Scooter Injuries: A Review of the Literature
People are riding scooters around town more than ever before. Many organizations have placed scooters in racks in the middle of cities that people can rent. These are convenient because you can get from place to place quickly in a large city without having to worry about the hassle of finding a place to park a car. Unfortunately, these are also a major area of traumatic injuries. Scooters have not been widely available until recently, however, some data is already being reported. This includes:
- One local hospital has already seen over a 150 percent spike in injuries due to scooters when compared to a year ago.
- A large percentage of injuries sustained while riding scooters involve the head and neck area.
- The Consumer Product and Safety Commision reported that the rates of scooter injuries are lower than those for skateboards and inline skates, however, the rate of scooter injuries is rising because of their popularity.
As scooter usage continues to increase, the injuries are going to become more common. Because of this, it is important for everyone to understand how these injuries occur and what can be done to prevent them.
Reasons Why: Scooter Accidents and Injuries
A review paper was recently published discussing accidents and injuries involving scooters. There are many reasons why people who ride scooters are at a greater risk of injury than those who ride in cars. Examples include:
- Scooters often do not have a designated lane, so they are ridden both on the sidewalk and in the road.
- They are significantly smaller than cars so drivers may not see them.
- People could be prone to losing their balance on a scooter, particularly if they are avoiding a pedestrian, and could swerve in front of a motor vehicle.
- There is no protection between the rider and the pavement, so people riding scooters are much more prone to suffering serious injuries in an accident.
Clearly, riding scooters carries some significant risks that everyone needs to keep in mind.
Scooters: The Types of Injuries
There are lots of injuries that people could suffer from a scooter accident. Some of the common examples include:
- Bone fractures, such as those of the arms and legs.
- Numerous cuts, scrapes, and lacerations.
- Skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries.
- Damage to the internal organs, particularly with chest and abdominal trauma.
Some of these injuries could even require surgery to correct. Because of this, it is vital for everyone to take steps to reduce their chances of suffering a serious injury while riding a scooter.
Preventing Injuries While Riding Scooters
There are several tips that everyone should follow to avoid accidents and injuries. Some of these include:
- You should always wear a helmet to protect against a possible traumatic brain injury.
- When riding at night, make sure to have a reflective device so that drivers can see you.
- Scooters should stay on the side of the road when possible.
- Drivers in vehicles should make sure to stay off of their cell phone while driving so that they can look out for people riding scooters.
Unfortunately, accidents still happen and people can suffer serious injuries.
Watch YouTube Video: Motorized Scooter Safety. The video below provides tips on scooters driving defenses to avoid serious injuries from accidents.
Contacting a Personal Injury Law Firm
When people sustain an injury while riding a scooter, this could place them in a hospital. Some of these injuries could even require surgery. This could lead to serious questions and concerns. Fortunately, there are places that people can turn to for help. Meeting with an experienced car accident injury lawyer in Sacramento is a good idea. A trained attorney has been through this before and knows how to help people during their time of need.
Sacramento Electric Scooter Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, an Electric Scooter Accident Lawyer in Sacramento. Scooters are everywhere now and everyone needs to watch out for them while driving. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
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Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/Scooter Injuries: A Review of the Literature.
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