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Electric scooters, also known as e-scooters, are becoming increasingly common on our roads. Their size, cost, and convenience as a means of light, motorised transportation means that they are often used on paths and pavements too.
E-scooters are classified as motor vehicles and can only legally be used in public places through the various e-scooter rental schemes currently being trialled in various locations across the UK. Under the current law, it is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter on any road, pavement, path, park, or other public space. Most of the e-scooters on our roads are therefore unregulated and uninsured. Unlawful use of a private e-scooter can lead to fines and other penalties from criminal prosecution.
Accidents involving e-scooters are a rising cause of death and serious injury for their riders, other road users and pedestrians. In the UK, in 2021 alone, e-scooter accidents caused over 900 casualties. 40% of those involved head injury and other serious injuries, and 12 resulted in death.
Where someone is injured or killed in an e-scooter accident, as a result of the negligence of the rider or someone else, such as another driver, the injured person or their bereaved family may be entitled to compensation.
Claims involving e-scooters are complex and should be handled by specialist solicitors to ensure that, whatever the circumstances, the injured person obtains their full entitlement to compensation.
If you have suffered serious injury in an e-scooter accident that was wholly or partly caused by someone else’s negligence you may be entitled to substantial compensation.
We can obtain compensation for:
E-scooter accident claims require specialist solicitors who can advise you about how complex issues, such as uninsured riders, multiple or partial causes of the accident and severe or life-changing injuries affect your claim. We recommend that you contact our experienced solicitors who will be happy to advise you, free and confidentially, about your own entitlement to compensation.
E-scooter accident claims require specialist solicitors who can advise you about how complex issues, such as uninsured riders, multiple or partial causes of the accident and severe or life-changing injuries affect your claim.
E-scooters can legally be rented, or sold and bought in the UK. Currently, they can only be used legally in a few specified ways. Different rules apply for e-scooters used under approved trial rental e-scooter schemes or for privately owned e-scooters.
The government has indicated that it intends to bring in a new Transport Bill later in 2022 which will create ‘powered personal transporters’ as a new category of vehicle. If that happens, e-scooters may be legalised, subject to new regulations for how, where and under what conditions they can legally be used.
Until the law changes, e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles, like cars, motorbikes and vans, and are subject to the same rules of the road and criminal penalties when those rules are broken. In practise, these rules mean that the only e-scooters which can legally be used on public roads are rental scheme e-scooters. The legal use of rental scheme e-scooters is strictly regulated and restricted to specific places.
E-scooters used on private land with the permission of the land-owner
The law allows the use of rental or private e-scooters on private land if the rider has the permission of the land-owner.
Rental e-scooters
The only type of e-scooters that are legal to use on public roads or in other public spaces are e-scooters which are rented under an approved UK trial rental e-scooter scheme. The person renting the e-scooter must be at least 16 years old and have the correct driving licence and an account with the rental company.
The rental scooter can legally be used on private land with the land-owner’s permission or on a public road or cycle lane within the specific area approved by the rental e-scooter scheme. The rental e-scooter’s rider must have motor insurance (usually provided by the e-scooter rental provider) and must comply with road traffic laws and regulations.
E-scooter riders can be fined, receive penalty points on their licence and be prosecuted for committing criminal offenses such as riding the e-scooter:
If someone is injured by an e-scooter, the accident will be investigated by the police in the same way that it would be if the accident had been caused by the driver of a car or other motor vehicle.
The police may seize the e-scooter if it is ridden illegally or in an antisocial way.
Use of helmets and other protective or high visibility clothing are not compulsory whilst legally riding e-scooters under the current rules but are recommended. This is for the rider’s safety and also to ensure the e-scooter is visible to other road users.
If you have been injured in an e-scooter accident caused wholly or partly by someone else’s negligence, you can contact us here to find out more about your right to claim compensation.
Private e-scooters
Privately owned e-scooters can be used on private land if the e-scooter rider has the land-owner’s permission. It is against the law to use a privately owned e-scooter in any other way. Riding a private e-scooter illegally, such as on public roads or in public spaces, can lead to the rider being fined or receiving other penalties, such as points on their driving licence, or having the scooter seized or impounded.
E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles. Motor vehicles, such as cars, vans and motorbikes must have motor insurance. Currently, it is not possible to get motor insurance for privately owned e-scooters. This means that it is against the law to use a private e-scooter on the road or in public spaces.
If someone is injured by a private e-scooter, the accident will be investigated by the police in the same way that it would be if the accident had been caused by the driver of any other motor vehicle. Additionally, the rider of the e-scooter may also face criminal prosecution and penalties for riding a motor vehicle illegally and without insurance.
If someone is injured whilst riding an e-scooter as a result of another driver’s negligence, the driver’s motor insurance company are responsible for paying compensation to anyone who was injured by their driver’s negligence.
