E-Scooter Injury Rates Exceed Motorcycle Injuries in Southern California

In recent months and years, e-scooters have been growing in popularity among residents of Rancho Bernardo and throughout Southern California. While e-scooters can serve as a convenient mode of transportation and can be exciting for recreation, e-scooters have also proven to be extremely dangerous. According to a recent study conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One, the injury rate for riders of e-scooters in certain parts of Southern California “was higher than the national rates for riders of motorcycles, bicycles and cars, and pedestrians.” In other words, the overall rate of e-scooter accidents has been extremely high.

What do you need to know about e-scooter injuries and filing a personal injury claim after an e-scooter accident?

E-Scooters Continue to “Proliferate,” According to Study

Before we discuss some of the key findings of the study, it is important to know that e-scooters only continue to grow in popularity, and data does not suggest that we will see a decline in e-scooter usage anytime soon. In fact, the UCLA researchers emphasized that we are seeing e-scooters “proliferate” across the globe, and rental rates suggest that e-scooters could, “in the coming years, account for 1 in 10 trips shorter than 5 miles.”

Since e-scooters seem to be here to stay, and urban residents continue to use them, it is critical to understand how and why serious accidents happen, and what types of injuries may be preventable.

Getting the Facts About E-Scooter Injuries

The recent study shows that e-scooter injuries have continued to rise each year, suggesting that more and more people are getting hurt on e-scooters. The researchers analyzed data from a total of 1,354 patients who received treatment at various UCLA health centers and clinics in Southern California between the years 2014 and 2020. Those patients not only included e-scooter riders who were injured in collisions with automobiles or fell from the e-scooter due to a road condition, but those patients also included pedestrians who were struck by e-scooter riders. In many cases of pedestrian and e-scooter collisions, the e-scooter rider was operating the vehicle on the sidewalk.

The majority of the injuries were head and extremity injuries, and about one-third of all the patients sustained more than one type of injury. Only about 5% required hospitalization. The causes of e-scooter injuries vary widely, including e-scooter rider negligence, motorist negligence, pedestrian and bicycle negligence, and potential design and manufacturing issues pertaining to e-scooters.

According to the recent study, the high rate of e-scooter accidents might actually be an underestimate, and even more people may be sustaining injuries. It is essential to take precautions to prevent an e-scooter collision while riding or walking, and to speak with an attorney if you are injured.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Rancho Bernardo

If you or someone you love sustained injuries in an e-scooter accident, it is critical to seek advice from a Rancho Bernardo personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Do not hesitate to get in touch with our firm for more information about how to file a claim. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more.

See Related Blog Posts: Touch-Free Crosswalks and Pedestrian Safety in the Age of Coronavirus E-Scooters Cause Brain Injuries and Broken Bones in and Around San Diego