Injuries Involving E-Scooters Are Getting More Common

People in the Detroit area are continuing to use e-scooters, e-bikes and similar devices to get around urban areas.

While their availability may convenience the public for years to come, these modes of transportation come with risks as well.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, through 2020, the number of people who visited emergency rooms because of these “micromobility devices” has increased each year.

In 2017, the CPSC reported 34,000 emergency room visits. In 2019, 54,800 people visited emergency rooms because of micromobility devices.

Unfortunately, even during 2020, the number of people who visited emergency rooms still increased again, this time to 57,800.  The increase happened despite people around the country traveling less in 2020.

The use of electronic scooters drove the overall increase in emergency room visits.  According to CPSC, a number of factors are responsible for the increase.

What Are My Options if I Am Injured in an E-Scooter Accident?

Many e-scooter accidents involve more than just the rider of the scooter.

Sometimes, the rider is not being careful, or just does not know how to use the equipment. In other cases, the rider may have just not checked to make sure the scooter was working correctly before trying to ride it.

As a result of these common mistakes, a rider may strike and injure another person on a micromobility device, a pedestrian or someone riding a conventional bicycle.

Under Michigan law, a negligent e-scooter rider is legally responsible for the injuries they cause. They will have to pay medical expenses as well as lost wages and other damages to those they injure.

These sorts of cases can be tricky.  They are not like traditional car accident cases. To give just one example, the responsible person’s automobile insurance might not cover accidents on e-scooters. They may have other insurance proceeds available to them.

Someone injured by the rider of an e-scooter may have legal options for obtaining compensation. They should make sure they understand the alternatives.