
Ansonia resident Jason Edwards snapped this photo of scooters in Ansonia back in May.
ANSONIA — A woman injured after crashing a Bird Electric Scooter on Main Street intends to file a lawsuit against the city.
According to a ​“notice to commence action” filed with Ansonia City Hall, Courtney Lupo was riding one of the electric scooters near 575 Main St. at about 11 p.m. on June 26 when she crashed because of ​“the defective condition of Main Street and the poorly illuminated surrounding area.”
She suffered several injuries, according to the legal document, including abrasions to her face and head, a right shoulder injury, multiple fractures to her ​“right lower extremity” that required surgery, and extensive rehabilitation care.
The area of 575 Main St. is near the Fuel First gas station and Valley Discount Wine & Liquor, just outside downtown Ansonia proper.
The letter notifying the city of the potential lawsuit was sent by Daniel H. Cotter of Cotter, Cotter & Mullins, LLC of Trumbull. Lawsuits are public documents.
Legal actions involving allegedly defective premises are very common, but this seems to be the first one involving a Bird Scooter in Ansonia. The scooters arrived in Ansonia in May.
The notice sent to the city doesn’t blame the scooter for the crash — instead, the problem is identified as the poor condition of Main Street. The document does not specifically describe the condition of the street, such as potholes, that allegedly led to the accident.
Corporation Counsel John Marini pointed out Main Street (also known as state Route 115) is a state road, not a city road.
The Ansonia Board of Aldermen acknowledged the lawsuit during a meeting Sept. 13 and referred the matter to the corporation counsel.
Bird Scooters are electric rental scooters that have been marketed to cities across the nation as a fun ​“micromobility” transportation alternative. Riders, after downloading a phone app and setting up a payment form, can use the scooters and leave them wherever the rider wants. The scooters are supposed to have GPS devices so that they can be collected each day.
Ansonia started off with about 50 Bird scooters in May. Mayor David Cassetti told The Valley Indy over the summer he expected another 50 to be arriving in Ansonia at some point.
The Board of Selectmen next door in Seymour, however, nixed an idea to have Bird scooters arrive in their town, citing liability concerns.
While Bird is still expanding to municipalities and college campuses all over, the California-based startup recently laid off more than 100 employees, according to press reports in June.