This article was written by Rebecca Whitfield-Baker and originally published in the Sunday Mail.
No Insurance For E-Scooter Injuries
The nation’s hospitals are increasingly being filled with e-scooter riders and pedestrians suffering “every type of injury” – including serious head trauma to broken bones – who are unable to access insurance or compensation, a top legal organisation has warned.
The Australian Lawyers Alliance is so concerned at the situation that it wants a detailed
review of the insurance and regulation options for e-scooters.
“At present, some e-scooter riders are covered in relation to some accidents, but that cover page is an inconsistent patch work,” national president Shaun Marcus said.
“We need to ensure members of the public are not left without the ability to recoup compensation against an e-scooter rider because the e-scooter owner has no insurance, and while many riders are not aware that they may not be covered if they do have an accident.”
Nationally, reported injuries involving e-scooters include fractures, mainly to the head and the arms, brain bleeds and broken spines.
“E-scooters can, and do, cause significant injury, and there are reports of significant increases in e-scooter accidents in Australia in the last 12 months,” Mr Marcus said.
E-scooter Injuries On The Rise
“In Victoria, e-scooter injuries increased by 234 per cent within the past year, with 535 people and 500 people presenting to St Vincent’s Hospital and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, respectively, since January 2022 with e-scooter-related injuries.
There is an equal mix between rider and pedestrian.” Mr Marcus said that despite the growing popularity of e-scooters – on average, there are now more than 2,000 trips taken a day on the city’s e-scooters, according to information provided by Adelaide City Council – national legislative frameworks and insurance policies lagged.
He said there weren’t the protections needed to ensure those injured by an e-scooter or while riding one could receive fair compensation.
Mr Marcus said there were other countries – including the US, Norway and Germany – that Australia could look to for workable frameworks.
“They’ve got commercial products in place to ensure people have adequate insurance coverage,” he said.
Deputy Lord Mayor Phil Martin has long advocated for laws to better protect both riders and pedestrians.
“(E-scooters) are here to stay. We have to find a way to allow them to operate in such a way that they are safe, not only for the riders but for third parties, including pedestrians and motor vehicles,”
he said.
The state government is currently reviewing legislation relating to personal mobility devices with a consultation report expected to be publicly released before the end of the year.
