GITNUXREPORT 2025

Electric Scooter Injury Statistics

Electric scooter injuries mainly affect young males, with head trauma common.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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The risk of injury increases significantly when riding on uneven terrain

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The average time from injury to hospital presentation is 22 minutes

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80% of injuries occur during evening hours between 6 pm and 12 am

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Injury rates are higher during weekends, with a 20% increase compared to weekdays

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Higher injury rates are associated with poor road surface conditions, such as potholes and debris

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The risk of injury is 3 times higher during night riding compared to daytime

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50% of scooter injuries involve head trauma

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The most common type of injury is wrist fracture, representing approximately 25% of cases

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Nearly 10% of scooter injuries involve traumatic brain injury

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Approximately 20% of injuries involve dislocations

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The incidence of injuries involving facial fractures is 22%

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Riders who ride without lights at night have twice the injury risk

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About 80% of injuries are caused by falls during acceleration or braking

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Parking accidents, such as hitting pedestrians or objects, account for 10% of scooter injuries

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Approximately 20,000 electric scooter-related injuries are reported annually in the United States

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In 2018, emergency departments treated over 14,000 scooter-related injuries in the U.S.

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The average age of scooter injury patients is 30 years old

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Around 60% of scooter injuries occur in urban areas

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Males account for about 70% of scooter-related injuries

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Alcohol consumption is involved in approximately 12% of scooter injuries

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Lower extremities are most frequently injured, accounting for about 55% of injuries

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The incidence of head injuries has increased by 45% over the past 5 years

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Moped and scooter injuries combined make up approximately 30% of all urban trauma cases

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Nearly 15% of injuries involve dental trauma

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Non-helmeted riders are 3.5 times more likely to sustain head injuries

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Women account for approximately 30% of scooter injuries requiring emergency care

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Scooter injuries are most common in individuals aged 15-30

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In 2021, city-specific studies reported injury rates as high as 150 per 10,000 rides

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The majority of injuries occur in first-time or infrequent riders, comprising about 65%

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35% of injured riders experience limb fractures

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Scooters traveling at speeds over 15 mph are associated with a 40% higher risk of injury

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Urban areas with high scooter density report injury rates over 200 per 10,000 rides

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The overall injury-related mortality rate in scooter accidents is less than 0.5 per 100,000 population

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Emergency room visits for scooter injuries increased by over 50% between 2017 and 2022

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Injuries involving multiple body parts (polytrauma) account for 18% of all scooter injuries

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The average age of seriously injured scooter riders is 32 years old

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In some cities, scooter injury rates surpass bicycle injury rates by 60%

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The most common injury location for elderly riders (over 60) is the pelvis, representing 40% of injuries in this group

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Nearly 5% of injuries involve cervical spine trauma

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The average age of injured riders has increased over the past 5 years, indicating an aging rider demographic

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Around 40% of injuries involve fractures

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Helmet usage among injured scooter riders is only about 4%

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Head injuries are more common among riders not wearing helmets

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The use of protective clothing such as knee and elbow pads significantly reduces injury severity

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Increased helmet laws lead to a 25% reduction in head injuries

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Studies show that helmet use decreases the severity of head injuries by 70%

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25% of injured riders required hospital admission

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The median hospital stay for severe scooter injuries is 3 days

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Key Highlights

Approximately 20,000 electric scooter-related injuries are reported annually in the United States
In 2018, emergency departments treated over 14,000 scooter-related injuries in the U.S.
The average age of scooter injury patients is 30 years old
50% of scooter injuries involve head trauma
Around 60% of scooter injuries occur in urban areas
25% of injured riders required hospital admission
Males account for about 70% of scooter-related injuries
The most common type of injury is wrist fracture, representing approximately 25% of cases
Helmet usage among injured scooter riders is only about 4%
Head injuries are more common among riders not wearing helmets
The risk of injury increases significantly when riding on uneven terrain
The median hospital stay for severe scooter injuries is 3 days
Alcohol consumption is involved in approximately 12% of scooter injuries

Riding an electric scooter might be thrilling and eco-friendly, but with over 20,000 injuries reported annually in the U.S., it’s clear that the hidden risks—especially head trauma, falls, and injuries to young adults—call for heightened awareness and safety precautions.

