Electric Scooter Accidents Are on the Rise
All around the country, people are taking to those rentable electric scooters that seem to be popping up in cities everywhere. In fact, the weather in Texas lends itself to this handy, economical, and environmentally friendly means of getting around. Unfortunately, however, trauma centers around the country are seeing an increase in ER visits precipitated by electric scooter accidents. If you have been injured in an electric scooter accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, consult with an experienced Central Texas personal injury attorney today.
A CDC Study
The Washington Post reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a reported uptick in injuries caused by electronic-scooter (e-scooter) accidents. This latest mode of transportation is becoming more and more prevalent across our nation’s cities. In fact, the CDC is working directly with the Austin Public Health Department to develop and evaluate a mechanism for analyzing trends in e-scooter accidents. This investigation is the first of its kind from the CDC, and it follows in the wake of widespread reporting regarding injuries, deaths, and e-scooter mechanical breakdowns and failures.
It Gets Worse
Dockless e-scooters blasted onto the transportation scene relatively recently, and they have already led to a new classification of ER injuries that includes fresh cases of broken noses, broken shoulders and wrists, and facial lacerations. The manager of Austin Public Health’s Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit, Jeff Taylor – who is working closely with the CDC – likens this unique outbreak of injuries to an outbreak of disease – except, in this case, the disease happens to be e-scooter injuries.
Preliminary Recommendations
The study has found that many preconceived notions about e-scooter accidents are simply incorrect. For instance, most such accidents do not necessarily involve other vehicles. Further, contrary to popular belief, most e-scooter accidents do not happen at night – instead they happen around the clock. As such, there are a variety of safety recommendations that are expected to be forthcoming:
Wear a helmet – head injuries are common, and only about 2 percent of riders wear helmets.
Do not ride in tandem – this not only increases distractions but also makes it more difficult to balance.
If you are wearing heels, switch into flats.
When it comes to e-scooters, it is a brave new world out there, but the prevailing evidence indicates that this modern form of transportation is probably not the safest way to get around on the streets of Central Texas.