The popularity of e-scooters in Canada is on the rise, leading to an increase in injuries, particularly among young individuals, according to pediatricians, emergency physicians, and experts. Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids hospital in Toronto, and chair of the injury prevention committee for the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS), has witnessed a significant surge in e-scooter-related injuries, ranging from minor scrapes to severe brain injuries and fatalities.
In recent years, the number of e-scooter injury cases at SickKids has escalated, with cases rising from 26 in 2023 to 46 in 2024 and 107 in 2025. Dr. Rosenfield anticipates a further increase this year. Similarly, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, e-scooter injuries have multiplied by ten since 2023, with children sustaining severe facial injuries, broken jaws, and other serious trauma.
A recent CPS survey revealed alarming statistics, including 10 deaths, 12 ICU admissions, and 26 hospitalizations lasting more than two days over the previous 12 months due to e-scooter accidents. Head injuries were prevalent in approximately half of these cases, with the majority of individuals involved not wearing helmets.
The most severe injuries typically affect boys aged between 10 and 15 years old. A separate study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal highlighted a surge in e-scooter-related cases at hospitals in the UK, emphasizing the severity of head injuries and the low rate of helmet usage among those injured.
One poignant case in London, Ontario, involved a young boy named Shawn Dunkley, who sustained a fractured skull and was in a coma for over a week following an e-scooter accident. His mother, Crystal Dunkley, now advocates for helmet use among e-scooter riders, emphasizing the need for safety precautions.
Experts stress that e-scooters are not toys and can reach high speeds quickly, posing significant risks, especially to young, inexperienced riders. The lack of clear regulations and varying laws across provinces and territories contribute to the challenges in ensuring e-scooter safety. Public education, parental awareness, and stricter enforcement are deemed essential to address the escalating e-scooter injury trend while balancing the devices’ urban mobility benefits.