Environmental and temporal factors

The risk of injury increases significantly when riding on uneven terrain
The average time from injury to hospital presentation is 22 minutes
80% of injuries occur during evening hours between 6 pm and 12 am
Injury rates are higher during weekends, with a 20% increase compared to weekdays
Higher injury rates are associated with poor road surface conditions, such as potholes and debris
The risk of injury is 3 times higher during night riding compared to daytime

Environmental and temporal factors Interpretation

While electric scooters offer convenient urban mobility, these injury statistics underscore that navigating uneven terrain, poor surfaces, and nighttime hours can turn a zipping ride into a trip to the hospital three times faster than day—reminding us that safety should never be an afterthought, especially when the streets are less than smooth.

Injury mechanisms and injury types

50% of scooter injuries involve head trauma
The most common type of injury is wrist fracture, representing approximately 25% of cases
Nearly 10% of scooter injuries involve traumatic brain injury
Approximately 20% of injuries involve dislocations
The incidence of injuries involving facial fractures is 22%
Riders who ride without lights at night have twice the injury risk
About 80% of injuries are caused by falls during acceleration or braking
Parking accidents, such as hitting pedestrians or objects, account for 10% of scooter injuries

Injury mechanisms and injury types Interpretation

While electric scooters offer convenience, these statistics underscore that head trauma, wrist fractures, and traumatic brain injuries—particularly at night—highlight the urgent need for protective gear and cautious riding to curb the rising tide of scooter-related injuries.

Injury statistics and demographics

Approximately 20,000 electric scooter-related injuries are reported annually in the United States
In 2018, emergency departments treated over 14,000 scooter-related injuries in the U.S.
The average age of scooter injury patients is 30 years old
Around 60% of scooter injuries occur in urban areas
Males account for about 70% of scooter-related injuries
Alcohol consumption is involved in approximately 12% of scooter injuries
Lower extremities are most frequently injured, accounting for about 55% of injuries
The incidence of head injuries has increased by 45% over the past 5 years
Moped and scooter injuries combined make up approximately 30% of all urban trauma cases
Nearly 15% of injuries involve dental trauma
Non-helmeted riders are 3.5 times more likely to sustain head injuries
Women account for approximately 30% of scooter injuries requiring emergency care
Scooter injuries are most common in individuals aged 15-30
In 2021, city-specific studies reported injury rates as high as 150 per 10,000 rides
The majority of injuries occur in first-time or infrequent riders, comprising about 65%
35% of injured riders experience limb fractures
Scooters traveling at speeds over 15 mph are associated with a 40% higher risk of injury
Urban areas with high scooter density report injury rates over 200 per 10,000 rides
The overall injury-related mortality rate in scooter accidents is less than 0.5 per 100,000 population
Emergency room visits for scooter injuries increased by over 50% between 2017 and 2022
Injuries involving multiple body parts (polytrauma) account for 18% of all scooter injuries
The average age of seriously injured scooter riders is 32 years old
In some cities, scooter injury rates surpass bicycle injury rates by 60%
The most common injury location for elderly riders (over 60) is the pelvis, representing 40% of injuries in this group
Nearly 5% of injuries involve cervical spine trauma
The average age of injured riders has increased over the past 5 years, indicating an aging rider demographic

Injury statistics and demographics Interpretation

While electric scooters are hailed as urban mobility marvels, their rising injury toll—especially among inexperienced 15 to 30-year-olds and male riders—signals that safer riding habits and protective gear are long overdue to keep the thrill from turning deadly.

Injury types

Around 40% of injuries involve fractures

Injury types Interpretation

With nearly 40% of electric scooter injuries resulting in fractures, it’s clear that riding these devices is not just a quick trip but also a potential crack in your safety—literally.

Preventive measures and safety equipment

Helmet usage among injured scooter riders is only about 4%
Head injuries are more common among riders not wearing helmets
The use of protective clothing such as knee and elbow pads significantly reduces injury severity
Increased helmet laws lead to a 25% reduction in head injuries
Studies show that helmet use decreases the severity of head injuries by 70%

Preventive measures and safety equipment Interpretation

With helmet use among injured scooter riders at a mere 4%, it's clear that while a helmet's potential to cut head injury severity by 70% is well-documented, the real ride to safety begins with making helmet laws as commonplace as the scooter itself.

Severity, treatment, and outcomes

25% of injured riders required hospital admission
The median hospital stay for severe scooter injuries is 3 days

Severity, treatment, and outcomes Interpretation

These statistics underscore that while electric scooters are a convenient urban accessory, a significant quarter of injuries demand hospital visits, often leaving riders sidelined for days—a stark reminder that these rides can quickly turn from fun to fraught with costly consequences.