The increasing presence of e-scooters in Canada has raised concerns among medical professionals regarding a surge in injuries, particularly among younger individuals, as regulations struggle to keep up.
Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto and head of the injury prevention committee for the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS), noted a significant uptick in various injuries resulting from e-scooter accidents, ranging from minor cuts to severe brain trauma and fatalities. Previously rare, severe injuries have become more common, with an escalation in e-scooter-related cases at SickKids from 26 in 2023 to 107 in 2025, and a continued upward trend.
At the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Dr. Laurie Plotnick, leading the emergency trauma team, reported a tenfold increase in e-scooter injuries since 2023. Children have suffered severe facial injuries, broken jaws, and eye socket fractures without involvement from other vehicles, often resulting in critical brain injuries.
A CPS survey highlighted 10 deaths, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations lasting over two days due to e-scooter accidents within a year, with head injuries prevalent in about half of the cases. Most of these incidents involved individuals not wearing helmets, with the most severe injuries typically seen in boys aged 10 to 15.
A recent study in the Emergency Medicine Journal showcased a similar trend in the U.K., where e-scooter-related hospital cases surged from under 10 in 2019 to nearly 150 in 2024, with head injuries being among the most severe and a low helmet usage rate.
One case in London, Ontario, involved a 12-year-old boy named Shawn Dunkley, who sustained a fractured skull after hitting a raccoon while riding an e-scooter at 69 km/h. Despite a coma and critical condition, Shawn made a full recovery after extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation.
Experts emphasize the misleading perception of e-scooters as toys, highlighting the need for clearer regulations and increased public awareness to prevent further injuries, especially among youth who may be less familiar with road rules. Collaborative efforts between parents, authorities, and manufacturers are essential to ensure the safe integration of e-scooters into urban environments while prioritizing rider safety.