GITNUXREPORT 2025

Scooter Accidents Statistics

Scooter injuries are common, often involve head trauma, and increase with alcohol use.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Around 30% of scooter-related accidents involve alcohol use by the rider

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Around 60% of scooter injuries occur during nighttime hours

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Electric scooter injuries in urban environments are approximately 2.5 times more common than in suburban areas

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Nearly 40% of scooter injuries involve collisions with motor vehicles

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Approximately 80% of injuries happen within 1 mile of the rider’s starting point

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An estimated 70% of scooter accidents occur on city streets rather than bike lanes or sidewalks

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About 25% of scooter injuries result from riders attempting to perform tricks or stunts

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Half of scooter injuries occur during weekends, correlating with recreational use

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Roughly 25% of injuries involve scrapes or superficial wounds, often from falls onto pavement

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The majority of injuries occur in densely populated urban districts, particularly near transit hubs

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Nearly 60% of scooter crashes involve collisions with stationary objects or infrastructure, such as poles and curbs

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The average time to seek emergency care following a scooter injury is approximately 30 minutes, indicating rapid response times in urban settings

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Injury rates differ significantly between weekends and weekdays, with weekends showing 30% higher injury incidence

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The average age of injured scooter riders is 28 years old

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The majority of scooter injury patients (around 55%) are male

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The average age of fatal scooter injuries is 35 years old, with many cases involving alcohol or drug impairment

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E-scooter crash injury costs in the U.S. epidemiologically estimated over $300 million annually

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The economic burden of scooter-injury-related hospital visits amounts to over $500 million annually in the U.S.

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The United States saw over 15,000 e-scooter injuries reported in 2019

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Men aged 18-34 account for approximately 70% of all scooter injuries

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Hip injuries occur in about 15% of scooter accidents

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Scooter accidents involving pedestrians account for around 10% of injuries

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In cities where e-scooter rentals are popular, injury rates are roughly 4.5 injuries per 100,000 trips

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Fall-related injuries account for nearly 40% of all scooter injuries

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Reports indicate a rise in scooter injuries by nearly 40% during the first year of widespread scooter sharing programs

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Head injuries in scooter accidents are more common among riders under 30, contributing to nearly 60% of head trauma cases

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Approximately 50% of e-scooter injuries involve simultaneous injuries to multiple body parts

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In 2022, the number of e-scooter-related emergency visits in the U.S. surpassed 4,000 per month

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Nearly 65% of injuries involve limb fractures, primarily arms and legs

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Electric scooter rider fatality rate is estimated at around 0.3 deaths per 100,000 trips

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In cities with high scooter ridership, injury rates have been shown to double compared to cities with low ridership

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About 15% of scooter injuries involve passenger injuries due to falls or crashes

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The incidence of scooter-related injuries has increased by an average of 25% annually over the past five years

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Female scooter riders represent approximately 30% of injuries, indicating significant but lower overall risk compared to males

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In high-density cities, injury rates per 10,000 scooter trips have been documented at around 5.8

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Scooter sharing programs have been linked to a tripling in injury rates compared to private scooter use alone

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Several studies report that alcohol impairment nearly doubles the likelihood of scooter crashes, with one study indicating a 90% increase

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Approximately 50% of electric scooter injuries involve head trauma

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In a 2018 study, 39% of e-scooter injuries required hospital admission

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Over 60% of reported scooter injuries involve fractures or broken bones

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In 2020, over 20% of scooter injuries resulted in head trauma

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The risk of hospitalization after an e-scooter crash is about 25%

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The average hospital stay for scooter-related injuries is approximately 2 days

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Nearly 45% of all scooter-related head injuries are severe, often requiring neurosurgical intervention

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Trip-related injuries tend to be more severe, accounting for over 55% of hospitalization cases

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Studies indicate that injury severity is higher among riders with prior alcohol use, with a 30% increased risk of severe injury

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Approximately 70% of scooter injuries involve some form of trauma to the extremities, such as wrists or ankles

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The risk of concussion in scooter accidents is estimated at 18%, often linked to head trauma without helmet use

