Pedestrians, Scooters, and the Right of Way
As the weather warms up across the Gulf Coast, more people are out walking, and we’re also seeing a rise in scooter use, especially in busy areas and around campuses. While that’s great for getting around, it’s also leading to more accidents and confusion about who actually has the right of way. Recently, David Greene joined Studio 10 to help break it down.
We’ve been hearing more about accidents involving pedestrians and scooters lately. What’s causing that increase?
A lot of it just comes down to more activity this time of year. You’ve got more people walking, more people riding scooters, and more traffic overall. Scooters in particular have added a new layer because they move faster than pedestrians and can be less predictable, which increases the chances of an accident.
When it comes to pedestrians, do they always have the right of way?
Not always, but they often do, especially when they’re in a marked crosswalk. Drivers are expected to yield in those situations. However, pedestrians can’t just step out into traffic when a vehicle doesn’t have time to stop. If that happens, it can affect who’s considered at fault.
Where do scooters fit into all of this? That seems like the gray area.
It really is. Scooters don’t always fall neatly into the same category as pedestrians. Depending on how they’re being used, they can sometimes be treated more like a vehicle. So if someone is riding a scooter quickly through a crosswalk or weaving between cars, that can play a big role in determining responsibility if there’s a crash.
So these cases aren’t always as straightforward as people might think?
Exactly. A lot of times, there’s shared responsibility. We look at things like where the person was, how fast everyone was moving, visibility, and whether traffic laws were being followed. Every situation is a little different.
If someone is injured in one of these types of accidents, what should they do next?
The first priority is always medical care. After that, it’s important to document what happened, get any witness information, and make sure a report is filed. These cases can get complicated quickly, especially when scooters are involved, so understanding the details early on is important.
And if someone has questions after an accident?
If you’ve been injured and aren’t sure what your options are, we’d be happy to sit down with you and review your case. Call, text, or come by anytime.
