e-scooter

August 20, 2025

The Rising Dangers of Electric Scooters in Chicago

Electric scooters, once touted as a fun and eco-friendly transportation alternative, have rapidly become a fixture on Chicago’s streets. Since the city first introduced rental e-scooters in 2019, usage has surged — with more than 3.7 million trips taken between mid-2022 and late 2023, compared to just 1.3 million in the program’s early years. Unfortunately, this growth has brought with it a troubling rise in injuries and legal concerns.

A Surge in Scooter-Related Injuries

Chicago hospitals are reporting a steady increase in scooter-related traumas. In a Chicago Suntimes article dated October 9, 2024, Dr. David Trotter of Advocate Illinois Masonic, a Level 1 trauma center, has reported seeing more patients suffering everything from cuts and broken bones to severe traumatic brain injuries caused by scooter crashes. Because many scooters reach speeds of 15 to 20 miles per hour, collisions can be as devastating as car crashes. The scooter injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. have also seen sharp rise in scooter injury cases just in the last two years.

June 21, 2025

Chicago Not Tracking E-Scooter Injuries

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

As anyone living in Chicago has noticed, the number of e-scooters on Chicago streets has grown drastically over the last few years. According to Chicago data, more than 3.7 million trips have been logged on rental scooters between 2022 and 2023 and this number is certainly growing. With this rapid growth have there been a corresponding increase of e-scooter injuries? The answer is unclear. Unlike some cities that maintain detailed injury reports, Chicago currently lacks centralized data tracking for scooter-related accidents. The Chicago Department of Transportation has confirmed it does not track the number of riders injured in e-scooter crashes, and scooter vendors like Bird and Lime don’t publish specific local statistics either (chicago.suntimes.com).

Although the 2020 CDPH pilot collected limited emergency department data, it remains partial at best—capturing only certain ED visits and lacking proper labeling of scooter injures. (chicago.gov).

The e-scooter injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have certainly noted a sharp increase of injured scooter riders contacting our office for legal representation.

October 31, 2024

¿Se Debería Permitir a Los Niños Montar en Patinetes Eléctricos?

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

El uso de scooters eléctricos ha aumentado dramáticamente en Chicago en los últimos años. La popularidad de los scooters eléctricos ha sido impulsada por la introducción de servicios compartidos como Divvy, Lime y Spin. Estos scooters se dejan en las aceras y calles y se pueden desbloquear con una aplicación de teléfono inteligente. Cuando un usuario termina su viaje, puede dejar el scooter en su destino. Este aumento en el uso de scooters eléctricos ha estado acompañado por un aumento en las visitas a la sala de emergencias relacionadas con los scooters eléctricos.

Es fácil ver lo vulnerables que son los conductores de scooters a las lesiones. Los scooters eléctricos alcanzan velocidades de hasta 20 MPH y algunos incluso van más rápido. El abogado especializado en lesiones por scooters eléctricos, Peter Zneimer de Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C., recientemente conducía por la avenida Peterson en Chicago a aproximadamente 25 MPH cuando fue adelantado por un scooter eléctrico que iba al menos a 30 MPH. Además, los scooters eléctricos tienen ruedas pequeñas que requieren superficies lisas para circular. Como cualquier residente de Chicago puede confirmar, los baches y las superficies irregulares están por todas partes en las calles de Chicago. Cuando las ruedas pequeñas de un scooter eléctrico golpean un bache o una superficie irregular, es probable que el conductor salga despedido con fuerza al pavimento. Si una persona se cae de un scooter eléctrico al pavimento a estas velocidades, las lesiones son casi seguras. Las lesiones más comunes son cortes, raspones, moretones, fracturas y lesiones en la cabeza.

Hubo aproximadamente 42,200 visitas a la sala de emergencias en los Estados Unidos en 2021, según la Comisión de Seguridad de Productos del Consumidor. Esto representa un aumento del 66% con respecto a 2020. El aumento en las lesiones afecta a niños menores de 16 años. Debido al alto riesgo de lesiones, la Academia Estadounidense de Pediatría recomienda que los niños menores de 16 años no puedan usar scooters eléctricos.

September 13, 2024

Melbourne Bans E-Scooters for Safety Reasons

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Chicago has witnessed a dramatic increase of e-scooters riders on the roadways and bike paths in recent years propelled propelled by e-scooter ride share companies like Divvy and Lime setting up stations. With increased number of e-scooter riders, the e-scooter injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. has also observed a dramatic increase of people injured in e-scooter accidents. Driving around Chicago, one witnesses e-scooters everywhere. One sees people riding on the bike paths, riding on the sidewalk, riding with traffic and riding against traffic. To add to the confusion, e-scooter riders have a tendency not to follow traffic rules like stopping at stop signs and stopping for red lights.

The influx of e-scooter riders on the sidewalks and on roadways have not only lead to more accidents but also more complaints from pedestrians who must dodge e-scooters. With more complaints comes more regulations. Some cities have gone a step further and have banned e-scooters all together. The city of Melbourne has recently voted to end its contracts with e-scooter operators, Lime and Neuron ending a two year trial period. “I have heard in recent days from residents, from traders, from visitors to Melbourne, literally begging us to bring the trial to an end to make our city safe again” Melbourne Mayor Nicolas Reece was quoted in saying at a news conference.

Though the e-scooters were popular, averaging 6,800 daily trips according to city statistics, the popularity also came with a sharp rise in complaints from pedestrians on footpaths and a sharp rise in emergency room visits. The Royal Melbourne Hospital reported 256 e-scooter related injuries in 2023, including one death.

July 3, 2024

Should Children Be Allowed to Ride Electric Scooters?

by Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C.

Electric scooter use has risen dramatically in Chicago over the last few years. The popularity of electric scooters is spurred by the introduction of shared services such as Divvy, Lime and Spin. These scooters are left on the on sidewalks and streets and can be unlocked with a smartphone app. When a user is done with their trip they can just leave the scooter at their destination. With this surge of e-scooter usage has been accompanied by a surge in e-scooter related emergency room visits.

It is easy to see how susceptible to injury scooter riders are. E-scooters travel up to 20 MPH and some travel even faster. E-Scooter injury lawyer, Peter Zneimer of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. was recently driving down Peterson Ave. in Chicago going about 25 MPH when he was passed by an e-scooter going at least 30 MPH. On top of that, e-scooters have small wheels that require smooth surfaces to ride on. As any resident of Chicago can attest, potholes and rough surfaces are everywhere on Chicago streets. When the small wheels of a e-scooter hit a pothole or rough surface, the rider is likely to be thrown hard on to the pavement. If a person falls off an e-scooter on to the pavement at these speeds it is almost guaranteed to be injuries. The most common injuries are cuts, scraps, bruises, fractures and head injuries.

There were approximately 42,200 emergency room visits in the United States in 2021 according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This represents an increase of 66% over 2020. The increase in injures for children under 16. Because of the high risk of injury, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 16 should not be allowed to ride electric scooters.