Lime Scooters offers $250 compo for fractures after wheel locks up

A Brisbane woman knocked unconscious and seriously injured in a Lime Scooter accident has been offered an “insulting” compensation figure and some $1 discount vouchers, provided she sign a confidentiality agreement to settle her claim.

Caitlin Smit of Brisbane after her fall on a Lime Scooter.

A BRISBANE woman seriously injured in a Lime Scooter accident was offered $250 compensation, $1 discount vouchers and a confidentiality agreement to settle her claim.

Caitlin Smit claims she was knocked unconscious and broke her eye socket when the front wheel locked and she was flung over the handle bars of a scooter at Kangaroo Point on December 27.

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Ms Smit was rushed to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where she was found to have a severe concussion, two fractures of the orbital bone, nerve damage to her left side of the face, bruising and a fractured nose.

“I was on my way home from work when it just locked up and I went over the handlebars … it ruined the rest of my summer. I definitely didn’t want to be in public and couldn’t do any of the activities we had planned,” she said.

A Lime Scooter in Brisbane. Picture: AAP/John Gass

“I also had to go to the dentist, as I broke one of my front teeth … and my fractured nose had to be reset twice.

“The left side of my face still feels a bit numb, as there is nerve damage there and my arm got scraped up pretty badly and there’s scarring.”

After a lot of back and forth with Lime Scooters, Ms Smit was emailed with an offer of $250 compensation for her medication while in hospital and the damage to her clothing.

The offer came with discount vouchers and a confidentiality waiver and release from liability document to sign. But the 26-year-old didn’t accept and engaged Shine Lawyers.

Caitlin Smit of Brisbane after her fall on a Lime Scooter.

“Considering her significant injuries, caused through no fault of her own, Caitlin has been offered a tiny sum to stay quiet and not seek proper compensation following her painful experience,” Shine Lawyers solicitor Kylie Carson said.

“The monetary amount in itself is paltry, while the offer of $1 discount vouchers for future rides is insulting.”

Lime’s director of government relations, Mitchell Price, said the company was looking into Ms Smit’s trip.

“Since December, we have thoroughly investigated all occurrences of excessive braking and worked closely with third-party safety and engineering experts to roll out a software fix,” he said. “We have also developed early detection and additional preventive measures for our entire global fleet.

“Since the software fix was rolled out earlier this year, we have not seen any confirmed occurrences of excessive braking related to firmware anywhere in the world.

“With respect to Caitlin’s claims, Lime has a comprehensive insurance policy that exceeds state and council requirements for its riders, guaranteeing any rider who has an accident on our platform can get the help they need.”