Friday, October 2nd, 2026 — E-scooter trauma admissions nearly doubled over a two-year period as researchers found substantial rates of intensive care treatment and surgery among injured riders. An analysis led by Howard University Hospital identified 10,151 e-scooter trauma admissions from 2021 through 2023, with annual admissions rising from 2,311 to 4,430, an increase of 92%.
Most injuries were classified as minor or moderate, but 16.2% of patients required admission to an intensive care unit and 11.3% underwent an operation. Helmet use was documented in just 12.1% of cases. Researchers also found that riders younger than 18 and adults 65 and older had higher adjusted odds of ICU admission. Nearly three-quarters of admitted patients were male, and 72.5% were between ages 18 and 64.
A separate analysis focused on 2,185 injured riders age 18 and younger and found particularly severe outcomes among children. Patients younger than 16 sustained major injuries in 65.6% of cases, compared with 53.7% among riders older than 16. Older riders reported higher average speeds, 20.3 mph compared with 17.6 mph, yet younger riders experienced greater injury severity. Researchers said physical development may be a more significant factor in pediatric injury severity than reported scooter speed.
The findings provide additional context for liability adjusters evaluating e-scooter bodily injury claims, particularly those involving children, older adults and questions surrounding helmet use. E-scooter rules remain inconsistent across jurisdictions, with age limits, helmet requirements and speed restrictions varying by state and locality. Researchers said additional study is needed to determine how injury patterns differ among urban, suburban and rural communities.
