Chicago Accident Lawyer Blog
A recent Chicago Sun-Times article highlights the growing popularity, and growing dangers, of e-scooters in Chicago. According to the article, Chicago recorded more than 7 million e-scooter trips in 2025, a record for the city. Even more remarkably, riders had already taken more than 1 million Lime and Divvy e-scooter trips during the early months of 2026. As ridership continues to increase, so do serious accidents and injuries. (Chicago Sun-Times)
The Sun-Times article also reported two heartbreaking fatalities involving teenagers this year. A 17-year-old and a 15-year-old were both killed after being struck by motor vehicles while riding e-scooters on Chicago’s South Side. Those tragedies prompted the City of Chicago to launch a new e-scooter safety campaign. (Chicago Sun-Times)
E-Scooters Are Not Toys
Many people view e-scooters as recreational devices, but they are frequently operated on busy city streets alongside cars, buses, delivery vans, and commercial trucks. Riders have little protection when a collision occurs. The e-scooter injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. have seen first hand how devastating these accidents can be.
Unlike drivers inside a vehicle, e-scooter riders have:
- No airbags
- No seat belts
- No steel frame protection
- No protection from being thrown onto the pavement
When an accident occurs, the rider’s body absorbs the full force of the impact.
Teenagers Face Particular Risks
The recent deaths discussed in the Sun-Times article highlight the risks faced by younger riders. Although rental companies generally require riders to be adults or have parental consent, underage riders continue to use e-scooters throughout Chicago. A recent report found that minors accounted for approximately 13% of reported e-scooter injuries. (WBEZ)
Teenagers are particularly vulnerable because they may:
- Underestimate traffic dangers
- Ride without helmets
- Ride with friends on a single scooter
- Ride while distracted by phones or headphones
- Ride at night with limited visibility
- Fail to appreciate the blind spots of larger vehicles
Unfortunately, many teenage riders do not realize how quickly a routine ride can become life-threatening when traffic is involved.
Why E-Scooter Injuries Are Often More Severe
Medical professionals have reported that e-scooter injuries are often more serious than traditional bicycle injuries. Doctors are seeing traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, facial injuries, dental injuries, and severe orthopedic injuries associated with e-scooter crashes.
The reason is simple. E-scooter riders stand upright with a high center of gravity. A pothole, uneven pavement, curb, car door, or sudden maneuver can throw a rider headfirst onto the roadway.
Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Broken wrists and arms
- Broken legs and ankles
- Facial fractures
- Road rash and scarring
- Spinal injuries
- Internal injuries
The Danger of Busy Chicago Streets
One of the greatest risks facing e-scooter riders is operating alongside motor vehicles.
Chicago’s streets are crowded with:
- Passenger cars
- Delivery vehicles
- Rideshare vehicles
- CTA buses
- Commercial trucks
An e-scooter rider may be difficult for drivers to see, particularly when drivers are turning, backing up, changing lanes, or looking for pedestrians.
Many serious crashes occur when:
- A driver turns in front of a scooter rider
- A vehicle passes too closely
- A driver opens a car door into a rider’s path
- A rider is forced into traffic by a pothole or obstruction
- A distracted driver fails to yield
The most catastrophic cases often occur when a rider falls and is then struck or run over by a motor vehicle. Because e-scooter riders have virtually no protection, these collisions frequently result in life-altering injuries or death.
Why Hiring an Attorney Quickly Matters
After an e-scooter crash, evidence can disappear within days.
Many Chicago intersections, businesses, CTA buses, and private residences have surveillance cameras. However, video footage is often overwritten unless it is promptly preserved.
An experienced personal injury attorney can:
- Send preservation letters for video evidence
- Locate surveillance footage
- Interview witnesses
- Obtain police reports
- Investigate roadway defects
- Secure electronic data when available
- Work with accident reconstruction experts
- Handle insurance companies
- Prove liability and damages
The sooner an attorney becomes involved, the greater the chance of preserving critical evidence that may prove exactly how the crash occurred.
Injured in a Chicago E-Scooter Accident?
As e-scooter use continues to grow across Chicago, serious accidents are becoming more common. With more than 7 million scooter trips taken in 2025 and over 1 million trips already logged in 2026, the risk of injury remains significant. (Chicago Sun-Times)
If you or a loved one has been injured in an e-scooter accident, the personal injury lawyers at Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. can investigate the crash, preserve critical evidence, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. today for a free consultation.