The increasing presence of e-scooters in Canada is leading to a surge in injuries, particularly among young individuals, as experts raise concerns about the lack of adequate regulations to address this issue.
Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto and chair of the Canadian Pediatric Society’s injury prevention committee, noted a significant uptick in e-scooter-related injuries, ranging from minor cuts to severe brain trauma and fatalities. In the past, severe injuries were rare occurrences, but now medical professionals are bracing for more severe cases whenever an e-scooter incident is reported.
At SickKids, e-scooter injury cases skyrocketed from 26 in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and 107 in 2025, with projections indicating a further increase this year, according to Rosenfield.
Similarly, Dr. Laurie Plotnick from the Montreal Children’s Hospital highlighted a tenfold rise in e-scooter injuries since 2023, emphasizing the prevalence of severe facial and brain injuries among children involved in e-scooter accidents.
A recent survey conducted by the Canadian Pediatric Society revealed concerning statistics, including 10 deaths, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations lasting over two days due to e-scooter crashes, with head injuries being a common occurrence in these cases. Most notably, the majority of individuals involved in these incidents were not wearing helmets.
The severity of injuries was particularly notable among boys aged 10 to 15 years old, underscoring the vulnerability of this demographic to e-scooter accidents.
These findings align with a study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal, which demonstrated a sharp increase in e-scooter-related hospital cases in the UK, emphasizing the prevalence of head injuries and the low rate of helmet usage among e-scooter riders.
One poignant case in London, Ont., illustrated the devastating impact of an e-scooter accident, where a 12-year-old boy sustained a fractured skull and spent over a week in a coma following a high-speed collision with a raccoon.
Experts emphasize the need for better regulation and enforcement to address the risks associated with e-scooter use, particularly among younger individuals who may be less aware of road safety rules. Clearer laws and increased public education are essential to mitigate the escalating trend of e-scooter injuries and ensure the safety of riders, especially children and teens.