Find an e-scooter accident lawyer in Fort Worth: where you can ride and who pays
We could not find a Fort Worth ordinance written just for e-scooters, and police say a full update is in progress. State law governs for now: scooters may use streets posted 35 mph or less, plus sidewalks and bike paths unless banned. You generally have 2 years to sue.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (35)
What are the e-scooter rules in Fort Worth right now?
They are mostly state rules, and they may change. In July 2026 Fort Worth Police said they were working on a comprehensive update to city rules on e-bikes, e-scooters, motor bikes and golf carts.
We looked through the chapter of city code on motor vehicles and traffic and found no article written for shared scooters. We also could not find a city page listing a licensed scooter company. If you rode a rental, keep the app receipt so the company can be named.
| Where | Texas rule |
|---|---|
| Streets | Allowed only if the posted limit is 35 mph or less |
| Sidewalks and bike paths | Allowed unless a local rule bans it |
| What counts as a scooter | A motor no larger than 40 cubic centimeters, under state law |
| Trinity Trails | The water district says motorized vehicles are prohibited |
We could not find water district language that talks about e-scooters by name. Ask before you count on riding there. Police add that riders must obey traffic laws even when no license or registration is required.
Do Fort Worth drivers have to give e-scooters room?
Yes. City code lists a person on a motor-assisted scooter as a vulnerable road user. A car or light truck has to stay at least 3 feet away when road conditions allow, and other trucks and commercial vehicles at least 6 feet. If a driver cut close and knocked you down, tell the officer so it goes in the report.
Fort Worth Police worked 15,673 crashes in 2025. If police came to yours, the report comes from TxDOT's CRIS site for $6 and can take up to 14 days to appear.
Who pays for an e-scooter injury in Fort Worth?
| What happened | Who may pay |
|---|---|
| A car hit you | The driver's auto insurer, at least $30,000 per person |
| The driver had no insurance | Your uninsured motorist coverage, unless it was rejected in writing |
| A rental scooter failed | The rental company, but check its terms first |
| A broken city street threw you | The City of Fort Worth in limited cases, after notice within 180 days |
| You hit a pedestrian | You may be the one facing a claim. Motor vehicle insurance rules do not apply to scooters the same way. |
Serious scooter injuries are common. Federal safety data counts about 380,000 emergency room visits and 206 deaths from 2017 through 2024. In one Austin study, about half of injured riders blamed the road surface, so photograph the exact crack or pothole before it gets fixed.
What does a Lime or Bird rental agreement mean for a Fort Worth crash?
If you rented through an app, you likely agreed to its terms. Read them the same day. These are terms two well-known brands have used:
- Lime asks you to report a crash through the app within 2 hours, or as soon as you can if you are hurt.
- Bird asks for a police report within 24 hours when someone is hurt.
- Lime sends disputes to final and binding arbitration.
- Lime says riders who go without a helmet waive claims if hurt as a result.
- Lime says you agree to use your own auto insurance first.
Those terms are not the last word. Texas has fair notice rules for advance releases, and its arbitration law treats injury claims differently, though federal law often overrides it. A lawyer can tell you which rule controls.
What if I own my e-scooter and fall in Fort Worth?
Then no rental company is involved. Look at who else caused the fall. A driver, a contractor who left a trench open, or a property owner may be responsible.
If the pavement was the problem and it is a city street, write to Risk Management at 200 Texas Street, Fort Worth 76102. Claims can also be emailed to [email protected]. Your notice must state the injury, the date and place, how it happened, your damages and the amount you would settle for.
If a broken street belongs to the state or a county, the six-month state notice rule applies instead. Texas bars your claim if you are more than 50 percent at fault, so riding on a road posted above 35 mph can matter.
What should I ask an e-scooter accident lawyer in Fort Worth?
- Does my scooter rental agreement force arbitration?
- Who controls the street or path where I fell, and when is notice due?
- Does my auto or homeowner policy help here?
- Who can pay if the rental company has no assets in Texas?
Questions
Are e-scooters legal on Fort Worth sidewalks?
Texas allows them on sidewalks and bike paths unless a local rule bans it. Fort Worth Police say city rules are being updated, so check before you rely on this.
Can I ride an e-scooter on the Trinity Trails?
The water district says motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trails. We could not find language naming e-scooters, so ask the district.
How long do I have after an e-scooter crash in Fort Worth?
Generally 2 years to sue. A claim against the city needs written notice within 180 days, unless you show good cause.
Electric scooter accident in Fort Worth? See if you are owed money.
A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
See if I’m owed moneySources (35)
- Fort Worth Police, Northwest Division newsletter, July 2026, checked 2026-11-09. “Fort Worth Police are working on a comprehensive update to city ordinances governing e-bikes, e-scooters, motor bikes and golf carts.”