If someone is injured whilst riding an e-scooter as a result of negligence of the highway authority or council, similarly their insurers will be responsible for paying compensation in any personal injury claim.
If a pedestrian or other road user is injured as a result of a rental e-scooter rider’s negligence, the rental e-scooter rider’s motor insurers will be responsible for paying compensation for injuries caused by their insured rider’s negligence.
Until the law changes, private e-scooters cannot be insured. Pedestrians or other road users who were injured as a result of a private e-scooter rider’s negligence may still be able to claim compensation from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
Injury claims involving e-scooter accidents can be complex. We advise each client based on the individual circumstances of their accident. Contact us here to talk to one of our experienced personal injury solicitors, free and confidentially, to find out more about how we can help you make a claim.
Research by PACTS and The Road Safety Trust, based on reported casualties from accidents involving e-scooters in 2021, identified that e-scooter accidents often result in head, facial and severe or fatal injuries. This is due to a combination of the rider’s upright position and the e-scooter’s design which affects its stability when it meets changes in the road surface and when accelerating or braking.
Our specialist brain injury and major trauma have helped countless clients rehabilitate and recover compensation after road accidents have resulted in:
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A personal injury is an injury to the body. Sometimes the physical injury or the circumstances in which that injury was suffered also leads to a psychiatric or psychological injury.
When someone is injured as a result of another person or organisation’s breach of their duty of care (negligence), the injured person may be entitled to claim compensation for their injury and its financial consequences. The claim for compensation is made against the person or organisation that was responsible for the injury and is usually met by their insurer. The legal process of claiming compensation for injuries that are caused by negligence is known as a personal injury claim.
Boyes Turner’s personal injury team specialise in claims involving severe or catastrophic injury. Most of our clients have been injured in road traffic accidents (RTAs) and accidents at work.
For compensation claims relating to injuries which occurred in England or Wales the general rule is that court proceedings must be issued (formally started) within three years of the date of the injury. In most cases, before a claim can be issued work must be carried out to investigate the claim, notify the defendant and the insurance company against whom the claim is being made and obtain a medical report to support the claim. The sooner you contact us after an injury has occurred, the sooner we can begin to help you, and the better we can investigate and prepare your claim.
Longer time limits apply to children whose three-year time period only begins to run from the age of 18, meaning that their time limit expires when they reach the age of 21.
Time limits do not apply for those who lack mental capacity. Where an injured person’s mental capacity is uncertain, we work closely with our Court of Protection team to determine whether our client has capacity to bring their own claim. As with other claims, it is always advisable to contact us as soon as possible after the injury, to ensure that evidence can be preserved, rehabilitation started (where needed) and financial help secured via the claim.
In exceptional circumstances, the court may extend the time limit (or limitation deadline) for those including:
You can make a personal injury claim for:
Court proceedings are issued (started) in many cases but this does not mean that the case will end in a trial. There are many reasons why court proceedings might be issued:
The duration of a serious injury claim depends on the individual circumstances of the client’s case. Claims take less time to conclude if:
Claims are more complex and may take longer to resolve where:
We work hard to secure cooperation with defendant insurers, to provide immediate needs assessments and timely funded rehabilitation for our clients to maximise their recovery in the all-important period immediately following an injury. Wherever possible, we also secure interim payments to ease our clients’ financial hardship long before their claims have concluded.
By taking the time that is needed for the client’s rehabilitation and the careful assessment of their long-term needs, we can be confident that each client receives the full support and the compensation they deserve.
Compensation is carefully structured to make the best provision for the injured person’s needs. There are rules protecting compensation for children or adults who lack mental capacity. Compensation may be paid in one or more of the following ways:
If you, or someone in your family has been seriously injured in an accident that was somebody else’s fault, you may be entitled to make a claim. If this feels daunting, alongside everything else that you are coping with in the aftermath of an accident, it may help to remember that:
If you decide that you want to go ahead with making a claim, we will gather as much evidence as we can to support your claim. This evidence may include:
We will also contact the defendant and their insurers to begin working towards meeting your immediate needs and settlement of the claim.
Our personal injury lawyers are specialists in catastrophic and severe injury compensation claims. Our clients have often suffered life-changing injury resulting in permanent disability, and we aim to assist their recovery by securing funded rehabilitation, whilst supporting them in adjusting to the changes to their lives and securing compensation to meet their needs in the future.
Our clients usually have suffered one or more of the following:
If you have suffered a serious injury as a result of somebody else’s negligence (breach of their duty of care), we may be able to help you make a claim for compensation.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident and the severity of your injury, we may also be able to help you claim compensation:
The vast majority of our clients’ serious injury claims are settled without the need for a court hearing (trial). Our clients very rarely need to go to court.
Our personal injury specialists are highly experienced in investigating and assessing the strength of each client’s case. From the outset, and throughout the claim, we advise our clients clearly and honestly about their prospects of success.
