In Canada, the prevalence of e-scooters is growing, leading to a surge in injuries among younger individuals, according to warnings from pediatricians, emergency physicians, and experts. Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto and chair of the injury prevention committee for the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS), noted a significant increase in e-scooter-related injuries, ranging from minor cuts to severe brain trauma and fatalities.
Previously rare, severe injuries from e-scooter accidents are now more frequent, with a notable spike in cases at SickKids hospital. Dr. Rosenfield reported that e-scooter injury cases at the hospital escalated from 26 in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and a staggering 107 in 2025, projecting an even higher number for the current year.
Similarly, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Dr. Laurie Plotnick highlighted a tenfold increase in e-scooter injuries since 2023, emphasizing severe facial and brain injuries among children involved in single e-scooter accidents. A recent survey conducted by the CPS revealed alarming statistics, including 10 deaths, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 extended hospitalizations as a result of e-scooter crashes, with head injuries prevalent in half of the cases.
The data aligns with a study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal, reflecting a rise in e-scooter cases and severe head injuries in UK hospitals. The study indicated a surge in e-scooter injuries from under 10 cases in 2019 to nearly 150 in 2024, with a striking lack of helmet usage among the injured.
The reality of these injuries hit home for Crystal Dunkley, whose son Shaun experienced a severe e-scooter crash, resulting in a fractured skull and a coma. After a lengthy recovery process, Shaun now advocates for helmet use among e-scooter riders to prevent similar incidents.
Pediatric specialists emphasize the non-toy nature of e-scooters, urging for clearer regulations and increased public awareness to mitigate risks, particularly among younger riders. The call for improved education, enforcement, and manufacturer responsibility echoes across medical professionals to address the growing e-scooter injury crisis.