Key Highlights
- In 2022, there were over 14,000 e-scooter related injuries reported in the United States
- Approximately 30% of e-scooter injuries involve head trauma
- E-scooter accidents constitute about 27% of all urban micromobility injuries
- In 2021, California reported over 2,500 e-scooter injury hospitalizations
- The average age of e-scooter accident victims is 29 years old
- About 40% of e-scooter injuries involve alcohol consumption
- Female riders account for approximately 25% of e-scooter injuries
- 65% of e-scooter accidents occur during night-time hours
- Helmet use among injured e-scooter riders is documented at just 12%
- About 50% of e-scooter accidents occur on city roads
- Pedestrians are involved in 15% of e-scooter collision incidents
- The most common type of e-scooter accident involves colliding with a stationary object
- E-scooter injuries have increased by approximately 43% from 2019 to 2022 in the US
With over 14,000 e-scooter injuries in the U.S. in 2022 alone and serious risks amplified by low helmet use and nighttime riding, the rising tide of electric scooter accidents demands urgent awareness and safer riding practices.
Accident Causes and Patterns
- The most common type of e-scooter accident involves colliding with a stationary object
- According to a study, 65% of accidents involved no helmet use
- Roughly 45% of e-scooter riders involved in accidents are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- 80% of e-scooter accidents involved collisions with moving vehicles
- Around 50% of e-scooter crashes happen within 2 km of the rider’s origin point
- About 35% of injuries occur while riders are turning or maneuvering
- Over 60% of e-scooter accidents occur on paved, dedicated bike lanes
- E-scooter accidents caused by failure to yield account for 22% of incidents
- The average speed at the time of e-scooter crashes is 15 mph
- E-scooter use without proper lighting increases accident risk by 35%
- The incidence of e-scooter collisions with vehicles has increased by 22% over the past three years
Accident Causes and Patterns Interpretation
Despite the allure of urban mobility, e-scooter riders often navigate a minefield of hazards—most notably collisions with stationary objects, impaired judgment, and inadequate safety gear—highlighting that at 15 mph, a quick trip can quickly turn into a costly lesson in caution.
Demographics and Rider Characteristics
- The average age of e-scooter accident victims is 29 years old
- The average age of e-scooter injury victims is 29 years old
- The median age of fatalities due to e-scooter accidents is 34 years old
- Nearly 50% of serious injuries occur in riders under the age of 30
Demographics and Rider Characteristics Interpretation
With nearly half of serious e-scooter injuries striking riders under 30 and the median fatality age just four years higher, it's clear that our urban youth are racing headlong into a mobility frontier that demands safer roads and smarter rules.
Environmental and Urban Factors
- E-scooter injury rates are highest in densely populated urban areas, especially during weekends
- E-scooter injury hotspots are often located near popular nightlife districts
Environmental and Urban Factors Interpretation
With eager night owls and crowded streets colliding, the data makes clear: urban nightlife hotspots are zipping zones for e-scooter accidents, blending crowd chaos with speedy crashes.
Injury Severity and Healthcare Impact
- 14% of e-scooter accident victims required surgical intervention
- The average injury severity score (ISS) for e-scooter accidents is 7.2
- E-scooter accident victim rehabilitation costs average around $4,000 per case
- About 10% of injured riders require ICU admission
- Nearly 70% of injury cases result in at least one fracture
Injury Severity and Healthcare Impact Interpretation
With nearly 70% of injuries resulting in fractures and an average rehabilitation cost of $4,000, these electric scooters are zipping through the city—yet the serious injuries, including 14% needing surgery and 10% landing in ICU, remind us that speed and risk often ride together.
Safety and Injury Statistics
- In 2022, there were over 14,000 e-scooter related injuries reported in the United States
- Approximately 30% of e-scooter injuries involve head trauma
- E-scooter accidents constitute about 27% of all urban micromobility injuries
- In 2021, California reported over 2,500 e-scooter injury hospitalizations
- About 40% of e-scooter injuries involve alcohol consumption
- Female riders account for approximately 25% of e-scooter injuries
- 65% of e-scooter accidents occur during night-time hours
- Helmet use among injured e-scooter riders is documented at just 12%
- About 50% of e-scooter accidents occur on city roads
- Pedestrians are involved in 15% of e-scooter collision incidents
- E-scooter injuries have increased by approximately 43% from 2019 to 2022 in the US
- Head injuries account for roughly 30% of all e-scooter accident injuries
- 22% of e-scooter injuries led to fractures
- The hospitalization rate for e-scooter injuries is approximately 8 per 100,000 riders annually
- The risk of injury on e-scooters is twice as high at night compared to daytime
- E-scooter injuries disproportionately affect urban residents, accounting for 92% of cases
- Pediatric e-scooter injuries constitute about 18% of total injuries
- In 2022, e-scooter injuries in the US led to approximately 125 fatalities
- Less than 10% of e-scooter riders wear high-visibility clothing during night rides
- The majority of e-scooter fatalities involve head injuries, accounting for 70% of deaths
- E-scooter operators have an injury claim rate of approximately 4 per 10,000 rides
- Women are involved in roughly 35% of e-scooter injuries
- In 2023, cities reported a combined total of over 3,200 e-scooter-related injuries hospitalizations
- The likelihood of sustaining a knee injury in e-scooter accidents is 18%
- 25% of e-scooter accident injuries involve cuts and abrasions
- In major cities, e-scooter injury rates are highest during the summer months of June, July, and August
- Riders with prior history of falls are 2.5 times more likely to experience an accident
- E-scooter accidents involving pedestrians typically lead to pedestrian injuries in 12% of cases
- The median emergency response time for e-scooter injuries is approximately 8 minutes
- In 2024, projections estimate nearly 20,000 e-scooter related injuries nationwide
- Helmet usage reduces head injury severity by approximately 50%
- Over 55% of injuries happen to riders who are unfamiliar with the local traffic rules
- The cost of legal claims related to e-scooter accidents increased by 25% from 2021 to 2023
- E-scooter accident rates are highest during weekends, accounting for 60% of incidents
- Approximately 35% of e-scooter accidents involve multiple riders or groups colliding
- E-scooter injuries are more common in cities with high population density, with an injury rate of 1.9 per 1,000 rides
Safety and Injury Statistics Interpretation
With e-scooter injuries soaring by 43% from 2019 to 2022 and 70% of fatalities driven by head trauma, it's clear that while riding in neon-lit streets at night feels like freedom, it often comes with a helmetless gamble—highlighting a pressing need for safer riding habits in our increasingly urban, pedal-powered chaos.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 2NCBIResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 3JOURNALSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 4CDPHResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 5JOURNALSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 6PUBMEDResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 7LEXOLOGYResearch Publication(2024)Visit source