, you can sue them for compensatory damages. Always stop and get the driver’s insurance information. If they flee the scene after hitting you, law enforcement and our Austin scooter lawyers can help track them down.
Guide to Suing for an Electric Scooter Accident
To sue after an electric scooter accident, you preserve evidence, document your injuries, know your damages, and, just as vitally, file your case on time.
Preserve Evidence
Always focus on preserving evidence after an accident by taking photos. Photograph the damaged electric scooter, as well as any dents or scrapes on the other driver’s vehicle, if there are any.
Then, turn your attention towards any eyewitnesses still present at the scene and request their phone numbers. Hand these over to our lawyers in the near future so we can interview witnesses and preserve their helpful statements.
Document Injuries
Even if you were wearing a helmet while riding an electric scooter, you risk suffering concussions, TBIs, skull fractures, facial injuries, and injuries totally unrelated to that area of the body, like broken legs, road rash, and spinal cord injuries. Always go to the hospital after an accident that leaves you injured so physicians can assess you and start building medical evidence.
Tally Damages
You cannot sue for an electric scooter accident until you know how much to sue for. We tally damages by assessing medical expenses, lost wages, and intangible harms, which can be the hardest to calculate. Non-economic damages are subjective, so we must speak with you about your pain and suffering to understand it and seek fair compensation.
File on Time
The same statute of limitations that applies to normal car accident lawsuits also applies to electric scooter injury claims. You will most likely have two years to sue in Texas, or you will lose your right to recover.
Handle Negotiations
After we file your lawsuit, we may soon get a settlement offer from the opposing side. Let our lawyers guide you through settlement discussions and stop you from signing an agreement that leaves you responsible for covering too much of your damages.
Prepare for Trial
Though most injury lawsuits settle, we will prepare for trial in case settlement offers don’t improve.
Call Our Austin Lawyers About Your Electric Scooter Accident
For a free case review from Cap City Injury Attorneys, call our San Marcos, TX personal injury lawyers at (512) 612-3110.