San Diego paying out $1.7M for Segway injury on La Jolla street
The settlement, which the
A Segway is a two-wheeled motorized vehicle that carries one person standing upright.
The new payout comes a little over a year after
And this March, the city paid
The payouts highlight the city's lack of adequate infrastructure to accommodate a surge in people traveling by bicycle or motorized devices like scooters and Segways.
Regina Copabianco was injured when she drove a Segway over a large area of broken and damaged street on
Her shattered pelvis needed immediate surgery that required doctors to screw in metal plates. She was rushed from the scene to
Copabianco's lawsuit, filed in
In addition to money for medical expenses and to cover pain and suffering, her lawsuit sought compensation for lost wages because Capobianco can no longer perform the undisclosed full-time job she had before the Segway crash.
The crash took place in a residential part of
The city initially defended itself, contending in court filings that the Capobiancos were careless and negligent and should have seen the damaged pavement if they were exercising due care.
Attorneys for the city also filed a cross complaint against We Love Tourists, the Segway tour guide business that provided Capobianco her vehicle.
The complaint argued the tour company was partly responsible for the crash and should cover a percentage of any settlement.
Elliott is working with city staff on an ordinance that would require tour operators that utilize Segways and other electric personal mobility devices to carry liability insurance and adhere to other safety regulations, Giorgino said.
The council approved the settlement 8-1 during a
Another incident involving a Segway has prompted a separate lawsuit against the city.
The family of
The suit, filed by Hassett's four siblings, claims Hassett struck a 3-inch to 4-inch concrete stub in the sidewalk while riding a Segway in
Hassett suffered broken ribs, a toe injury that required amputation and damage to an internal heart defibrillator. The heart issue and an infection eventually caused his death in
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