Over Half a Million Euro Compensation Awarded Following Electric Scooter Crash

In an historic award for compensation following a traffic collision of this type, a demand for a record compensation amount of 545,000 euro has been levied by the courts to a man from Illescas in Toledo following a collision whilst riding an electric scooter.

The figure is intended to cover both the victim’s personal and property damage.

This case has not only drastically changed the victim´s life but has also become a “legal benchmark” for the protection of personal mobility vehicle users in Spain, explains his lawyer, Abelardo Moreno.

“This issue highlights a growing problem: the increase in accidents associated with the use of electric scooters, which has become a focus of attention due to the severity of the injuries caused and the urgent need to implement regulatory measures,” he says.

“It opens the debate on the need to establish clear regulations that minimise risks and protect both the users of these vehicles and the rest of the public,” the lawyer says.

The accident occurred on June 6, 2022, on a street in the town as the victim was heading to work on his scooter. A van, reversing out of a parking space without noticing him, violently struck him.

Despite wearing a helmet, the impact caused severe head trauma that required emergency surgery, months of hospitalisation, and a lengthy rehabilitation process. As a result, he faces permanent physical and cognitive effects that have limited his ability to work and lead a normal life.

His family waged an intense battle against the van’s insurance company, demanding liability for the damages. The defence argued that the driver’s actions were negligent and a factor in the accident.

The case further highlights the need for insurance for electric scooters, as insurance held by the scooter rider would better facilitate compensation in the event that an incident was not the fault of the rider, and provide a certain amount of legal protection, and it also highlights, as well as the need for legislative changes, the need for tactics to try to minimise the risk, such as high visibility clothing and lighting, helmet use, and a greater need for special awareness for all road users.