E-bikes and e-scooters: High speeds can lead to life-changing injuries
Salem Health is sounding the alarm: More and more patients are landing in the emergency room after crashing electric bikes and scooters.
Sarah Daniels, RN, Salem Hospital trauma program manager, says the seriousness of these crashes is concerning.
“More than one-third of patients entered into the Salem Hospital trauma system following an e-bike or e-scooter crash have required hospital admission or transfer to a higher level of care because of the severity of their injuries,” she said. “Many involve serious trauma that requires extensive medical treatment.”
Why? On city streets, e-bikes and e-scooters can travel at speeds rivaling cars, but with nowhere near the safety features.
Daniels said the typical speed at the time of the accident averages about 25 miles per hour. “At those speeds, a crash can generate tremendous forces, particularly when the rider strikes a vehicle, the ground, a curb or another fixed object,” she said.
E-bike and e-scooter injuries
Elizabeth Windell, DO, is the trauma medical director at Salem Hospital. Dr. Windell said the injuries she treats after these accidents are more like those seen in motorcycle crashes than crashes involving non-electric bikes and scooters.
Common injuries include skull fractures, traumatic brain injuries, broken arms and legs, and liver lacerations.
“Many riders are thrown from the vehicle, collide with objects or are struck by motor vehicles, resulting in multiple injuries at the same time,” said Dr. Windell.
Dr. Windell said treatment can include surgery, intensive care monitoring and physical therapy as patients work towards recovery.
“Recovery can range from a few days for minor injuries to months of rehabilitation for patients with significant fractures, head injuries or internal organ damage,” she said. “Some injuries can result in long-term complications or permanent disability.”
Impacts across all ages
Especially concerning is how many of these injuries occur among young people.
Since January 2026, approximately 30% of trauma patients at Salem Hospital who were involved in e-bike and e-scooter crashes were children under 16, with some as young as 11 years old.
“We frequently see crashes involving younger riders who may have limited experience operating motorized vehicles, especially in traffic, at night or when moving between sidewalks and roadways,” said Daniels. “However, adults are not immune to serious injury. Higher riding speeds, commuting in traffic and increased exposure time on the road can contribute to significant injuries among adult riders as well.”
Most patients treated for these injuries were not wearing a helmet or other protective gear.
“We have also found that some riders who were wearing helmets were not using helmets designed for the speeds and risks associated with e-bikes and e-scooters,” said Daniels.
Safety devices and the law
Oregon law requires helmets for bicycle riders under 16, but not all helmets provide the same level of protection.
“From a trauma perspective, we want people to recognize that the speeds can be much higher than a traditional bicycle, and the consequences of a crash can be much more serious,” said Daniels. “Regardless of the minimum legal requirement, from a medical standpoint, our recommendation is simple: Wear a properly fitted helmet every time you ride.”
Salem Health puts safer riding in reach
Salem Health’s Community Health Education Center brings helmet safety education to schools and community groups. At these events, CHEC staff talk about how to prevent traumatic brain injuries and concussions through helmet use.
Health educator Erin Clubb said her team has distributed more than 1,100 free helmets to the community in the first half of 2026. They’re also working to educate the public that a typical helmet is not the right level of protection for an e-bike or e-scooter.
“The end goal is to have the best standard of education material for the public so best practices are clear for parents to prevent traumatic brain injury,” said Clubb.
Clubb said the CHEC is also working with the Oregon Department of Transportation to update education materials to include standards for helmets for different devices.
“For e-bikes, helmets are required, but they don’t specify the grade of helmet needed for that device,” she said.
For e-bike and e-scooter users, the Salem Hospital Emergency Department team recommends wearing a properly fitted helmet that’s appropriate for the device, knowing the top speed of the device and following traffic laws.
“Be visible, don't ride impaired, and make sure younger riders have the maturity and training to operate these devices safely,” said Daniels. “A few seconds of preparation can make an enormous difference when something goes wrong.”