People usually discuss the risks to riders, but pedestrians also need protection. An e-scooter can injure pedestrians. Injuries can include broken bones, dislocations, and tendon tears in the shoulder from the initial impact.

Injuries from e-scooter use continue to rise, and e-scooter pedestrian accidents remain part of that risk. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that emergency room visits for e-scooter injuries reached 79,300 in 2024, according to its micromobility report. The report also noted 206 e-scooter-related deaths from 2017 to 2024. Upper limbs were among the most frequently injured body parts.

Pedestrians make up a small share of e-scooter injuries, but dense urban traffic may contribute to crashes involving them.

Narrow sidewalks and cycle tracks can leave pedestrians and cyclists with very little room. All through the day, they can end up only a few feet apart. Some of these close calls can cause very severe injuries, such as