Scooters in Malaga are to blame for 83% of traffic accidents in which they are involved

Regulatory developments are intensifying for electric scooters and personal mobility vehicles. The latest is compulsory insurance until 2026 at the latest, which has just been announced by the government and is set out in a draft law. These vehicles are already involved in 5% of accidents in the city of Malaga, with a peak of 30 per month, according to data from the Local Police. How should we act in case of an accident while the compulsory insurance is still in progress? It is worth remembering that until now, it is only mandatory for rental companies.

Accidents and causes

Currently, the Municipal Police of the city of Malaga is carrying out a special speed control campaign to improve road safety. According to official data, in 83% of accidents involving a scooter, the rider is responsible. The biggest contributing factor, at 10.5%, is that the scooter ran a traffic light. This is closely followed by road anomalies at 9.4%. Three different causes still rank at 7%: inappropriate encroachment on pedestrian areas, poor lane change and “lack of skill” on the part of the user.

Other less common causes include: failure to comply with both a yielding right-of-way and a generic right-of-way in 5.8% of cases. In addition, the following causes of the accident are: a pedestrian crossing the road, a scooter not respecting the pedestrian crossing, distracted driving, careless or reckless driving, lack of safety distance, faulty coupling, improper overtaking, speed, conditions adverse weather conditions and violations in the opposite lane. Numerically irrelevant reasons such as lack of sleep, fatigue or illness also appear in the police documents.

The analysis shows that accidents with scooters in the city are still far behind those with motorcycles, which are five times higher and represent a significant workload for public authorities. But it is a growing trend, as scooters are the vehicle of choice in around 7% of trips in the city of Malaga.

What to do in case of an accident with a scooter

Until compulsory insurance exists, what should you do in the event of a scooter accident? The Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE) provides key guidelines such as identifying the driver, notifying the Local Police, taking photographs and collecting witness statements and attaching a medical report within 72 hours.

“If you have insurance, it will arrange compensation. If not, the first step would be to make an out-of-court claim by registered letter to the person who caused the accident. This letter should contain all the details indicating liability. for the accident. The time limit for this step is one year If the recipient does not respond (or does so in an unsatisfactory manner), it would be necessary to take legal action to claim any costs or compensation, it is advisable to seek the help of a specialist lawyer”. RACE said. In this regard, municipal sources draw attention to the fact that not even 1% of scooter riders in Malaga do not have insurance.

“If, on the other hand, you are hit by another vehicle while driving a personal mobility vehicle, you will still be entitled to compensation for both your injuries and property damage to your scooter. This should be handled by the insurance company. of the vehicle that caused the accident”, pointed out RACE, which recalled guidelines similar to those in the opposite case regarding the medical report, identification, etc.

How does the Local Police act in the event of an accident?

The Local Police act like any other type of accident. In case of material or minor damage, a patrol unit usually intervenes. If the damage is serious due to possible negligence or a possible crime, the accident investigation unit, Atestados, will intervene. In trials, officers can participate as witnesses, but also as experts when an expert report is requested.