Save the device and trip trail before they change
What to Do After a Rental E-Scooter Crash
30-second answer
Get medical care first. Save the scooter ID, app trip, exact location, original photos, witnesses, and damaged items. Do not re-ride, test, repair, dismantle, move, charge, unlock, or block the scooter to investigate.
Legal information from the Law Office of Arta Wildeboer · Updated
Do this now
- 1Get to safety, call 911 when needed, obtain medical care, and keep your discharge papers and work or activity restrictions.
- 2Screenshot the trip now and, when available, download or save a record showing the scooter ID or QR code, ride number, map, start and end times, receipt, support messages, and report number.
- 3From a safe, lawful place, photograph the scooter and visible damage without riding, unlocking, testing, repairing, dismantling, moving, charging, or blocking it.
- 4Record the exact street, direction, lane or bikeway, cross street, map pin, time, approach, road condition, driver information, witnesses, and nearby cameras.
- 5Save original photos and video, helmet, clothing, phone, damaged property, medical records, bills, operator messages, insurance papers, and every form offered to you.
Avoid this
- Do not re-ride, test, repair, dismantle, move, charge, unlock, or obstruct the scooter to determine what happened.
- Do not delete or alter the trip, account, app messages, original files, or metadata. Do not share passwords, verification codes, full card numbers, or unrelated phone contents. Keep evidence private and share only what is needed with trusted recipients.
- Do not assume a traffic rule, road defect, scooter problem, citation, or injury automatically decides legal responsibility.
Save these
- Operator, scooter number, QR code, serial or sticker, trip ID, and account email or phone used for the trip
- Trip map, start and end times, route, fare, receipt, payment confirmation without the full card number, and app notices
- Support chats, emails, uploads, incident or claim numbers, and preservation requests
- Safe photos of the scooter, visible components, damage, final position, and nearby vehicle
- Exact street, direction, lane or bikeway, cross street, map pin, approach, signs, signals, and road condition
- Driver, plate, insurance, police report, witnesses, and nearby camera locations
- Original photos, video, dashcam, GPS, trip-relevant phone files, and metadata
- Helmet, clothing, damaged property, medical records, bills, restrictions, wage records, and receipts
Common questions
Should I test the brakes or ride the scooter again?
No. A damaged scooter may be unsafe, and testing can change the evidence. Photograph what is visible from a safe, lawful place and record the scooter ID.
What if the scooter company collects it?
Save the scooter and trip identifiers immediately. If lawfully visible, note who retrieved it and when. Do not interfere. Ask promptly about a focused preservation request.
Are app screenshots enough?
They help, but also save receipts, emails, trip history, account downloads, support chats, original uploads, and report numbers when available.
What if a pothole or broken street caused the crash?
Record the exact condition and approach without returning to danger. A service request is not automatically a government claim. Some California public-entity injury claims generally require presentation within six months, but do not calculate a deadline from this guide; seek prompt situation-specific advice.
Does a scooter traffic rule decide who is responsible?
Not by itself. The rule, crash mechanism, causation, rider conduct, driver conduct, scooter condition, road condition, and other evidence may all matter.
Want more detail?
Read the full explanation
Rental E-Scooter Crash in Los Angeles: What Evidence to SaveOfficial resources
- California Vehicle Code section 407.5: Motorized-scooter definition (opens in a new window)
- California Vehicle Code section 21221: Highway rights and duties (opens in a new window)
- California Vehicle Code section 21235: Motorized-scooter operating rules (opens in a new window)
- California Vehicle Code section 22411: 15-mph maximum (opens in a new window)
- California Government Code section 911.2: Claim presentation (opens in a new window)
- California Courts: Government claims (opens in a new window)
- LADOT: Dockless Mobility permit materials (opens in a new window)
Questions about your situation?
Talk with Arta Wildeboer
A short guide cannot account for every fact. A free consultation can help you understand the next step without pressure.