E-Scooter Emergency Visits Surge 3.4-Fold in US Since 2019

Emergency department visits in the United States for e-scooter related injuries increased 3.4-fold between 2019 and 2023, rising from an estimated 14,714 visits to 50,209[6]. This sharp increase highlights a growing public safety concern related to the use of micromobility devices, putting additional strain on healthcare systems and signaling a need for increased awareness of user safety.

What the records show

Data primarily from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), overseen by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), indicates a substantial rise in injuries associated with micromobility products. The CPSC estimates an average annual increase of 23% in micromobility-related injuries, encompassing e-scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards, since 2017[25].

One retrospective observational study specifically tracked e-scooter emergency department visits, finding a 3.4-fold increase in estimated visits between 2019 and 2023[6]. During this period, 10.9% to 15.4% of these visits led to admission or transfer to another facility[6]. A broader nationwide analysis found that combined e-scooter and e-bike emergency department visits tripled from 22,835 in 2019 to 65,892 in 2022[8][19]. This study also noted that nearly 18% of e-scooter emergency department visits resulted in hospital admission[8]. Another analysis reported an 88% increase for "powered scooters" between 2019 and 2022[13][20][21]. From 2017 through 2024, there were an estimated 380,000 e-scooter emergency department visits in total[22][23][24].

Children and adolescents have also experienced a notable rise in injuries. There was a 7.5-fold increase in e-bike and e-scooter injury-related emergency department visits among individuals under 18 years old between 2023 and May 2026[9][10]. At one California hospital, pediatric e-bike and e-scooter injuries increased nearly four-fold between 2019, with 33 cases, and 2025, with 124 cases[12][14][15][16][17][18].

The timeline

E-scooter related emergency department visits have steadily climbed over several years. In 2017, estimated e-scooter visits were 7,700, rising to 14,500 in 2018, and then to 27,700 in 2019[1][2]. The total estimated emergency department visits for all micromobility products also increased from 34,000 in 2017 to 54,800 in 2019[1]. Between 2019 and 2023, e-scooter visits alone increased from 14,714 to 50,209[6]. The combined total of e-scooter and e-bike emergency department visits rose from 22,835 in 2019 to 65,892 in 2022[8][19]. Pediatric injuries involving these devices also showed a significant increase, with a 7.5-fold rise between 2023 and May 2026 for those under 18[9][10], and a near four-fold increase at a specific California hospital from 33 cases in 2019 to 124 in 2025[12][14][15][16][17][18].

What changed and for whom

The increase in emergency department visits indicates a broad shift in public health impact across the United States due to the growing popularity and use of e-scooters and e-bikes[8]. The data shows that the rise in injuries affects all age groups, but particular concern has emerged regarding children and adolescents, who are experiencing a disproportionately rapid increase in injury rates[9][10][12][14][15][16][17][18]. The higher number of hospital admissions from these incidents also points to an increasing severity of injuries[3][6][8].

What the subject has said publicly

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has publicly acknowledged the rising trend, estimating a 23% average annual increase in injuries related to micromobility devices since 2017[25]. The CPSC has also issued reports and public service announcements to raise awareness about e-scooter related injuries[2].

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the specific factors contributing to the differing increase percentages for scooters across various studies, such as the 3.4-fold increase compared to the 88% increase reported for "powered scooters"[6][13][20][21]. The exact definition of "powered scooters" in one analysis, and its consistency with "e-scooters" in other reports, remains unclarified[13][20][21]. This report also does not detail whether the increase in injuries is directly proportional to an increase in the number of devices in use or total miles traveled, nor does it specify any new safety regulations or public policy initiatives being considered or implemented by federal or local authorities to address these rising injury rates.