Find a scooter accident lawyer in San Antonio: city rules, app contracts and who pays

San Antonio permits only Bird and Veo for rental scooters. City code bans riding on sidewalks and the River Walk. If a car hit you, you generally have 2 years to sue. If a city street caused your fall, written notice is due within 90 days. Veo's contract requires arbitration.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (39)

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Road map of downtown San Antonio showing the River Walk, Alamo Plaza and Market Square, where city code bars scooter riding
City code bans riding scooters on San Antonio sidewalks. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What are the scooter laws in San Antonio?

Texas allows scooters on sidewalks unless a local rule says otherwise. San Antonio says otherwise. Know these rules, because an insurance adjuster will.

City ruleWhat it means after a crash
No riding on sidewalksA sidewalk crash can be used to blame you
Use bike lanes when availableTell the officer if there was no lane
No lane? Only streets of 35 mph or lessA faster road gives the other side an argument
No trails, creek ways, plazas or parks, including the River Walk, Alamo Plaza, La Villita, Main Plaza and Market SquareFalls there raise both fault and permission issues
Rider must be 16 or olderIf a child rode, the adult's role may be questioned
One person at a timeTwo riders can be raised as fault
No phone use while ridingYour phone records may be asked for
Helmet encouraged, not requiredCity code does not make it a violation

Breaking a rule does not end your claim. Texas reduces what you get by your share of fault and bars it only above 50 percent.

Who pays for an e-scooter injury in San Antonio?

  • A car hit you: the driver's insurance, with a Texas minimum of $30,000 per person.
  • That driver had little or no insurance: your own uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it.
  • The scooter failed: possibly Bird or Veo. The city requires each permit holder to keep the insurance in its permit agreement, and it may not be self-insured. We could not find the policy amounts in the public code.
  • A rider hit you on foot: that rider, and possibly the company if the scooter was defective. Ask whether the rider's own insurance applies.
  • A blocked sidewalk: a parked scooter may not cut the clear width below 3 feet. Report it to the company too.

Austin's public health study gives a useful picture of the harm. Almost half of the injured people it found had a severe injury, and half of those interviewed said a surface condition may have played a part. We could not find a San Antonio study like it. The city's micromobility dashboard reports trips and miles, not injuries.

Can I sue Bird or Veo after a scooter crash in San Antonio?

You may be pushed into arbitration first. You accepted terms when you opened the app, so save a screenshot of them today.

PointVeoBird
ArbitrationVehicle-use claims go to binding arbitrationHas an arbitration clause with a way to opt out
Time limit that mattersPolice report within 24 hours of a crash with injuryOpt out notice within 30 days of first use
PlaceTippecanoe County, Indiana, unless agreed otherwiseCheck the version you accepted
Phone1-855-836-22561-855-237-9944

These clauses are often enforced under federal law. Texas has its own rule that an injury claim needs a written agreement made on the advice of counsel, and Texas applies fair notice rules to advance releases. How those fit with your contract is a question for a lawyer, and it is worth asking early.

Can I make a claim against San Antonio for a street that caused my scooter fall?

Possibly, but the time is short and the law favors the city. The charter calls for written notice within 90 days after the injury. It must say when, where and how it happened, how serious it is and the amount of damages. All claims start at the City Clerk. The charter says the city is not liable for a sidewalk defect.

The city's permits also do not hand you a claim. City code says the companies' promise to protect the city is only for the parties and gives no rights to anyone else. Report the hazard through 311 so there is a record.

What should I do right after a scooter accident in San Antonio?

  1. Get care for your head and wrists, and tell the doctor how you fell.
  2. Photograph the scooter, its ID number and the road surface.
  3. Screenshot the ride receipt and the terms in the app.
  4. Call SAPD's non-emergency line, 210-207-7273, if a car or an injury is involved.
  5. Report the crash to Bird or Veo in writing, and keep a copy.
  6. Ask the Fire Department for the EMS report, which is usually ready in about a week.

Questions

Can I ride an electric scooter on the sidewalk in San Antonio?

No. City code prohibits it.

Do I have to wear a helmet on a scooter in San Antonio?

No. City code encourages helmets but does not require them.

Which scooter companies operate in San Antonio?

The city lists Bird and Veo, with 1,000 vehicles each.

How long do I have to sue after a scooter accident?

Generally 2 years, but a city claim needs notice within 90 days.

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Sources (39)

  1. City of San Antonio, Dockless Vehicles, checked 2026-11-09. “Bird and Veo have contracts with the City of San Antonio to operate 1,000 dockless vehicles per vendor, for a total of 2,000.”
  2. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-661, checked 2026-11-09. “Riding on sidewalks is prohibited.”
  3. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-661, checked 2026-11-09. “Riders may not ride on trails, creek ways, plazas and in parks, including but not limited to the Riverwalk, Alamo Plaza, La Villita, Main Plaza and Market Square.”
  4. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  5. San Antonio City Charter, Article XII, Sec. 150 (Municode), checked 2026-11-08. “notice in writing of such death, injury or destruction within ninety days after the injury has been sustained”
  6. Veo User Agreement, checked 2026-11-09. “All claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including access to and use of the Services, and use and rental of any Vehicle, shall be finally settled by binding arbitration”
  7. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-664, checked 2026-11-09. “must display the emblem of the permit holder, a unique identification number, and a 24-hour phone number”
  8. Veo User Agreement, checked 2026-11-09. “if a crash involves personal injury or property damage, You must file a report with the local police department within 24 hours”
  9. Bird Rental Agreement, checked 2026-11-09. “The notice must be sent within 30 days of your first use of the Service”
  10. 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.”
  11. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-661, checked 2026-11-09. “Riders must use bike lanes when available.”
  12. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-661, checked 2026-11-09. “riders may ride on streets which have a speed limitof thirty-five (35) miles per hour or less”
  13. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-661, checked 2026-11-09. “The person operating or in control must be at least sixteen (16) years of age.”
  14. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-661, checked 2026-11-09. “Only one person may be on the vehicle when it is being operated.”
  15. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-661, checked 2026-11-09. “Riders may not use a portable wireless communication device while operating a vehicle.”
  16. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-661, checked 2026-11-09. “The wearing of a helmet is encouraged but not required.”
  17. 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”
  18. 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.”
  19. 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”
  20. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-665, checked 2026-11-09. “A permit holder shall procure and keep in full force and effect the insurance coverage required by the executed permit agreement between the city and permit holder.”
  21. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-665, checked 2026-11-09. “A permit holder may not be self-insured.”
  22. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), Sec. 19-661, checked 2026-11-09. “in any manner that would reduce the minimum clear width of a sidewalk to less than three (3) feet”
  23. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Almost half of the people we identified had a severe injury, such as a broken leg.”
  24. 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.”
  25. City of San Antonio, Dockless Vehicles, checked 2026-11-09. “The Micromobility Public Dashboard provides the following statistics: - total trips - total miles traveled - average number of vehicles”
  26. Veo User Agreement, checked 2026-11-09. “Arbitration in connection with this Agreement shall take place in Tippecanoe County, Indiana”
  27. City of San Antonio, Dockless Vehicles, checked 2026-11-09. “1-855-836-2256”
  28. City of San Antonio, Dockless Vehicles, checked 2026-11-09. “1-855-237-9944”
  29. 9 U.S.C. 2, checked 2026-11-09. “shall be valid, irrevocable, and enforceable”
  30. 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”
  31. 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”
  32. San Antonio City Charter, Article XII, Sec. 150 (Municode), checked 2026-11-08. “stating in such written notice when, where and how the death, injury or destruction occurred”
  33. City of San Antonio, Office of Risk Management FAQs, checked 2026-11-08. “All claims against the City must originate from the City Clerk”
  34. San Antonio City Charter, Article XII, Sec. 150 (Municode), checked 2026-11-08. “in no event shall the city be liable in damages to any one on account of any defect in, obstruction, on or anything else in connection with any sidewalk in the city”
  35. San Antonio City Code, Ch. 19, Art. XIX (Municode), checked 2026-11-09. “are solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and not intended to create or grant any rights, contractual or otherwise, to any other person or entity”
  36. City of San Antonio, 311 Mobile App, checked 2026-11-08. “Sidewalks - Streets/traffic”
  37. SAPD, Contact & Connect, checked 2026-11-08. “Non-Emergency: 210-207-SAPD (210-207-7273”
  38. SAPD, File a Police Report, checked 2026-11-08. “to report an incident that involves any of the following: - Injury or death to a person”
  39. San Antonio Fire Department, EMS Reports, checked 2026-11-08. “typically available within a week after the incident”

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