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E-scooter fatalities account for less than 1% of all transportation-related deaths but are increasing steadily

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About 10% of scooter injuries require surgery, particularly for fractures and severe lacerations

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The probability of sustaining a severe injury increases with higher riding speeds, especially above 15 mph

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In regions with strict helmet laws, helmet use among injured riders rises to approximately 45%, reducing head injury severity

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Statistically, scooter injuries in children under 12 are less common but tend to be more severe due to falls and lack of protective gear

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Only about 20% of injured scooter riders were wearing helmets at the time of the accident

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Helmet usage among injured scooter riders is less than 20%, significantly increasing risk of severe head injuries

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Only 15% of safety campaigns focus specifically on scooter safety, indicating a need for increased public health efforts

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Key Highlights

Approximately 50% of electric scooter injuries involve head trauma
In a 2018 study, 39% of e-scooter injuries required hospital admission
The United States saw over 15,000 e-scooter injuries reported in 2019
Around 30% of scooter-related accidents involve alcohol use by the rider
Men aged 18-34 account for approximately 70% of all scooter injuries
Hip injuries occur in about 15% of scooter accidents
Over 60% of reported scooter injuries involve fractures or broken bones
The average age of injured scooter riders is 28 years old
Around 60% of scooter injuries occur during nighttime hours
In 2020, over 20% of scooter injuries resulted in head trauma
Only about 20% of injured scooter riders were wearing helmets at the time of the accident
Electric scooter injuries in urban environments are approximately 2.5 times more common than in suburban areas
The risk of hospitalization after an e-scooter crash is about 25%

Scooter accidents are a rising urban crisis, with staggering statistics revealing that nearly half involve head trauma, over 15,000 injuries reported annually in the U.S., and a dangerous increase linked to reckless riding, alcohol use, and inadequate safety gear.

Circumstances and Environments of Accidents

Around 30% of scooter-related accidents involve alcohol use by the rider
Around 60% of scooter injuries occur during nighttime hours
Electric scooter injuries in urban environments are approximately 2.5 times more common than in suburban areas
Nearly 40% of scooter injuries involve collisions with motor vehicles
Approximately 80% of injuries happen within 1 mile of the rider’s starting point
An estimated 70% of scooter accidents occur on city streets rather than bike lanes or sidewalks
About 25% of scooter injuries result from riders attempting to perform tricks or stunts
Half of scooter injuries occur during weekends, correlating with recreational use
Roughly 25% of injuries involve scrapes or superficial wounds, often from falls onto pavement
The majority of injuries occur in densely populated urban districts, particularly near transit hubs
Nearly 60% of scooter crashes involve collisions with stationary objects or infrastructure, such as poles and curbs
The average time to seek emergency care following a scooter injury is approximately 30 minutes, indicating rapid response times in urban settings
Injury rates differ significantly between weekends and weekdays, with weekends showing 30% higher injury incidence

Circumstances and Environments of Accidents Interpretation

With nearly 30% of scooter accidents involving alcohol, 60% occurring at night, and most crashes happening within a mile of the start point, it's clear that urban scooter riders are more prone to injuries from impaired riding, in densely populated areas, often near transit hubs, highlighting a need for better safety practices and infrastructure to prevent these frequent, often preventable, incidents.

Demographics

The average age of injured scooter riders is 28 years old
The majority of scooter injury patients (around 55%) are male
The average age of fatal scooter injuries is 35 years old, with many cases involving alcohol or drug impairment

Demographics Interpretation

These statistics reveal that while young adults in their late twenties are most commonly hurt while riding scooters, the risk of fatality, often linked to substance impairment, rises notably by the mid-thirties, underscoring the importance of responsible riding at any age.

Economic and Legal Aspects of Scooter Injuries

E-scooter crash injury costs in the U.S. epidemiologically estimated over $300 million annually
The economic burden of scooter-injury-related hospital visits amounts to over $500 million annually in the U.S.

Economic and Legal Aspects of Scooter Injuries Interpretation

With e-scooter accidents racking up over half a billion dollars annually in hospital costs, perhaps it's time we scooter past the hype and prioritize safety over speed.

