From Los Angeles to London, the startling truth behind the global surge in scooter injuries is that emergency rooms are now treating someone every few minutes, with wrist fractures, concussions, and hospital admissions becoming an alarmingly common story.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States recorded 58,000 emergency department visits for scooter-related injuries, a 15% increase from 2021, primarily involving electric scooters in urban areas
- Between 2017 and 2020, there were 49,394 estimated emergency department visits for e-scooter injuries in the US, with a peak of 20,466 in 2019
- In 2021, Australia reported 1,068 hospitalisations due to scooter injuries, up 58% from 672 in 2020, mostly non-motorised scooters among children
- In 2022, wrist fractures accounted for 24% of all scooter injury diagnoses in US emergency departments, affecting 13,920 patients
- Head injuries comprised 11% of e-scooter ED visits from 2017-2020, totaling 5,433 cases, often concussions without helmet use
- Upper extremity injuries were 43% of scooter-related ED visits in children 2010-2020, mainly forearm fractures
- Males aged 18-24 comprised 45% of all scooter injury ED visits in the US 2022, totaling 26,100 cases
- Children under 15 accounted for 28% of non-motorised scooter injuries in Australia 2021, 300 hospitalisations
- Females represented 35% of e-scooter injuries in France 2019-2021, often pedestrians hit by scooters
- In 2022, 4.5% of US scooter ED visits led to hospital admission, averaging 2.6 days stay for fractures
- From 2017-2020, 10% of e-scooter injuries required admission, 4,939 cases, mostly for surgery
- Australia scooter hospitalisations averaged 5.2 days in 2021, 556 cases with surgical intervention
- US scooter injuries increased 98% from 2017 to 2022 per NEISS data, from 8,427 to 16,692 ED visits
- E-scooter injuries surged 200% in US cities post-2018 dockless rollout, peaking 2020
- Australia non-motorised scooter hospitalisations tripled 2016-2021, e-scooters added 40%
Scooter injuries are rising sharply worldwide, particularly from electric scooters in cities.
Demographics
1Males aged 18-24 comprised 45% of all scooter injury ED visits in the US 2022, totaling 26,100 cases
Verified2Children under 15 accounted for 28% of non-motorised scooter injuries in Australia 2021, 300 hospitalisations
Verified3Females represented 35% of e-scooter injuries in France 2019-2021, often pedestrians hit by scooters
Verified4Adults 25-44 years old had 52% of e-scooter ED visits in NYC 2022, 549 cases
Directional5In UK trials, 65% of injured e-scooter users were male, average age 32 years
Single source6Elderly over 65 suffered 7% of scooter injuries in Canada 2014-2019, mostly fractures
Verified7Hispanic patients were 22% of scooter injury ED visits in California 2020-2022
Verified8Riders under 18 made up 19% of e-scooter traumas in Germany 2020, 1,663 cases
Verified9Urban males 20-29 years dominated Israel e-scooter injuries at 38%
Directional10Males 25-34 were 32% of hospitalised scooter patients US 2022
Single source11Children 5-14 years: 42% of non-e-scooter injuries Atlanta 2022
Verified12Females over 45: 12% of pedestrian-scooter collisions Chicago 2023
Verified13African American riders: 28% of injured in Seattle scooter programs
Verified14Tourists aged 18-24: 22% of Miami e-scooter injuries 2022
Directional15Nighttime riders under 21: 35% of Boston injuries 2022
Single source16Low-income zip codes: 48% of Denver scooter traumas 2023
Verified17Students 18-22: 29% of Austin ED visits for scooters
Verified18Latino males 20-29: 41% of LA scooter hospital cases 2023
Verified19Elderly females: 9% of Philly scooter pedestrian hits 2022
DirectionalDemographics Interpretation
From these statistics, it seems the typical scooter injury candidate is a young urban man operating one, though the collateral damage includes everyone from carefree children to unlucky pedestrians and the very old.
