A RISE IN POPULARITY LEADS TO A RISE IN ACCIDENTS

The number of e-scooter-related emergency room visits in the U.S. has surged by nearly 450% from 7,700 in 2017 to 42,200 in 2021, according to a recent report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Those estimates likely represented an undercount, the federal agency added. The vehicles can become safety hazards for many reasons, such as when they obstruct sidewalks when parked, are used by riders who are inexperienced, distracted or impaired, and when colliding with cars or pedestrians on sidewalks or roadways, according to a report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the Transportation Research Board.

Scooter-sharing programs have experienced an exponential adoption rate since 2016, according to Grand View Research, a market research and consulting firm. Grand View Research expects the market to grow by 7.8% between 2022 and 2030. 

CAUSES OF E-SCOOTER ACCIDENTS

Many of the factors contributing to bicycle accidents also contribute to e-scooter accidents: inexperience of the rider; impairment of the rider; lack of a separate lane; heavy traffic. Infrastructure can also factor into safety, as evidence shows that jurisdictions with more extensive bike lane networks were safer for e-scooter use, the TRB report stated. Many accidents involve physical structures such as curbs, maintenance hole covers and utility poles. In addition, roadway irregularities such as potholes and uneven surfaces are a greater danger to scooter riders than to bicycle riders, according to the report. A number of other conditions can factor into crashes. CPSC found that 21% of victims cited darkness or other visibility problems, and 26% of riders said they were carrying something.

THE NUMBERS

Here’s what the latest data show:

• There were more than 190,000 emergency room (ED) visits due to all micromobility products from 2017 through 2020. ED visits had a steady 70% increase from 34,000 (2017), 44,000 (2018), 54,800 (2019) to 57,800 (2020).
• Much of the increase between 2017 and later years was attributable to ED visits involving e-scooters, which rose three times as much, from 7,700 (2017), to 14,500 (2018), to 27,700 (2019) and 25,400 (2020).
• Injuries happened most frequently to upper and lower limbs, as well as the head and the neck.
• CPSC is aware of 71 fatalities associated with micromobility products from 2017 through 2020, although reporting is incomplete.

Four people died while riding an e-scooter in metro Atlanta last year. Each victim died after a collision with a motor vehicle—a car, a truck, and in one case, a county bus. It’s unclear if any of the riders was wearing a helmet. More people have died on e-scooters in Atlanta than in any other city worldwide.

GEORGIA’S EFFORTS TO INCREASE SAFETY OF E-SCOOTERS

With the steady increase in use of e-scooters on city streets and college campuses, Emergency Department doctors have seen a corresponding increase in injuries from the use of these micromobility devices. In light of this, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety teamed up with Shepherd Center to create Scoot Safe, the first federally funded, evidence-based e-scooter injury prevention campaign in the nation. See: https://scootsafega.com.

Shepherd Center, a hospital specializing in treatment of brain and spinal cord injuries, has observed rising e-scooter-related injuries – 44% of them brain injuries. Despite this trend, national research shows most e-scooter riders who were injured in crashes were not wearing helmets. Since 2018, there have been 11 reported scooter deaths in Georgia – a fatality rate drastically higher than the national average.

SAFETY TIPS

The best way to avoid injuries when using micromobility products: 

• Always make sure to wear a helmet. 
• Before riding an e-scooter, make sure to check it for any damage, which includes examining the handlebars, brakes, throttle, bell, lights, tires, cables and frame. Damage to the e-scooter can cause loss of control and lead to a crash. 
• Be sure to comply with local regulations regarding use of e-scooters on sidewalks or roads, bike lanes, and any other infrastructure.  
• Never operate an e-scooter while impaired.

CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY

If you have been involved in an accident with an e-scooter, contact the experienced personal injury attorney Dave Thomas at The Thomas Law Firm.