- Texas Transportation Code 551.352, checked 2026-11-09. “may be operated only on a street or highway for which the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less”
- Texas Transportation Code 551.352, checked 2026-11-09. “A person may operate a motor-assisted scooter on a path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles or on a sidewalk.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072(a-1), checked 2026-11-08. “(1) $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in one collision; (2) $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one collision, subject to the amount provided by Subdivision (1) for bodily injury to or death of one of the persons; and (3) $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property of others in one collision.”
- Fort Worth City Charter, Chapter XXVII, Section 25, checked 2026-11-08. “within one hundred eighty (180) days after the same has been sustained, unless good cause is shown”
- Lime User Agreement, checked 2026-11-09. “exclusively through final and binding arbitration instead of filing a lawsuit in court”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
- Texas Transportation Code 551.351, checked 2026-11-09. “a gas or electric motor not exceeding 40 cubic centimeters”
- Tarrant Regional Water District, Recreation FAQ, checked 2026-11-09. “Motorized vehicles are prohibited.”
- Fort Worth Police, Northwest Division newsletter, July 2026, checked 2026-11-09. “Even when a driver’s license and registration are not required, drivers must still obey all traffic laws.”
- Fort Worth City Code § 22-95, checked 2026-11-09. “A person operating a motorcycle, moped, motor-driven cycle or motor-assisted scooter”
- Fort Worth City Code § 22-95, checked 2026-11-09. “Three feet from the vulnerable road user if the operator’s vehicle is a passenger car or light truck”
- Fort Worth City Code § 22-95, checked 2026-11-09. “Six feet from the vulnerable road user if the operator’s vehicle is a truck, other than a light truck, or a commercial motor vehicle”
- TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by Investigating Agency, checked 2026-11-08. “FORT WORTH PD 107 110 468 555 2,668 3,567 2,314 3,643 9,519 32,438 597 2,356 15,673”
- Fort Worth Police, Get a Copy of My Accident Report, checked 2026-11-08. “Effective December 15, 2024, requestors should use the website below to request an accident report(s)”
- Fort Worth Police, FAQs, checked 2026-11-08. “for $6.00. If your search for a report returns no results, the report has not been approved.”
- Fort Worth Police, Get a Copy of My Accident Report, checked 2026-11-08. “It can take up to 14 days from the date of the crash for your crash to appear in the search results.”
- Tex. Ins. Code § 1952.101(b)-(c), checked 2026-11-08. “unless the insurer provides uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in the policy or supplemental to the policy. (c) The coverage required by this subchapter does not apply if any insured named in the insurance policy rejects the coverage in writing.”
- Texas Insurance Code 1952.101, checked 2026-11-09. “protects insureds who are legally entitled to recover from owners or operators of uninsured or underinsured motor vehicles”
- Texas Transportation Code 551.352, checked 2026-11-09. “A provision of this title applicable to a motor vehicle does not apply to a motor-assisted scooter.”
- CPSC, checked 2026-11-09. “E-Scooters: There were an estimated total of 380,000 ED visits from 2017 through 2024”
- CPSC, checked 2026-11-09. “CPSC staff is aware of 206 fatalities from 2017 through 2024.”
- CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Half of those we spoke to said a surface condition like a pot hole or crack in the street may have contributed to their injury.”
- Lime User Agreement, checked 2026-11-09. “to us within two (2) hours of the accident or incident via the Lime App”
- Bird Rental Agreement, checked 2026-11-09. “Rider shall file a report with the local police department within 24 hours.”
- Lime User Agreement, checked 2026-11-09. “If you ride without a helmet and are injured as a result, you waive any and all claims against the Released Parties”
- Lime User Agreement, checked 2026-11-09. “You agree to use your own motor vehicle insurance as the primary insurance.”
- Dresser Industries v. Page Petroleum (Tex. 1993), checked 2026-11-09. “we hold that the fair notice requirements of conspicuousness and the express negligence doctrine apply to both indemnity agreements and to releases in the circumstances before us”
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 171.002, checked 2026-11-09. “each party to the claim, on the advice of counsel, agrees in writing to arbitrate”
- 9 U.S.C. 2, checked 2026-11-09. “shall be valid, irrevocable, and enforceable”
- City of Fort Worth, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “HR/Risk Management 200 Texas Street Fort Worth, Texas 76102”
- City of Fort Worth, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “[email protected]”
- Fort Worth City Charter, Chapter XXVII, Section 25, checked 2026-11-08. “the amount of damages, the amount for which the claimant will settle”
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 101.101, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”