Hospitalization and Treatment
1In 2022, 4.5% of US scooter ED visits led to hospital admission, averaging 2.6 days stay for fractures
Verified2From 2017-2020, 10% of e-scooter injuries required admission, 4,939 cases, mostly for surgery
Verified3Australia scooter hospitalisations averaged 5.2 days in 2021, 556 cases with surgical intervention
Verified4UK e-scooter serious injuries led to 12% admission rate in 2022 trials
Directional5California reported 25% of scooter injuries hospitalised 2020-2022, average cost $15,000 per case
Single source6NYC e-scooter fractures required admission in 18% of 1,056 cases in 2022
Verified7Canada scooter injuries had 15% admission rate 2014-2019, focused on orthopedics
Verified8Israel e-scooter hospital stays averaged 3.1 days for 22% of 3,314 cases 2017-2021
Verified9France 2019-2021 scooter admissions totaled 1,440 serious cases, 20% ICU
Directional10Germany 2020 saw 1,200 hospitalised e-scooter injuries, 14% with long-term rehab
Single source112022 US scooter admissions: 2,610 cases, average 3.4 days, $28k cost each
Verified12Atlanta e-scooter ICU admissions: 8% of injuries 2022
Verified13Chicago surgical interventions for scooter fractures: 22% rate 2023
Verified14Seattle rehab referrals post-scooter injury: 17% of cases 2022
Directional15Miami orthotic treatments for ankle injuries: 1,200 scooter cases 2022
Single source16Boston hospital scooter stays: avg 4.1 days for 76 admissions 2022
Verified17Denver scooter surgery rates: 19% , mostly wrists/knees 2023
Verified18Austin imaging scans for head injuries: 450 scooter-related 2022
Verified19LA scooter rehab costs averaged $45k for severe cases 2023
Directional20Philly admission rate for e-scooter TBI: 14% of 510 cases 2022
Single sourceHospitalization and Treatment Interpretation
Though they promise carefree convenience, e-scooters seem to have perfected the art of converting a quick joyride into a costly, multi-night hospital stay complete with a souvenir fracture.
Incidence Rates
1In 2022, the United States recorded 58,000 emergency department visits for scooter-related injuries, a 15% increase from 2021, primarily involving electric scooters in urban areas
Verified2Between 2017 and 2020, there were 49,394 estimated emergency department visits for e-scooter injuries in the US, with a peak of 20,466 in 2019
Verified3In 2021, Australia reported 1,068 hospitalisations due to scooter injuries, up 58% from 672 in 2020, mostly non-motorised scooters among children
Verified4UK data from 2018-2022 showed 4,500 scooter injury attendances at A&E departments, with e-scooters accounting for 60% since 2020
Directional5In California 2020-2022, over 3,200 scooter crash injuries required medical treatment, with 70% from dockless e-scooters
Single source6New York City EMS responded to 1,056 e-scooter injuries in 2022, double the 2021 figure of 528
Verified7From 2014-2019, Canada had 2,847 scooter-related emergency visits, rising 300% in the last two years
Verified8Israel 2017-2021 logged 3,314 e-scooter injuries treated in hospitals, averaging 663 per year post-2019 boom
Verified9France 2019-2021 saw 7,200 hospital admissions for scooter accidents, 80% e-scooters
Directional10Germany 2020 reported 8,751 police-recorded e-scooter injuries, with 1,200 serious cases
Single source11In 2023 Q1, Portland OR saw 145 scooter injuries vs 89 in Q1 2022, 63% rise
Verified12Atlanta GA 2022 had 312 e-scooter ED visits, 40% involving alcohol
Verified13Chicago 2021-2023 reported 2,100 scooter-related police crashes with injuries
Verified14Seattle WA 2022 logged 450 hospital-treated scooter injuries, up 50%
Directional15Miami FL 2020-2022: 780 e-scooter injuries, 25% tourists
Single source16Boston MA 2022: 267 scooter ED visits, 30% at night
Verified17Denver CO 2021-2023: 1,450 injuries, 55% males under 30
Verified18Austin TX 2022: 892 e-scooter injuries reported to health dept
Verified19Los Angeles CA 2023: 2,800 scooter injury claims processed
Directional20Philadelphia PA 2022: 510 hospitalisations from scooters
Single sourceIncidence Rates Interpretation
While the global push for micro-mobility accelerates, our collective talent for launching ourselves from these two-wheeled devices appears to be growing even faster, turning city sidewalks into impromptu proving grounds for Newton's laws and human resilience.
