Electric Scooter Laws and Injuries in Nashville

Electric scooters are a common sight in Nashville, particularly in high-traffic downtown areas and neighborhoods that see lots of tourists. While electric scooters do provide a convenient way to get around, they are also fairly risky. Electric scooter accidents leave victims wondering who is responsible for their injuries and if they are entitled to compensation for their losses.

There are a lot of factors at play in these claims. Scooters are subject to certain laws and regulations, and riders who fail to abide by these laws may be partially or fully at fault when an accident occurs. If you ever use an electric scooter, it is important to know what Nashville law says and what your options are if you are injured in an accident. Get the help you need now by calling Rocky McElhaney Law Firm.

Are electric scooters legal in Nashville?

Electric scooters are legal in Nashville, but they are strictly regulated both by state law and city law. Legally, they are separate from bikes or non-electric scooters, so they are held to different standards.

While some people have private electric scooters, you will also see a variety of scooter-sharing companies in Nashville. Companies like Bird and Lime have stations throughout the city where you can rent a scooter, pay for time, and return it when done.

Where can you ride an electric scooter in Nashville?

Nashville has a Shared Bike and Scooter Program that allows companies like Bird, Lime, and Spin to operate. However, this program limits where you can ride. Each rented scooter has geofencing technology that turns the vehicle off when you enter an area that does not allow the use of electric scooters. The Transportation Licensing Commission determines which parts of the city are slow zones, no ride zones, and no parking zones.

You cannot ride an electric scooter on some of Nashville’s sidewalks, particularly in busy downtown areas and other high-traffic areas. The use of electric scooters in these areas can threaten pedestrian safety, so neither electric scooters nor electric bikes are permitted on sidewalks.

However, electric scooters are permitted in bike lanes, designated scooter paths, and roadways that have a speed limit of 30 miles per hour or less.

Key electric scooter laws in Nashville

This is where people often get confused and unintentionally break the law. You generally must be at least 18 years old to rent an electric scooter in Nashville. You must also have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit to ride with certain companies. This is different from Tennessee state law, which allows you to ride at the age of 16.

Scooter speeds cannot exceed 15 miles per hour. If you are in one of Nashville’s designated “slow zones,” you are limited to speeds of 8 miles per hour.

People who ride electric scooters must abide by many of the same laws and expectations as vehicle drivers. Riding while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can affect liability in an injury claim.

Finally, there are designated parking corrals throughout Nashville. Riders are expected to park their scooters upright and out of the way.

Common causes of Nashville electric scooter accidents

Accidents and injuries are fairly common for electric scooter users. If you have avoided injury to this point, learning about the common causes of accidents and injuries can help you continue to stay safe. Common causes of collisions include:

• Careless drivers: While drivers in Nashville should be used to looking out for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, they are often not quite as careful as they should be. When drivers fail to yield, turn right without checking for foot traffic from the right, or drive while distracted, they are at greater risk of hitting a scooter user.
• Inexperienced riders: Inexperienced scooter riders have also been known to cause accidents in Nashville. Tourists may be unfamiliar with the city’s safe scooter usage laws and how they differ from state laws. They may also not know about local traffic patterns and where it is safe and legal to use an electric scooter.
• Road hazards: Poorly maintained roads are dangerous for all road users, but they are particularly risky for scooter riders and bicyclists. Potholes, cracks in the pavement, uneven pavement, and construction debris can all cause preventable falls.
• Limited visibility: Riding at night or in low-light conditions can increase your likelihood of being involved in a collision.
• Scooter defects: If a scooter has a faulty battery, malfunctioning brakes, or other defects, a collision may have nothing to do with how a rider is operating the vehicle.
• High traffic: When a rider is attempting to navigate through a busy area—either through car traffic or foot traffic—they may be involved in a crash.

Injuries caused by electric scooter accidents

Scooters offer minimal physical protection, and riders may or may not choose to use safety gear. Because of this, injuries can be severe—even when a rider is traveling at a low speed. Commonly reported injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Road rash
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal injuries and back trauma

While using a helmet can help prevent or mitigate traumatic brain injuries, it is harder to protect against other types of injuries.

Liability and comparative fault

Liability varies from collision to collision. Potential liable parties include drivers, other scooter users or pedestrians, the scooter manufacturer, and the company that rents out the scooters. You do have to watch out for Tennessee’s comparative negligence law. If you are found to be 50% or more at fault for a collision, you may be barred from recovering any compensation. This puts insurance companies in a position where shifting blame to you benefits them, and they will do so at any opportunity. Working with a personal injury lawyer is the easiest way to protect yourself from an insurance company’s tactics.

Start your claim with Rocky McElhaney Law Firm

The team at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm is committed to helping you fight for full and fair compensation. Scooter accidents can leave you with broken bones, a concussion, and soft tissue damage—make sure you hold the negligent party accountable. Give us a call or reach out online now.