The popularity of e-scooters is on the rise in Canada, but so are the number of injuries, particularly among younger individuals, according to 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), has witnessed a significant increase in various e-scooter-related injuries, ranging from minor cuts to severe brain trauma and fatalities.
Injuries from e-scooter accidents used to be rare occurrences, but now they have become more frequent, with cases at SickKids hospital escalating from 26 in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and 107 in 2025. Dr. Rosenfield anticipates a further increase in injuries this year.
At the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Dr. Laurie Plotnick has observed a tenfold rise in e-scooter injuries since 2023. These injuries often involve severe facial trauma, broken jaws, and fractures around the eyes, sometimes leading to critical brain injuries.
A recent survey conducted by the Canadian Pediatric Society revealed alarming statistics, including 10 deaths, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations over a 12-month period due to e-scooter accidents. Head injuries were prevalent in about half of these cases, with the majority of victims not wearing helmets.
The most severe injuries typically affect boys aged between 10 and 15 years old. A separate study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal corroborates these findings, showing a significant increase in e-scooter-related hospital cases in the UK.
One poignant example is the experience of Crystal Dunkley’s son, Shawn, who suffered a severe e-scooter accident in London, Ontario, resulting in a fractured skull and a coma. Shawn’s recovery journey serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with e-scooter use, especially when safety precautions are neglected.
Despite the growing concern over e-scooter injuries, regulations governing their use remain inadequate and inconsistent across provinces and territories in Canada. Lack of awareness about rules, especially among parents, further exacerbates the risks associated with e-scooter usage.
Efforts to enhance public education, enforce existing regulations, and promote helmet use are crucial in mitigating the escalating trend of e-scooter-related injuries. While advocating for safety measures, experts emphasize the potential benefits of e-scooters in urban settings and stress the importance of finding a balance between their utility and ensuring user safety.