Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Daniel Globe
How many electric scooter deaths per year occur in the United States? The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recorded 38 e-scooter-related fatalities in 2024 and 206 across 2017–2024. These are reported deaths, not a final count of every fatal incident. Understanding the annual figures, leading crash causes, and injury patterns helps you make safer riding decisions.
Quick Answer
The CPSC’s April 2026 report identifies 206 U.S. e-scooter-related deaths from 2017 through 2024, averaging about 26 reported deaths annually. It records 46 deaths in 2023 and 38 in 2024. Reporting for those years remains incomplete, so the totals may change. Motor vehicle collisions account for most reported fatalities.
Last checked: September 28, 2026. Key figures were verified against official sources.
How Many Electric Scooter Deaths Happen Each Year?
The number of reported U.S. e-scooter fatalities varies each year. The CPSC’s April 2026 micromobility report provides the following figures for standing electric scooters, including rental devices.
| Year | Reported e-scooter deaths | All micromobility deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 | 11 |
| 2019 | 25 | 31 |
| 2020 | 16 | 36 |
| 2021 | 40 | 83 |
| 2022 | 35 | 95 |
| 2023 | 46 | 137 |
| 2024 | 38 | 135 |
| Total | 206 | 533 |
Source: CPSC, April 2026 report, Table 1.1. Micromobility includes e-scooters, e-bikes, and self-balancing scooters.
The average of approximately 26 deaths per year describes the full eight-year period. It does not mean the same number of people die every year.
These figures are provisional. Death certificates and incident reports can arrive well after an event. CPSC specifically warns that reporting for 2023 and 2024 remains incomplete.
What the U.S. Death Data Shows
The data shows that electric scooters account for a substantial share of reported micromobility fatalities. In the April 2026 report, they represent 206 of 533 deaths, or approximately 39%, across 2017–2024.
An older CPSC report identified 111 e-scooter deaths among 233 micromobility deaths during 2017–2022. That was approximately 48% of the reported total at the time.
The older figure should not be treated as the final count for those years. The newer report revises the 2017–2022 totals to 122 e-scooter deaths and 261 deaths across all covered micromobility products.
How Many Electric Scooter Injuries Occur?
Fatalities represent only part of the safety problem. CPSC estimates that U.S. emergency departments treated approximately 380,000 e-scooter-related injuries during 2017–2024, including 79,300 in 2024.
The broader micromobility injury estimate is 698,500 emergency department visits across those eight years.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) cites a separate analysis of CPSC’s injury surveillance database that estimates 115,713 e-scooter injuries in 2024.
These estimates use different analyses and should not be presented as interchangeable official totals. The CPSC’s April 2026 report incorporates additional follow-up investigations to identify electric scooters among otherwise unspecified scooter injuries.
For context, the earlier CPSC report estimated approximately 360,800 emergency department visits involving all micromobility products during 2017–2022. Its scope included more than electric scooters.
How Common Are Scooter Deaths Per Ride?
A reliable nationwide death rate per ride cannot be calculated directly from these figures. The fatality records and available ridership statistics do not cover the same devices, populations, and time periods.
The National Association of City Transportation Officials’ 2023 ridership report recorded approximately 65 million shared e-scooter trips in the United States.
That figure covers shared scooter systems, not every privately owned scooter trip. Comparing it with all reported scooter deaths would therefore give a misleading risk estimate.
Why Electric Scooter Fatalities Have Increased
Reported scooter deaths rose substantially between 2017 and the early 2020s. However, the pattern is not a steady year-by-year increase: the provisional 2024 count is lower than the 2023 count.
Several factors help explain why scooter safety remains a concern.
- More exposure: Greater scooter use creates more opportunities for crashes, although national fatality counts alone cannot establish whether risk per trip has increased.
- Traffic conflicts: Scooters share streets and intersections with much larger vehicles.
- Road defects: Small wheels can catch on potholes, cracks, gravel, and uneven pavement.
- Limited protection: Riders have little physical protection during a collision or fall.
- Visibility problems: Small, quiet scooters can be difficult for drivers and pedestrians to notice.
