E-scooters and e-bikes have become very popular in recent times, with more and more people being injured riding them or being hit and injured by an e-scooter or e-bike.
After you’ve almost been hit by one or two, you might notice a trend, these e-scooters and e-bikes appear to be driven by teenagers and young adults. It’s not hard to see the appeal, these e-devices offer both low entry costs and convenience.
As of June 2025, one in five Queenslanders had ridden an e-scooter or e-bike, with nine out of ten active users reporting riding their device at least once per week.[1]
Along with the boom of e-scooter and e-bike popularity, so too is the rate of devastating collisions.
In practice, we are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of people who are seeking legal advice after falling from their e-device, colliding with objects or other pedestrians, or being struck by a vehicle whilst riding their e-device. Sadly, most of the people seeking advice have suffered life-altering injuries which is not only impacting their overall quality of life but also their ability to work or study.
In fact, the data supports this observation. When we look at admissions at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in South Brisbane between 2009 to 2024, we can see a significant increase in children presenting with serious e-device related injuries. Of the general population, it is reported that more than five people per day end up in emergency departments due to e-scooters.[2] Of these people, 39 per cent presented with various bone fractures and about 50 per cent presented with head and facial injuries.[3]
What is the current state of play?
As it currently stands, there are no uniform laws or regulations with respect to the use of e-devices in Australia. The use of e-devices can vary significantly depending on the state that you are in. For example, in Queensland it is legal to ride an e-device so long as you are at least 16 years of age (or 12 years of age and supervised by an adult) and wearing a helmet. You can ride on the path or road (bike lane or local street), however, it is important to keep in mind that there are specific speed limits that you must comply with and these limits change depending on whether you are riding on a path or road.
[1] RACQ submissions into the enquiry into e-mobility safety and use in Queensland (20 June 2025) pg.5.
[2] ABC News: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-11/queensland-e-scooter-injuries-escalate-hospital-data-shows/106329602
[3] Ibid.
What to do if you’re injured on an e-scooter or e-bike?
If you are injured on an e-scooter or e-bike you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Generally speaking, the person who is at-fault for the accident is responsible for paying your compensation.
It is important to make a note of whether the accident has occurred in a public or private space.
If you are injured in a private space, you may be entitled to make a claim under the property’s home and contents insurance. The critical word here is maybe. Your eligibility to make a claim would depend on whether the terms of the policy extends to coverage for e-scooter and e-bike accidents.
If, however, you are injured in a public space – for example, if you are hit by a car while travelling in the bike lane – you are potentially entitled to bring a claim under Queensland’s compulsory third party (CTP) scheme. If this is you, what should you do?
- Make a note of the car’s registration details, or better yet, take a photograph;
- Get the details of the at-fault driver;
- Keep details of any witnesses who may have seen your accident;
- Go to your hospital or GP as soon as possible and make sure to note all of your injuries (think from head to toe);
- Report the accident to your local police;
- Keep copies of any receipts for out of pocket expenses for your injuries;
- Make a note of any businesses or homes with security cameras that may have captured your accident;
- Most importantly, get legal advice.
There are very strict time limits which apply to injury claims arising from e-devices, so do not delay. Re out to the industry experts at East Coast Injury Lawyers to receive an obligation-free claim check.