We work hard to prove each client’s claim, based on evidence of the circumstances of their accident and the impact of their injury. We encourage cooperation with the defendant’s insurers and negotiate the best possible settlements for our clients. On the rare occasions when a claim cannot be settled without a court hearing, this will be because:
In the following circumstances, the law requires a judge to approve an out-of-court settlement, for the protection of those involved:
In these cases, the approval hearing will be a short hearing at which the lawyers for both parties explain the circumstances of the case and the settlement terms to the judge. In most cases, our client will be expected to be in court during the hearing, accompanied and fully supported by members of our legal team.
The amount of compensation that an injured person receives in a personal injury claim depends on a number of individual factors:
Depending on the client’s injury and the way it affects their life, their claim may include compensation for:
An interim payment is a part-payment of compensation which is paid to the injured person, in advance, whilst the claim is ongoing. We can usually secure an interim payment from the defendant’s insurer where they have admitted liability (accepted fault) for our client’s injury.
We use interim payments to help the injured person and their family, who may be suffering financial hardship as a result of the injury. Where insurers are not willing to provide Rehabilitation Code funding, we sometimes obtain interim payments to ensure that our client receives the rehabilitation, case management and therapies that they need straight away.
Interim payments may be used to meet any genuine need, but it is important that the injured person and their family understand that the sums that they have already received as interim payments are deducted from their final compensation at the end of the claim.
Depending on the client’s injury, an interim payment may help meet their needs for:
By understanding and targeting provision for our clients’ rehabilitation and other essential needs early in the claims process, we help restore our clients’ mobility, independence and ability to participate fully in family and social life, long before the claim has concluded.
When claiming for compensation, Boyes Turner will help you gain:
The easiest way to get started is to talk to one of our friendly, experienced solicitors. You can talk to us free and confidentially about your potential claim, with no obligation, by contacting us by email.
It costs nothing to talk to us to find out about making a claim. Our initial advice is free.
When you first contact us, we advise you whether we can help you make a claim. We discuss how your claim will be funded, and advise, fully and clearly, how that works and what it will mean for you.
We offer a range of funding options, but the majority of our clients’ claims are handled on a conditional fee agreement (CFA) basis, often known as ‘no win no fee’. This means that there is nothing to pay at the outset or until the claim is settled, and you receive compensation. If you win your claim, the defendant’s insurer makes a contribution towards your legal costs. You pay nothing if your claim does not succeed.
Our medical negligence and personal injury teams have been nationally recognised for over 20 years because of their expertise, empathy and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients.
Kim at Boyes Turner was recommended to me after I had received ineffective service from another company. From the outset, Kim has been professional, reassuring and supportive. I have always had faith in her ability to get the best outcome, not only financially, but also in helping my rehabilitation from a traumatic brain injury. She is friendly and empathetic, with unquestionable professional integrity. She was quick to grasp the important issues in my case, was meticulous in her investigating the details and analysing them, realistic in what the outcomes were likely to be and achieved a successful outcome.
I would not hesitate in recommending her and Boyes Turner.
Almost 5 years ago my sons suffered a life changing brain injury accident. A new life for everyone, so many unknowns so many difficult decisions. I met Claire and the team shortly after the accident. So many questions answered but more than that, amazing lovely people. Claire has been guiding me and the family throughout this ordeal with such compassion, there every time I needed her we couldn’t of asked for a nicer person. I have met many others with in Boyes Turner and all have been genuine lovely people, I’m now working with Ruth and Lindsay from the court of protection. Again, I can't say enough about them amazing lovely people. They truly do won't the best for my son and they did and continue to do so.
Claire is exceptionally knowledgeable in the personal injury legal domain, especially in the specific area of my injury. From our very first conversation, she was clear in explaining the potential different routes that the process could take and provided me with expectations of what I could expect along the journey. She ensured that all bases were covered, organising meetings, discussions and necessary specialist appointments, in order to bring together the case and take it forward. Claire was then able to use her extensive pool of contacts, to appoint an "area leading" barrister, to represent me. Overall, I was very pleased with appointing Claire and Boyes Turner to act as my solicitor for the legal claim that I pursued. Thank you for all of your support.
I approached Claire Roantree of Boyes Turner in regards to making a claim about a workplace burns injury. It was something that had scarred me physically and mentally and taken a huge toll on the lives of me and my family. Claire wasted no time in finding out what happened and made sure I was treated by known experts and quickly finding an answer to my burns scarring and how I could be treated to help manage my pain. Claire also helped me by appointing a psychiatrist to understand my situation and help me cope with post traumatic stress disorder. As well as taking as much stress of the claim away, she was thorough in every situation, making sure I had the best possible claim, and handled it all expertly, I am so very grateful to her and her team. They have helped guide my life back into a positive direction and I can't thank her enough!
Excellent service from Claire and her team at all times. We were kept up to date at each stage of our claim. The outcome was much better than we expected and we would not hesitate to recommend Boyes Turner to family and friends.
