Arkansas E-Scooter Accident Lawyers
Arkansas legalized electric scooters in July 2019 with the passage of the Electric Motorized Scooter Act. While e-scooters are a convenient and eco-friendly way to travel, they do pose unique risks to riders. If you have been injured in a scooter accident, you have the right to pursue compensation for your medical bills and related costs from the negligent party that caused your crash.
Your rights after an Arkansas e-scooter accident
Electric scooters have become a common sight on streets in Fayetteville, Little Rock, and other Arkansas cities. They are convenient, quick, and easy to rent. They also leave riders exposed to serious injury when a driver fails to see them or a scooter malfunctions underneath them. The intermingling of scooters with motor vehicles on roads can be dangerous. Scooter riders have little protection and lack basic safety features, such as seat belts and airbags, that are present in other types of transportation.
Arkansas has specific laws governing electric scooters, and those laws affect how liability works after a crash. At the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A., we help injured riders understand their rights and pursue compensation. Call (479) 361-3575 to schedule a free consultation.
Scooters fall into their own legal category; the rules that apply to cars or motorcycles do not automatically apply to them. Understanding which law applies to your accident shapes how liability is determined.
How are e-scooters regulated in Arkansas?
Arkansas passed the Electric Motorized Scooter Act in 2019 to create statewide rules for these devices. This law is found in Arkansas Code Annotated Sections 27-51-1901 through 27-51-1905.
The law defines an electric motorized scooter as a device with a floorboard for standing, handlebars, and a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour on a paved surface. This definition matters because it distinguishes scooters from mopeds, motorcycles, and electric bicycles, each of which is subject to different legal rules.
This distinction matters in a crash. If a driver hit you while you were riding legally, this statute helps establish that you were operating within your legal rights on the road at the time.
Arkansas law also gives cities the authority to add their own local regulations, meaning rules can vary somewhat between Little Rock, Fayetteville, and other municipalities. Checking local ordinances matters, especially when it comes to shared scooter programs.
We review the specific facts of your accident against both state law and any applicable local ordinance to determine exactly how the rules applied to your situation and where the other party fell short.
What special rules apply to e-scooter riders in Arkansas?
Arkansas Code Annotated Section 27-51-1903 sets two clear statewide rules for electric scooter riders. Operators must be at least 16 years old, and riders cannot exceed 15 miles per hour. These rules exist because scooters can reach dangerous speeds quickly, and younger riders often lack the experience to react to sudden hazards. A rider going faster than the legal limit may also share some blame if a crash occurs.
Beyond these two rules, Arkansas treats electric scooters much like bicycles for purposes of road access. Riders can generally use roads where bicycles are permitted and must follow standard traffic laws, including stopping at red lights and stop signs. This means drivers owe scooter riders the same duty of care they owe any other vehicle on the road. A driver cannot claim ignorance of a scooter rider's right to be there.
Common causes of e-scooter accidents in Arkansas
Even if you follow all the rules, drivers may be negligent
Identifying the exact cause of your crash determines who holds legal responsibility, whether that means a careless driver, a negligent scooter company, or a combination of both. We evaluate whether drivers followed applicable rules when building your case. A driver who violated a basic traffic law while a rider followed the rules has a much harder time avoiding responsibility for a crash.
Distracted driving
Distracted driving ranks among the top causes of e-scooter crashes. A scooter is small and quiet, making it easy for a driver checking a phone to miss one entirely.
Failure to yield
Failure to yield causes many serious crashes. Drivers turning across a rider's path, or pulling out of a parking lot without checking properly, often strike scooters they simply did not see.
Poor scooter maintenance
Scooter companies are responsible for ensuring their fleets are properly maintained and reasonably safe to use. Faulty or worn-out parts may cause a scooter to malfunction.
Tailgating
Scooter riders have the right to share the road with other cars. Sometimes drivers are disrespectful and tailgate scooter users, who travel at slower speeds than cars.
Are there special insurance requirements for scooter companies?
Many e-scooter accidents involve rental scooters from companies operating scooter share programs. Arkansas Code Annotated Section 27-51-1904 requires these companies to carry insurance coverage for their shared scooters. This requirement exists because rental scooter companies profit from making scooters available to the public, and Arkansas law holds them to a baseline responsibility for that business model.
When you rent a scooter through an app, you likely agreed to terms of service or a liability waiver. Many riders assume this waiver blocks any legal claim entirely. That assumption is often wrong. Liability waivers generally do not protect a rental company from claims arising from its own negligence, such as failing to properly maintain scooters or providing a defective unit. Waivers also do not protect a third-party driver who caused your crash through their own carelessness.
Determining whether a scooter company, a driver, or both bear responsibility takes careful investigation. We examine maintenance records, prior complaints about the specific scooter model, and the circumstances of your crash to identify every liable party.
What should I do after an e-scooter accident?
Call 911 immediately if you are involved in a crash involving injury. Arkansas law requires drivers to report accidents involving injury or significant property damage. Contact the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. as soon as possible. We investigate every angle of your e-scooter accident, from driver negligence to scooter company liability, and fight to secure full compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Your consultation is free, and you owe us nothing unless we win your case.
Seek Medical Care
Seek medical care right away, even for injuries that seem minor at first. Road rash, fractures, and head injuries are common in scooter crashes and are not always obvious immediately after impact.
Document Everything
Photograph the scene, your injuries, the scooter itself, and any vehicle involved. Consider leaving yourself a voice memo to help you remember the incident. If you rented the scooter, note the company name and scooter identification number before you leave.
Talk to Witnesses
Get contact information from witnesses and the driver involved, if a vehicle was part of the crash. Avoid discussing fault or giving recorded statements to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
Comparative fault affects compensation in e-scooter accident cases
Arkansas Code Annotated Section 16-64-122 establishes modified comparative fault for personal injury claims, including e-scooter accidents. You can recover compensation even if you share some fault, as long as your fault stays below 50 percent.
If a jury finds you 50 percent or more responsible, you cannot recover anything under Arkansas law. Below that threshold, your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault.
Insurance companies often argue that scooter riders caused their own crashes, claiming excessive speed, sidewalk riding, or failure to follow traffic signals. These arguments can significantly reduce what you recover if left unchallenged.
Strong evidence protects you against unfair fault allocation. Photos of the scene, witness accounts, and scooter data logs showing speed at the time of the crash all help establish what really happened. We push back against these tactics by building a factual record early, before evidence disappears or memories fade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Experience. Dedication. Compassion.
30 years of legal experience in helping personal injury victims
If you were injured in a Fayetteville scooter accident, reach out to the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield to find out about your legal options. We are ready to provide you with experienced legal representation in your personal injury claim. We understand the struggles you are likely to face in the aftermath of an accident. You deserve full compensation for the medical costs associated with your painful injuries, as well as other losses that arise from your scooter accident.
To schedule a free consultation, call us at (479) 361-3575. You can also reach us through our online contact form.