Electric scooters are like riding traps. Doctors warn of dramatic accidents
Facial and limb injuries are common among patients after scooter accidents, warns maxillofacial surgeon from Gdańsk, Dr. Adam Michcik. After the tragic accident of a 13-year-old from Sierakowice and a serious incident involving two teenage girls in Lubomin, doctors are appealing for mandatory helmets. As they say, even a minor fall can result in permanent disability.
Electric scooters, although convenient, increasingly often end with a hospital visit. As Dr. Adam Michcik, a specialist in maxillofacial surgery from the University Clinical Center in Gdańsk, says, there are more and more patients with serious injuries.
- Small wheels that do not provide good stability while driving and usually weak brakes are a dangerous mix that contributes to numerous and serious accidents. Due to the spread of this means of transport, especially among children, we are seeing an increased number of patients with injuries to the facial part of the skull - said Dr. Adam Michcik.
The most common injuries? Fractures of the mandible, maxilla, eye sockets and other facial bones. These are often complex comminuted fractures requiring surgery.
- At best, these will be wounds to the soft tissues of the face, often leaving permanent scars - adds Dr. Adam Michcik.
Two weeks ago, a tragedy occurred in Sierakowice in Kashubia. A 13-year-old fell on his scooter and hit his head on the asphalt. Despite being hospitalized, he died a few days later.
Another serious accident occurred recently in the town of Lubomin, near Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki.
- Two teenage girls were riding a scooter. It was driven by a 16-year-old from Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki County, carrying an 18-year-old. At one point, under the viaduct, riding from the direction of Mazewo Włościańskie towards Jacków Włościański, the teenagers fell on the scooter onto the asphalt surface - describes Deputy Commissioner Joanna Wielocha, spokeswoman for the County Police Headquarters in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki.
The younger girl was airlifted to hospital with a severe facial fracture. Neither girl was wearing a helmet.
Although a helmet does not provide complete protection, doctors say it should be mandatory.
- It should also be noted that standard bicycle helmets only protect the cranium. Meanwhile, maxillary helmets that also protect the facial skeleton seem to be a safer alternative for scooter riders. Observing patients treated at the Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic of the Medical University of Gdańsk after such injuries, we notice a tendency for the extent of injuries to increase, which is probably due to the use of increasingly powerful engines and the scooters achieving higher and higher speeds - said the doctor.
The expert emphasizes that the cause of more serious injuries may be the increasing power of engines and the increasing speeds achieved by modern scooters. He does not use them himself and does not allow his children to do so.
According to the specialist, changes to the regulations are necessary. Today, many scooter users are children and teenagers. Meanwhile, it is they who, without proper protection, are most at risk of permanent injuries or even death.
Update: 30/06/2025 12:00
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