{"id":4062,"date":"2026-10-16T22:24:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T22:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=4062"},"modified":"2026-10-16T22:24:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T22:24:12","slug":"e-bike-e-scooter-injuries-rising-among-teens-kids-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drsoniafawad.com\/?p=4062","title":{"rendered":"E-Bike & E-Scooter Injuries Rising Among Teens & Kids: What to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\tIt\u2019s no secret why e-scooters and e-bikes are so popular, especially with kids and teens. Easy-to-ride, convenient, quick \u2014 you won\u2019t get bogged down in traffic jams or lose your breath pedaling up a hill, and there\u2019s no driver\u2019s license required. And now that they\u2019re rentable through companies like Citi Bike and Lime, hitching a ride is as easy as picking a bike or scooter off the street.<\/p>\n

\n\tBut as e-bikes and e-scooters get more popular, more kids and teens are getting hurt on them. Since 2023, the rate of e-bike and e-scooter injury-related visits to the emergency room increased 7.5-fold among children and adolescents, according to research<\/a> from health data and analytics company Truveta.<\/p>\n

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\n\tFor Dr. Brian Coates<\/a>, it\u2019s a concerning trend. \u201cThe barrier to entry to these devices was quite significant when they first came out, and now they\u2019re ubiquitous,\u201d says Coates, the Service Line Medical Director of Trauma & Surgical Services at Saint Alphonsus Health System, a member of Trinity Health. \u201cEvery kid has a smartphone, easily can download the app, and typically afford the price of the entry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAnd while Coates says he does see many minor injuries \u2014 fractures, cuts, scrapes and bruises \u2014 he also treats a large number of head and neck injuries. \u201cThere is a significant portion of them that do turn into major injuries that require prolonged hospitalizations, procedures, and can actually lead to devastating, negative lifelong outcomes,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe numbers back that up. The Truveta data found that more than one-third of e-bike and e-scooter injury-related ER visits among children and adolescents resulted in a head or neck injury diagnosis. In particular, traumatic brain injuries represented 7 percent of the ER visits.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWhat we\u2019re seeing are not necessarily traditional bike type of injuries,\u201d Coates says. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing injuries that are more consistent with what we would see in motorcycle crashes.\u201d That means more fractures and more significant head injuries. Coates calls these \u201chigh-energy injuries,\u201d because e-bikes and e-scooters go faster than traditional bikes or scooters, with top speeds range from 20 to 28 miles per hour<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\n\tWhile speed is one reason for the uptick in injuries, Coates says unfamiliarity is another. \u201cThey\u2019re not used to navigating these devices,\u201d he says. \u201cThey\u2019re not used to how quickly they accelerate. They\u2019re not used to stopping them.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tNot wearing helmets is another major issue. Helmet use on e-bikes has declined<\/a> over recent years, even as e-bike use has surged. As Coates points out, the convenience of rentable e-bikes and e-scooters might be part of the problem. Kids and teens might leave their house not knowing they\u2019re going to grab an e-bike or e-scooter later, so they don\u2019t bring a helmet on the way out.<\/p>\n

\n\tFor the most part, Coates says the kids and teens he treats for e-bike or e-scooter injuries were using substances and lose control of the their device. Other riders may be struck by motor vehicles. Pedestrians can also be hit and injured by e-bikes or e-scooters. Coates points to the fact that many people ride these devices in the middle of busy streets or sidewalks in areas without bike lanes, increasing the risk of injury. <\/p>\n

\n\tFor parents, Coates says, the important thing is education \u2014 making sure your kids know how to ride e-bikes and e-scooters safely. Here are some key safety tips to pass along:<\/p>\n

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