Dockless scooters have rapidly gained popularity in cities across the US, providing people with an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to get around, but many people complain they are a nuisance and a hazard. Now a yearlong study from Austin Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control documents 160 confirmed cases (and 190 suspected cases) of scooter-related injuries. On May 1 the Texas Senate approved a bill to crack down on motorized rental scooters, including setting speed limits and banning their use on sidewalks.

Attorney Carl Knickerbocker says the new laws are a good idea, but don’t address all the issues related to riding e-scooters in city traffic. These include:

-What happens if you wreck the scooter? If you have health insurance, it may cover all or part of your injuries. But if you don’t, you probably can’t hold the scooter company liable. “If you are getting on that scooter, you have to be ready to assume full accountability and responsibility for yourself,” Carl says. “Unless there is an obvious defect with the scooter there is not going to be any recourse for you except your own health insurance.”

-What if you are hit (and injured) by a scooter rider? Only one of the accidents in the CDC study involved a pedestrian, with one other involving a bicyclist. But as e-scooters become more popular, the potential for non-riders to be injured grows. People can protect themselves by making sure they have uninsured motorist coverage on their auto policies, Carl says. In Texas, insurance companies are required to offer such coverage on all auto policies, although some people waive it to save money.

-Are e-scooters worth the risks? Carl can discuss the pros and cons, from reducing congestion and pollution to potential hazards of riding scooters in city traffic.

“In theory it would be really great if everyone could use these things safely, responsibly, and intelligently to protect themselves and others,” he says. “Probably the best way to do that is to make sure you have uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy.”

For more information visit Carl’s online press kit www.carlknickerbocker.onlinepresskit247.com and public site www.gettheboar.com.