Liability in a Las Vegas e-scooter accident depends on comparative negligence, with multiple parties often sharing liability. Riders can be held responsible to some degree if they rode an e-scooter distracted, and drivers could be held responsible in part if they collided with a scooter, with their automobile insurance company usually covering injuries.
Las Vegas e-scooter accident injuries can be life-changing. Call George Bochanis Injury Law Offices today at (702) 388-2005 to understand your options for compensation.
Determining Liability in Las Vegas E-Scooter Accidents
In June 2025, about 3.1 million tourists visited Las Vegas. They were no longer allowed to ride electric scooters on the Strip. Safety concerns have prompted these bikes and scooters to be banned on the pedestrian-clogged Strip. They are still OK in other parts of the area, though.
The law in Nevada does not exactly classify electric scooters as bicycles, mopeds, or another type of vehicle. Because of this, when a Las Vegas e-scooter accident occurs, courts generally use the standard rules of negligence and fault attribution.
E-scooter riders themselves can be injured, and so can pedestrians, particularly in crowded areas. Elderly pedestrians and children are at higher risk of serious injury.
- Riders: If a rider operates an e-scooter recklessly, such as speeding, ignoring traffic controls, or riding distracted, he or she may be held liable for resulting harm.
- Drivers: When a motor vehicle collides with a scooter, the driver’s automobile insurance typically steps in to cover injuries. If insurance comes into play with e-scooters, it may be similar to what insurance covers in bicycle accidents.
- Scooter companies/manufacturers: If investigations show that the crash stemmed from mechanical failure, such as brake defects or negligent maintenance occurring in production or rental, product liability claims may apply.
- Pedestrians, property owners, or other third parties: A pedestrian who behaves negligently, or a business owner who fails to maintain a safe environment, may also be at fault.
E-scooter riders carry the rights and duties of drivers under state law. As such, these riders are required to use hand signals, avoid overloading, ride near the right side, and maintain lights, reflectors, and brake systems.
The Role of Scooter Companies and Riders in E-Scooter Crash Claims
E-scooter crash investigations tend to be multi-layered. The parties involved in an investigation depend on how the crash occurred, where, and how serious it is.
Who Investigates?
Law enforcement officers are often the first investigators in a Las Vegas e-scooter accident.
Law Enforcement
If police officers go to the scene, they prepare an official accident report. It includes statements from involved parties, witnesses, traffic conditions, and sometimes diagrams of how the crash occurred. For serious accidents, police may also document skid marks, damage to vehicles or scooters, and video evidence.
Insurance Companies
Both the rider’s and any involved drivers’ insurers conduct their own investigations. Adjusters review police reports, medical records, repair bills, and sometimes hire experts to determine e-scooter injury liability and the value of the claim. If an e-scooter accident involves a car, the case is more complex and could take a few months or even longer.
Attorneys
An e-scooter crash attorney often runs the most thorough independent investigation. Attorneys gather medical records, subpoena scooter rental company maintenance logs, request car drivers’ phone records, and may bring in accident reconstruction specialists.
Scooter Companies
If a rental scooter is involved, companies can access digital ride data such as speed, braking, location, and time stamps. They may conduct internal reviews, especially if attorneys submit the proper legal requests to them.
The Rider’s Role
The rider’s version of events is one of the most important starting points. Riders describe how the crash occurred, where they were riding, what traffic conditions were like, and whether hazards such as potholes or debris contributed. Investigators may compare their words against witness statements, driver accounts, and physical evidence.
Just as common bicycle accident injuries can tell some of the story of a bicycle accident, the rider’s injuries often tell part of the story in an e-scooter crash. For example, the location of fractures, bruising, or road rash can suggest how the impact occurred. Medical records also establish the extent of injuries, which is important when negotiating with insurers.
If the rider rented the scooter, his or her account on the app contains ride data such as start and stop times, GPS location, speed, and braking history. While scooter companies hold this information, the rider’s permission may help attorneys and investigators gain access to it more quickly.
How Comparative Negligence Affects E-Scooter Injury Cases in Nevada
Police officers, insurance adjusters, and attorneys may interview the rider after a Las Vegas e-scooter accident. A rider’s credibility can be important in supporting claims or defending against allegations of negligence.
Riders are not only witnesses, they can be defendants. If the rider was distracted, perhaps using a phone, he or she may share fault. Under Nevada’s comparative negligence system, this does not necessarily bar recovery, but can reduce compensation.
The Nevada modified comparative negligence system should apply as long as the injured party is less than 50% at fault. If a scooter rider is found 30% responsible, and a negligent driver is 70% at fault, the rider can recover 70% of his or her damages.
Tourists hurt away from home can file e-scooter injury liability claims in Nevada. Local e-scooter crash attorneys or motor vehicle accident attorneys can handle local investigations and negotiations even if injured parties return to their home state.
Figuring out who is liable in a Las Vegas e-scooter accident can be tricky. Even if you are partially responsible, you might still be