- Unsafe behavior: Distraction, impairment, excessive speed, and unpredictable movements can contribute to crashes.
Injuries also vary by season. CPSC found that June through September accounted for the largest monthly shares of estimated e-scooter emergency department visits during 2017–2024.
The data supports safer street design, appropriate speed limits, rider education, and consistent traffic enforcement. It does not support blaming every crash on rider behavior alone.
Which Riders Face the Highest Risk?
Young adults and males account for substantial shares of recorded scooter injuries. Children also represent an important safety concern, particularly as electric scooters become more accessible.
However, the number of injuries within a group does not establish that group’s individual risk per trip. That calculation would require reliable ridership exposure data.
| Group | Finding | Data scope |
|---|---|---|
| Young adults aged 15–24 | 26% of estimated e-scooter injuries | CPSC, 2017–2024 |
| Children under 15 | 17,641 estimated injuries | AAOS-cited analysis, 2024 |
| Males | 65% of estimated e-scooter injuries | CPSC, 2017–2024 |
| All e-scooter fatalities | 206 reported deaths | CPSC, 2017–2024 |
| Helmet users | 18% of injured riders in the study | CPSC, 2024 special study |
The AAOS reports that injuries among children under 15 increased from 8,159 in 2023 to 17,641 in 2024 in the analysis it cites.
Its scooter injury prevention guidance also identifies cuts, sprains, wrist and elbow fractures, and head injuries as important concerns.
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What Does the Helmet Data Mean?
CPSC’s 2024 special study found that 18% of injured e-scooter riders were wearing helmets. This is not a nationwide measurement of helmet use among everyone who rides scooters.
The same study found that 37% of responses did not identify helmet use. Those cases should not automatically be treated as confirmed non-use.
Among the 206 reported e-scooter fatalities from 2017–2024, CPSC identified 162 male decedents, 28 female decedents, and 16 whose sex was unknown.
The fatality data also includes children, young adults, middle-aged adults, and older people. Serious scooter crashes are not confined to one age group.
What Causes Deadly Electric Scooter Crashes?
Motor vehicle collisions are the leading identified hazard associated with fatal e-scooter incidents. Loss of control, battery fires, pedestrian collisions, and other falls also contribute to the reported deaths.
CPSC’s April 2026 report gives the following breakdown for 2017–2024.
| Associated hazard | Reported deaths |
|---|---|
| Motor vehicle accidents | 140 |
| Control issues | 20 |
| Battery-related fires | 15 |
| Pedestrian accidents | 6 |
| Pavement-related incidents | 2 |
| Other identified hazards | 2 |
| Unspecified falls | 21 |
| Total | 206 |
The 140 motor vehicle fatalities include incidents involving cars, SUVs, buses, and trucks. The 20 control-related fatalities include crashes involving fixed objects, pavement, and curbs.
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Can Electric Scooters Kill Pedestrians?
Yes. A scooter collision can seriously injure or kill a pedestrian, even when the rider survives.
For example, a 77-year-old pedestrian died after being struck by an electric scooter at Market and Sixth streets in San Francisco on July 18, 2025. The incident was documented by Walk San Francisco.
That incident falls outside CPSC’s 2017–2024 reporting period and should not be added to the table above.
Can Scooter Batteries Cause Fatal Fires?
Yes. CPSC identified 15 deaths associated with 11 e-scooter lithium-ion battery fire incidents during 2017–2024.
These are battery-related incidents, not ordinary riding collisions. Safe charging and battery maintenance therefore deserve separate attention.
Warning: Never charge an electric scooter while sleeping or leave it charging unattended. Use the manufacturer-approved charger and battery. Stop using damaged, swollen, overheating, or otherwise abnormal batteries, and follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
How Can Riders Lower the Risk?
You cannot remove every danger from scooter riding, but you can reduce avoidable risks. Helmet use, suitable riding locations, regular equipment checks, and careful traffic behavior all matter.
The CPSC’s official micromobility safety guidance recommends the following precautions.
- Wear a properly fitting helmet. Use one appropriate for the activity. Knee and elbow protection can also help during falls.
- Inspect the scooter. Check tires, brakes, handlebars, throttle, lights, cables, and the folding mechanism before riding.
