Electric scooters—commonly referred to as e-scooters—fall under California’s micromobility laws, a category that encompasses low-speed electric devices. The California Vehicle Code sets clear rules for riders. For instance, CVC §21235 outlines how scooters must be operated (no sidewalk riding, a helmet required for minors, and speed limits apply), while CVC §21221 extends many of the same obligations that apply to motor vehicles.
California Scooter Accident Trends
The growing popularity of electric scooters has brought a steady rise in serious injuries as riders share crowded streets and intersections with cars, cyclists, and pedestrians.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
- More than 40,000 e-scooter injuries were treated in emergency rooms nationwide in 2023
- Micromobility-related injuries (including scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards) have risen sharply since 2017 as these devices become more common in suburban and urban areas
A JAMA Network Open study reviewing hundreds of scooter injury cases found that:
- Fewer than 5% of riders were wearing helmets at the time of their crash
- The majority of patients suffered head, facial, or neck trauma, often requiring ongoing care or surgery
