According to a recent report, the number of people injured using electric scooters has skyrocketed. Many New Jersey residents have probably seen individuals using these devices as a convenient way to commute in congested areas. Their popularity seems to have endured, despite safety concerns.
This report stated that the number of injuries caused by electric scooters in 2018 increased by more than three times the number reported in 2014, with the number exceeding 39,000 in 2018. The number of injuries nearly doubled from 2016 to 2017.
Likewise, the number of people who were injured seriously enough to require admission to a hospital spiked by 365%, with about 3,300 spending some time in a hospital. Among the various types of injuries, most victims reported broken bones; fractures made up 27% of all injuries reported. The study also found that one out of every three injuries involved trauma to the head, a figure which is much higher than the number of head injuries received by people riding bicycles.
Many experts found the relatively high number of head injuries troubling. After all, traumatic brain injuries and other head trauma can cause serious and long-term complications for victims. In particularly bad cases, a brain injury could prevent a victim from returning to work and the victim could require around-the-clock care.
In some cases, victims of electric scooter accidents may be able to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. If you have been injured in one of these accidents, you should contact an attorney to discuss the possibility of filing a lawsuit.
