E-scooters have hit the streets of Wellington this week, and the Accident Compensation Corportation (ACC) has released its latest figures on e-scooter related claims as well as advising Kiwis on how they can avoid becoming a statistic.
According to ACC data, the state insurer received 2,432 injury claims for e-scooter related injuries costing a total of $1,458,133 between the launch of rentable e-scooters in October 2018 to May 2019.
The state insurer’s stats shows an overall decrease in injuries throughout winter, but ACC expects injury rates to rise again in spring. It noted that data doesn’t reflect actual accidents because not all accidents on e-scooters will result in an injury or a claim made to ACC.
The report suggests knee, hand/wrist and upper and lower arm were the top three injuries by body part, with 332, 261 and 258 total claims respectively. The age group with the most injuries were 20- to 24-year-olds with 516 claims, followed by 25- to 29-year-olds with 440 claims. Meanwhile, claims for males and females were a relatively even split, with 1,226 claims from males and 1,206 claims from females.
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Despite the increase in injuries from e-scooters since the launch of the service, ACC said claims remain low in number and cost compared to other micro modes of transport. This includes push scooters which have recorded 8,131 claims nationwide since October 2018.
In Auckland, ACC said it received 22 e-scooter-related claims per week. Over the same period, it recorded 29 push scooter claims, 19 skateboard claims, and 73 cyclist claims.
“E-scooters are a convenient way to get from point A to B, and if you keep safety in mind then you’ll be more likely to stay T-side up,” ACC injury prevention head Isaac Carlson said. “Be a considerate rider by sharing the space, and ensure you’re putting your safety first by starting slow, and by wearing a helmet.”
Here are some tips, as outlined by ACC, that brokers can pass to clients on safe scooting:
