Shocking Accident Claims the Life of Sanderson Ford President’s Son

Business manager Andrew Kimmerle died after an accident on the family-owned car lot in Glendale in late August. Kimmerle was riding on a motor scooter in the parking lot when he was accidentally hit by a pickup truck that another dealership employee was driving. He was rushed to a local hospital where staff treated him for multiple injuries. Andrew unexpectedly passed away five days later while still under the hospital’s care.

The incident shocked both his family and the local community. Andrew leaves behind his father, his wife Meagan, and his four young sons. His father is the automotive-sales heavyweight, Dave Kimmerle, who is the president of Sanderson Ford in Glendale. Andrew was the president-elect of the Maricopa County Fair. You can still watch a stream of his September 8 memorial service on the fair’s website.

Why accidents happen in parking lots

A dealership parking lot is a bit like a maze. Your sightline is limited as you cruise through the sea of cars and trucks. The vehicles are tightly packed in, and the pathways between them are narrow-gauged. There is not a lot of space to turn a vehicle around, much less take evasive maneuvers if a person or vehicle suddenly crosses your path.

Speeding can be a factor in parking lot accidents. Not having adequate space to come to a full stop is a factor in the tight quarters of a business’ parking lot. The police report stated that Andrew Kimmerle was riding the scooter at a “high rate of speed” at the time of the Sanderson parking lot accident.

Distracted driving is also a problem in busy parking lots. All the activity may be too much for a driver to take in at once. Distractions can be anything from having a snack, using your phone or onboard smart system, or personal grooming such as touching up your hair, beard, or makeup.

The laws on dangerous behaviors like distracted driving are complicated but clear. An experienced wrongful death lawyer is your best source of advice if your loved one was killed.

Why electric motor scooters are so popular

The appeal of personal transportation is understandable. Renting an e-scooter in a city or high-density area is easier on the wallet than constantly springing for taxis or ride shares. You don’t have to worry about wait times when you have the micromobility of scooting at your fingertips. Scooting is as convenient as cycling, but it doesn’t require the same level of physical fitness. It’s faster too, with most e-scooters averaging about 15 miles per hour. For comparison, the average commuter bikes at about 12 miles per hour barring the likes of bad traffic, weather, or road conditions.

Electronic motor scooters are still among the slowest motor vehicles on the road today. Even the fastest scooters on the market can only go up to 33 miles per hour (though you may need a special license to operate these more amped-up vehicles in Arizona). The popularity of the electric scooter is incontestable. But in the wrong hands or under the wrong circumstances, any type of e-scooter can be a danger.

Why electric motor scooters are dangerous

Riders have less protection than they would if traveling by other means. Car drivers and passengers benefit from safety mechanisms such as seat belts and airbags, not to mention the frame of the vehicle itself. The injury rate was found to be up to 200 times higher for e-scooters than for motor vehicles, according to a recent study published in the journal JAMA Surgery.

The study also linked the uptick in injuries to the mass rollout of ride-share scooters in 2018. Another study published in the World Journal of Emergency Medicine also made the connection between shared e-scooter services and a rise in rider injuries. Injuries were reported to be six times as likely, with rider fall being the top reason for injury.

Electronic scooter riders have less control than their counterparts on bicycles, making it more likely they’ll take a spill. Cyclists often have multiple methods of braking, and their legs and body weight help them stay securely on the bike when slowing or stopping. You are more likely to fall or fly off of an electronic scooter when you need to brake or stop abruptly. Scooters have smaller wheels, too, meaning that even small debris or road imperfections can mean big trouble for riders.

The most common injuries from electric motor scooters

Electronic scooter drivers aren’t required by law to wear a helmet or other safety gear. As a result, their injuries can be more severe. Only 19 percent of riders wore helmets, according to a study reported by the Journal of Clinical Medicine. The most common injuries identified by the study were bone fractures (46.9%) and contusions or bruising (40.5%). Almost eight percent of the injured riders had wounds that required stitches. The remaining five percent had dislocations of the shoulder, elbow, knee, and hip.

Pedestrians are in danger of being injured by scooters as well. Pedestrians may be hit by scooters in crosswalks. Wheelchair users and blind pedestrians are particularly at risk when dockless e-scooters are left strewn about the sidewalk and other walkways. Technically, Phoenix’s Rules for Riders prohibits operating e-scooters on sidewalks. But riders do it anyway, whether to avoid cars and other large vehicles or to enjoy a cleaner, smoother surface. The three big e-scooter manufacturers – Lime, Jump, and Bird – are developing technology that would identify sidewalk riding and penalize riders.

Despite the dangers, people don’t need any specific training to ride an e-scooter. Regulations on scooting are vague, if they exist at all, since the technology is still relatively new. The Arizona State Legislature considers electric scooters to be the equivalent of bicycles. Its main stipulation is that the scooter should be labeled according to its classification number, maximum speed, and motor wattage.

A license is not required to operate a basic electric scooter in Arizona. Riders can use them on bike paths and other recreational byways, but local and state authorities can prohibit them on a path or property for any reason. The University of Arizona has banned e-scooter use entirely on campus, citing safety concerns for the decision.

If you have questions about an electronic scooter accident, a Phoenix scooter injury lawyer can walk you through it.

Can a personal injury lawyer in Phoenix help me after my accident?

Yes, the attorneys at Plattner Verderame, PC are here to help you. We specialize in personal injury law and have years of experience helping people just like you with their cases. There are several ways to determine liability in the event of an accident.

We take a multi-pronged approach to building each and every case. Our team can look at any equipment involved in the accident and talk to relevant professionals, like doctors and law enforcement. We work closely with you to gather all the right information.

Call our offices or contact us today to pick a time for your free legal consultation. To better serve you, we have offices located in both Phoenix and Tempe.