Is Someone Responsible If I’m Injured Riding a Segway?

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on August 31, 2017

“Gliding” on a Segway is the perfect way to travel around Seattle. Not only does it let you take in all the sights, but it’s the perfect environmentally-friendly and modern mode of transportation for this progressive city. But how common are Segway accidents? What injuries can you incur, and who’s responsible for them if they happen?

Segways May Not Be That Safe

Segway accidents are far more common than people think. In fact, a person is more likely to be injured in a Segway accident than if he or she was just a pedestrian walking around Seattle’s streets. And it’s common sense: where there’s a motor, there’s greater potential for harm…

Most injuries result when Segway riders hit an object while riding, such as a bench or even a fire hydrant.

In most injury cases, the rider simply didn’t have the control to veer away from these obstacles, and the Segway wasn’t stable enough to remain upright when banging into something. In a big news story, tens of thousands of Segways were recalled due to the fact that the wheels would unexpectedly reverse direction. This, obviously, could leave a rider disoriented and unable to control the scooter.

Segway’s Legal Responsibility

The majority of these types of accidents happen while riders are enjoying a guided Segway tour of the city, such as the ones provided by Seattle Segway Tours. These accidents end in broken bones, soft tissue injuries, sprains, or worse, head and spine injuries. But it’s not always the tour guide companies that are at fault. Sometimes, it’s the Segway manufacturers.

This was evident in Segway’s recall of 23,000 scooters in Washington, D.C. The recall may have been voluntary, but undoubtedly, it was issued in order to keep the company safe from lawsuits. Before that recall, Segway had received reports of six people being injured because the wheels unexpectedly changed direction during their ride.

That wasn’t the first time Segway faced problems with its machines, either. During the first year of sale, 6,000 devices were also recalled, due to the fact that users kept falling off of them when the battery ran out of power. Those two recalls, and the cases that followed them, are evidence that the manufacturer can be responsible when Segway scooters malfunction and cause injury.

If you’ve been injured in a Segway accident, contact Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., at (888) 228-3860. We know scooter accidents. We’ll fight to protect your rights, and get you any compensation you may be entitled to for your injuries. Call us now!