According to a new study, injuries sustained from electric scooter accidents nearly doubled from 2018 to 2019. Since electric scooters became a popular mode of transportation in 2014, they have caused many accidents, some of them fatal. As scooter companies reckon with these unintended consequences, doctors have grown used to seeing scooter injuries in their emergency rooms.
According to an article from Medical Xpress, in 2019, there were 29,600 scooter injuries nationwide that required hospital treatment. Dr. Eric Wagner, a surgeon at Emory University, said many of the injuries he treats are serious head injuries. Though scooter companies such as Lime encourage helmet use for all riders, many choose not to wear them. This results in serious injuries when a rider falls from the scooter or is struck by another vehicle.
Among the injuries riders sustain from scooter accidents are:
- Brain bleeds
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Internal organ injuries
Doctors are especially concerned about the potential for riders to suffer a traumatic brain injury when they fall off a scooter at a high rate of speed. About 13% of all emergency room scooter cases that doctors see are traumatic brain injuries caused by violent blows to the head. They can also occur when part of the fragmented skull pierces the brain after a serious fall.
Common symptoms of traumatic brain injuries are:
- Headaches
- Confusion
- The ringing of the ears
- Slight nausea
However, any of the following symptoms may indicate a more severe brain injury:
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Disorientation
- Loss of memory
- Clear fluid starts leaking from your nose or ears
- Loss of muscle control
Minimizing scooter accidents
According to Medical Xpress, the demographic that accounted for the greatest number of scooter injuries in the past five years was men aged 15 to 35. Doctors say scooter accidents can be avoided or minimized by avoiding alcohol and substances while driving the scooter and wearing a helmet. Additionally, experts warn against going too fast on the scooter, especially if riding it at an older age when your balance, coordination, and reaction time might be slower. Many accidents can be avoided if scooter riders abide by traffic laws, ride moderately, and wear protective gear.
Contact a New York Personal Injury Lawyer
You might be entitled to compensation if you were injured in a scooter accident. The lawyers at Hach & Rose, LLP have secured substantial recovery for clients injured through no fault of their own, and they want to do the same for you. Contact our legal team at (212) 779-0057 to discuss your legal options and how much your case might be worth.