Many Californians enjoy using electric scooters for transportation and recreational purposes. Unfortunately, these vehicles have been linked to serious injuries. There has been a remarkable increase in injuries to the point where a federal agency is issuing warnings to users.
Injuries and electric scooter use
Over the past few years, people have turned to alternative means of transportation, including electric scooters. These vehicles have increased in popularity due to their convenience and the ability to save money on gas. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released data about the dangers of using electric scooters. It revealed that in recent years, over 190,000 people visited hospital emergency rooms after having accidents while using these vehicles. Between 2017 and 2020, emergency room visits increased from around 34,000 to nearly 58,000.
According to the CPSC, most of the injuries victims sustained affected their heads and necks or upper and lower limbs. There were also 71 deaths linked to electric scooter use during that same time frame.
When people using electric scooters have accidents, three hazards are major factors. Those factors are electrical, mechanical and human error.
How to avoid injuries while using an electric scooter
Although it’s not always possible to predict whether or not your electric scooter will malfunction, you can do your part to avoid a crash and keep yourself safer. If you ride one of these vehicles, you should always use a helmet to avoid a potential head injury. Always thoroughly examine your electric scooter to see if it might have any damage. Carefully inspect the lights, bell, brakes, handlebars, tires and other components. If anything appears damaged, avoid using the scooter.
Of course, you should also know how to properly use an electric scooter. It might help you avoid an accident and serious injuries.