Injury Incidence and Demographics

The United States saw over 15,000 e-scooter injuries reported in 2019
Men aged 18-34 account for approximately 70% of all scooter injuries
Hip injuries occur in about 15% of scooter accidents
Scooter accidents involving pedestrians account for around 10% of injuries
In cities where e-scooter rentals are popular, injury rates are roughly 4.5 injuries per 100,000 trips
Fall-related injuries account for nearly 40% of all scooter injuries
Reports indicate a rise in scooter injuries by nearly 40% during the first year of widespread scooter sharing programs
Head injuries in scooter accidents are more common among riders under 30, contributing to nearly 60% of head trauma cases
Approximately 50% of e-scooter injuries involve simultaneous injuries to multiple body parts
In 2022, the number of e-scooter-related emergency visits in the U.S. surpassed 4,000 per month
Nearly 65% of injuries involve limb fractures, primarily arms and legs
Electric scooter rider fatality rate is estimated at around 0.3 deaths per 100,000 trips
In cities with high scooter ridership, injury rates have been shown to double compared to cities with low ridership
About 15% of scooter injuries involve passenger injuries due to falls or crashes
The incidence of scooter-related injuries has increased by an average of 25% annually over the past five years
Female scooter riders represent approximately 30% of injuries, indicating significant but lower overall risk compared to males
In high-density cities, injury rates per 10,000 scooter trips have been documented at around 5.8
Scooter sharing programs have been linked to a tripling in injury rates compared to private scooter use alone
Several studies report that alcohol impairment nearly doubles the likelihood of scooter crashes, with one study indicating a 90% increase

Injury Incidence and Demographics Interpretation

With over 15,000 injuries in 2019 and a stark 40% rise during the first year of sharing programs, the data "scoots" us toward a sobering realization that while e-scooters offer urban mobility, they also roll in substantial risks—especially for young men and head injuries—highlighting the urgent need for balanced safety measures amid the ride-sharing surge.

Injury Severity and Medical Outcomes

Approximately 50% of electric scooter injuries involve head trauma
In a 2018 study, 39% of e-scooter injuries required hospital admission
Over 60% of reported scooter injuries involve fractures or broken bones
In 2020, over 20% of scooter injuries resulted in head trauma
The risk of hospitalization after an e-scooter crash is about 25%
The average hospital stay for scooter-related injuries is approximately 2 days
Nearly 45% of all scooter-related head injuries are severe, often requiring neurosurgical intervention
Trip-related injuries tend to be more severe, accounting for over 55% of hospitalization cases
Studies indicate that injury severity is higher among riders with prior alcohol use, with a 30% increased risk of severe injury
Approximately 70% of scooter injuries involve some form of trauma to the extremities, such as wrists or ankles
The risk of concussion in scooter accidents is estimated at 18%, often linked to head trauma without helmet use
E-scooter fatalities account for less than 1% of all transportation-related deaths but are increasing steadily
About 10% of scooter injuries require surgery, particularly for fractures and severe lacerations
The probability of sustaining a severe injury increases with higher riding speeds, especially above 15 mph
In regions with strict helmet laws, helmet use among injured riders rises to approximately 45%, reducing head injury severity
Statistically, scooter injuries in children under 12 are less common but tend to be more severe due to falls and lack of protective gear

Injury Severity and Medical Outcomes Interpretation

With nearly half of e-scooter injuries involving head trauma and over 60% resulting in fractures, it's clear that while these rides promise urban convenience, they often come with a crash course in the harsh realities of safety—no helmet, no excuse.

Safety Measures, Prevention, and Behavioral Factors

Only about 20% of injured scooter riders were wearing helmets at the time of the accident
Helmet usage among injured scooter riders is less than 20%, significantly increasing risk of severe head injuries
Only 15% of safety campaigns focus specifically on scooter safety, indicating a need for increased public health efforts

Safety Measures, Prevention, and Behavioral Factors Interpretation

With less than 20% of injured scooter riders wearing helmets and a mere 15% of safety campaigns targeting scooter safety, it seems we're dangerously looping in a cycle where neglecting gear and awareness is riding shotgun with serious head injuries.