Motorized scooters are two-wheeled vehicles powered by a motor engine, many of which are electric these days. These micro-mobility devices are gaining popularity due to their small size, low maintenance costs, and negligible environmental impact. However, the benefits of e-scooters can’t mask their dangers.
No fewer than 11 individuals have died in Georgia while using electric motorized scooters since 2018, and numerous others have been injured. Even riders in college towns like Kennesaw aren’t immune from these risks. These and other statistics can lead some to question how safe these handy conveyances actually are.
Motorized Scooter Accident Statistics
Unfortunately, there are no statistics available showing how many people are hurt or killed using motorized scooters in Kennesaw. However, available national statistics reveal that 233 people were killed in e-scooter crashes between 2017 and 2022. Additionally, the number of people injured in these types of wrecks increased by 21% between 2021 and 2022.
Children under 15 were the most likely age group to be hurt in e-scooter accidents. Between 2017 and 2022, this group represented 36% of all e-scooter injury victims. Black riders were also more likely to suffer personal injuries than any other ethnicity.
Most e-scooter injuries happen between May and October when the weather is warmer. December and January have the fewest e-scooter wrecks nationally.
Common Motor Scooter Injuries
Unlike car passengers, scooter riders are exposed and, therefore, more vulnerable in a crash. The upper limbs and torso are the most common areas injured in these accidents. However, riders can also sustain neck, head, and leg injuries. Fractures and abrasions are the most common types of injuries e-scooter riders experience.
Like bicyclists and motorcyclists, e-scooter riders are also at risk of concussions and traumatic brain injuries.
When you’re riding an e-scooter and get knocked to the ground, you could hit your head. Depending on the force of the impact, this could lead to memory loss, headaches, seizures, and other symptoms. Severe head injuries can even lead to permanent disabilities and limitations.
Staying Safe on a Motor Scooter in Kennesaw
Riders must recognize the risks involved while using any kind of motorized scooter in Kennesaw, which can be convenient for students and others to reach their destinations.
An e-scooter injury or fatal wreck can happen anywhere, even in a smaller town like Kennesaw.
To reduce their risk of being severely or fatally injured, e-scooter riders should always do the following:
- Wear a properly fitted and approved helmet when riding
- Wear highly visible or reflective clothing, especially in low-visibility conditions
- Ride on roads with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less
- Ride as far to the right of the road as is safe
- Obey all traffic signs and signals
If you have never ridden a motorized scooter before, consider learning how these vehicles handle by practicing in a safe area away from traffic before hitting the road.
Motor Scooters Aren’t Risk-Free Mobility Solutions
Despite offering several advantages over other forms of transportation, motorized scooters aren’t completely safe. Injuries and fatal accidents involving scooters occur every year, including in Georgia. Although fractures and bruises are the most common injuries, riders are at risk of more serious harm, like head and neck injuries.
While it’s impossible to eliminate the danger of motorized scooters entirely, riders can take steps to reduce their risk. Wearing a helmet, obeying traffic laws, and wearing highly visible clothing can make a potentially devastating scooter accident far less likely.
Contact the Kennesaw personal injury lawyers from Starks Byron, P.C. for Help Today
For more information, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Starks Byron, P.C. to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Kennesaw, GA today.
We proudly serve Cobb County and its surrounding areas:
Starks Byron, P.C.
1275 Shiloh Rd NW Ste 2710,
Kennesaw, GA 30144
(404) 795 5115