- Test the brakes. Learn how the scooter stops before entering traffic. Stopping distance varies between models.
- Follow traffic rules. Obey signals, speed limits, and local requirements for bike lanes, roads, and sidewalks.
- Watch the road surface. Scan ahead for potholes, loose gravel, curbs, wet pavement, and uneven surfaces.
- Control your speed. Slow down before turns, intersections, crowded areas, and places with limited visibility.
- Keep both hands on the handlebars. Avoid holding a phone, carrying loose items, or hanging bags from the handlebars.
- Stay visible. Use working lights and reflectors, especially when visibility is poor.
- Ride sober. Never operate an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Carry only one rider. Additional passengers can affect balance, braking, and control.
In CPSC’s 2024 special study, 20% of injured victims reported that visibility problems may have contributed to their accidents. Another 11% reported possible distraction, while 32% were carrying or holding something while riding.
These findings explain why visibility, attention, and keeping your hands free deserve practical attention.
Note: Seek prompt medical evaluation after a serious scooter crash, particularly if you hit your head or experience confusion, vomiting, severe pain, or difficulty walking. A healthcare professional can assess injuries that may not be immediately obvious.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Many People Have Been Killed on Electric Scooters?
CPSC recorded 206 e-scooter-related deaths in the United States during 2017–2024. Its April 2026 report identifies 38 deaths in 2024. These figures include reported incidents involving standing electric scooters, and the totals may increase as additional cases are reported.
What Are the Top 3 Accidental Deaths?
In the United States, the three leading categories of unintentional injury deaths in 2024 were poisoning, falls, and motor vehicle traffic accidents. CDC figures record 75,761 poisoning deaths, 48,308 fall deaths, and 41,241 motor vehicle traffic deaths. These figures cover all accidental injuries, not electric scooter incidents specifically.
Is It Safe for a 12-Year-Old to Ride an Electric Bike?
A 12-year-old should only ride an age-appropriate electric bike when local law and the manufacturer’s instructions permit it. The child must have the judgment, coordination, and ability to control the bike safely. A properly fitting helmet, adult supervision, and a suitable riding location are essential. Electric bike rules differ from electric scooter rules.
Can a 300-Lb Person Ride an Electric Scooter?
Yes, provided the scooter’s manufacturer-approved weight capacity safely accommodates the rider and anything carried. Never exceed the stated limit. Excess weight can affect handling, braking, and component durability. Check the owner’s manual and choose a model with an appropriate rated capacity.
Are Electric Scooters More Dangerous Than Electric Bikes?
The available fatality totals do not establish which device is more dangerous per trip. CPSC recorded 206 e-scooter deaths and 310 e-bike deaths during 2017–2024, but those counts do not account for how often or how far people ride each type of vehicle.
Do Electric Scooter Death Statistics Include Pedestrians and Battery Fires?
Yes. CPSC’s reported e-scooter fatalities include deaths associated with riding crashes, pedestrian collisions, and battery fires. During 2017–2024, its report identified six pedestrian fatalities and 15 deaths associated with scooter battery fires. The totals are not limited to riders killed in road collisions.
Conclusion
The number of reported electric scooter deaths varies by year, but the longer-term figures show why safety deserves attention. Motor vehicle collisions account for most recorded fatalities, while falls, control problems, and battery fires create additional risks.
Before your next ride, inspect the scooter, wear a helmet, choose a suitable route, and give yourself enough time to react to traffic and road hazards.
Sources
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, April 2026 Micromobility Report: Annual fatalities, injury estimates, demographic findings, and associated hazards.
- CPSC Micromobility Safety Information Center: Riding precautions, equipment inspections, and battery safety.
- NACTO Shared Micromobility Report 2023: Shared scooter ridership and transportation trends.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Scooter-Related Injury Prevention: Injury estimates, pediatric injury patterns, and safety advice.
- CDC, Accidents or Unintentional Injuries: U.S. accidental death statistics for poisoning, falls, and motor vehicle traffic incidents.
- Walk San Francisco, July 2025 Pedestrian Fatality Advisory: Documented pedestrian death involving an electric scooter.