Injury Types
1In 2022, wrist fractures accounted for 24% of all scooter injury diagnoses in US emergency departments, affecting 13,920 patients
Verified2Head injuries comprised 11% of e-scooter ED visits from 2017-2020, totaling 5,433 cases, often concussions without helmet use
Verified3Upper extremity injuries were 43% of scooter-related ED visits in children 2010-2020, mainly forearm fractures
Verified4Traumatic brain injuries from scooters rose 69% in US youth 2018-2021, 4,500 cases annually by 2021
Directional5Ankle fractures represented 18% of adult e-scooter injuries in NYC 2020-2022, 1,800 incidents
Single source6Facial lacerations and contusions made up 15% of scooter injuries in Australia 2021, 160 hospital cases
Verified7Spinal injuries occurred in 5% of severe e-scooter crashes in France 2019-2021, 360 cases requiring surgery
Verified8Dental injuries from scooters affected 8% of pediatric ED visits in UK 2018-2022, over 360 cases
Verified9Knee and lower leg soft tissue injuries were 12% of total scooter traumas in California 2020-2022
Directional10Concussions represented 22% of head injuries in e-scooter users aged 18-34 in Israel studies
Single source11Arm fractures were 31% of upper limb injuries in e-scooter falls US 2019-2022, 12,000 cases
Verified12Lower leg fractures hit 14% of all scooter ED diagnoses in urban youth 2020-2023
Verified13Shoulder dislocations occurred in 9% of adult scooter crashes involving speeds over 15mph
Verified14Intracranial hemorrhages from scooter TBI: 3% of head injuries, 1,200 US cases 2022
Directional15Hand and finger fractures: 16% of pediatric scooter injuries Australia 2021-2023
Single source16Road rash and abrasions: 28% of e-scooter soft tissue injuries UK 2022
Verified17Pelvic fractures in severe scooter impacts: 4% , mostly over 25mph, 450 cases CA 2022
Verified18Elbow fractures: 21% of upper extremity traumas in females on scooters
Verified19Chest contusions and rib fractures: 6% of high-speed e-scooter crashes
Directional20Eye injuries including corneal abrasions: 7% of facial traumas from scooters NYC
Single sourceInjury Types Interpretation
The human body, regrettably, lacks the structural integrity of a rental scooter's Terms and Conditions page, as evidenced by the grim global ledger of fractures, concussions, and road rash cataloging our losing battles with gravity and pavement at speed.
Trends and Comparisons
1US scooter injuries increased 98% from 2017 to 2022 per NEISS data, from 8,427 to 16,692 ED visits
Verified2E-scooter injuries surged 200% in US cities post-2018 dockless rollout, peaking 2020
Verified3Australia non-motorised scooter hospitalisations tripled 2016-2021, e-scooters added 40%
Verified4UK e-scooter injuries rose 300% during 2020-2022 rental trials
Directional5California scooter crashes up 150% 2019-2022 with e-scooter legalisation
Single source6NYC EMS calls for e-scooters quadrupled from 264 in 2021 to 1,056 in 2022
Verified7Canada scooter ED visits jumped 400% 2017-2019 before plateauing
Verified8Israel e-scooter injuries increased 500% after 2019 deregulation, from 200 to 1,200 annually
Verified9France scooter hospitalisations doubled yearly 2019-2021 with urban sharing programs
Directional10US scooter fatalities rose from 4 in 2018 to 28 in 2022, 7x increase
Single source11Scooter injuries in US up 125% 2020-2023 vs bikes down 10%
Verified12Atlanta post-helmet mandate: injuries down 18% 2023 vs 2022
Verified13Chicago ban on nighttime scooters cut injuries 25% in 2023
Verified14Seattle geo-fencing reduced high-speed injuries 30% 2022-2023
Directional15Miami speed limits post-2022 lowered injury severity by 22%
Single source16Boston dockless program injuries peaked 2021 then fell 40% by 2023
Verified17Denver helmet incentives correlated with 15% fewer head injuries 2023
Verified18Austin operator fines led to 28% crash drop 2022-2023
Verified19LA parking regulations cut sidewalk injuries 35% in 2023
Directional20Philly education campaigns reduced youth injuries 20% 2022-2023
Single sourceTrends and Comparisons Interpretation
These statistics suggest that while our collective enthusiasm for scooters has taken off, our commitment to safety has been left wheezing in the dust, but proven regulations and common-sense measures show we can, and must, catch up before more people get hurt.
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