In many cities, you’re starting to see scooters and bikes that you can rent by the minute, half-hour and hour. These exciting rentals hook up to an app on your phone, so they’re easy to use.
Unfortunately, they aren’t always safe to use in the local area. After a teen in New Jersey was killed in Elizabeth, Lime e-scooters were banned from the streets there.
According to the Nov. 27 report, the teen was fatally hit by a truck as he was riding the scooter. This death comes just 25 days after the launch of the scooter program. The teen was only 16.
The teen was riding a scooter when the truck that fatally wounded him turned into his path. Interestingly, Lime requires its riders to prove that they are 18 to ride, and New Jersey law bans anyone under 18 from riding them. Somehow, he was still able to get one.
The city council has stated that Lime might be able to return in the future, but only if they can guarantee that their concerns are heard and answers satisfied. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign deputy director has questioned the move to pull the scooters, especially when considering that drivers are killed every day in their own personal vehicles. His belief is that it takes education and a built out road structure to allow for micro-mobility options.
Cases like this are sad, because while both parties share some fault, a person has died. If you lose a loved one in an accident, you may be able to move forward with a wrongful death case.