CALL 24/7The Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre has issued an advisory after seeing a significant jump in e-scooter-related injuries among children and teens this year. Many of these injuries involve riders younger than the legal riding age.
Injuries More Than Double in a Single Year
According to Sarnia News Today, Children’s Hospital treated 58 e-scooter-related injuries between April and June this year, compared to roughly 22 during the same period last year. Dr. Sheena Belisle, a Paediatric Emergency Medicine Physician and Assistant Professor at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, said the hospital is seeing broken bones, significant cuts, facial injuries, and concussions, and that “many of these injuries involve children who are younger than the legal riding age.”
Dr. Belisle said her main concern is the potential for intracranial bleeds, “which can be life-threatening or life-altering,” and noted that even concussions can have long-term consequences, since children who’ve had one are at greater risk for future concussions and often need more time to return to their normal routines. She identified common contributing factors, including riding without a helmet, riding while distracted, and having more than one rider on a scooter at once.
Why Ontario’s Age and Helmet Rules Exist for E-Scooters
Ontario law sets specific requirements for who can legally ride an e-scooter and under what conditions, rules that exist directly because of the risks Dr. Belisle described.
The Legal Requirements Parents Should Know
A few rules apply across municipalities that have opted into Ontario’s e-scooter program:
- Minimum age of 16: Riders must be at least 16 years old to legally operate an e-scooter.
- Mandatory helmets under 18: Any rider under 18 is legally required to wear an approved bicycle helmet.
- One rider per scooter: E-scooters are designed and permitted for a single rider at a time.
- No sidewalk riding: E-scooters are generally restricted to roads, bike lanes, and designated paths, not sidewalks.
What It Means When a Child Under the Legal Age Is Injured
When a child younger than 16 is riding an e-scooter, whether it belongs to them, a friend, or was accessed through a shared rental program, questions about supervision, access, and responsibility can all become relevant to understanding what happened and who may share liability for the injury.
Legal Options When a Child Is Seriously Injured
An e-scooter injury involving a child raises some additional legal considerations that don’t apply in the same way to an adult rider.
Why a Parent or Guardian’s Role Matters
A minor cannot bring a legal claim on their own behalf, so a parent or guardian, acting as a litigation guardian, typically manages the claim until the child turns eighteen. Any settlement reached on a minor’s behalf generally requires court approval to ensure it’s fair.
Who Else Might Share Responsibility
Depending on how the injury happened, more than one party could potentially share responsibility, including a driver who struck the scooter, a rental company if the scooter was defective or improperly maintained, or a property owner if a hazard on the riding surface contributed to the crash.
How Ontario’s Limitation Period Works for Minors
Ontario’s standard two-year filing “clock” doesn’t start running while someone is a minor. A young person generally has until two years after turning eighteen to bring their own claim if one hasn’t already been started on their behalf. Starting the process earlier, while evidence is still available, remains worthwhile regardless of that extended timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions About e-Scooter Injuries
Here are answers to some of the questions parents often have after a child is seriously injured while riding an e-scooter.
Can we still pursue a claim if our child wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Not wearing a helmet doesn’t automatically prevent a claim, though it can factor into how compensation is calculated if the lack of a helmet contributed to the severity of the injury. A lawyer can help assess how this applies to a specific situation.
What if our child was riding an e-scooter they weren’t legally old enough to operate?
This can affect a claim, but it doesn’t necessarily rule one out, especially if another party’s actions or negligence contributed to the injury. A lawyer can help determine what options remain available.
Is a rental e-scooter company ever responsible for a child’s injury?
It’s possible, particularly if the scooter itself was defective, poorly maintained, or if the rental service failed to enforce its own age or safety requirements. A lawyer can help investigate whether this played a role.
Who manages a legal claim on behalf of an injured child?
A parent or guardian, acting as a litigation guardian, typically manages the claim until the child turns eighteen. Any settlement reached on the child’s behalf generally requires court approval.
How long do we have to look into a claim for our injured child?
Ontario’s two-year limitation period doesn’t begin running until the child turns eighteen, though starting the process sooner helps preserve evidence while it’s still available. It’s best to speak with a lawyer as early as possible.
Helping Families Understand Their Options After a Serious Injury
A child’s e-scooter injury can leave a family dealing with a difficult recovery and unfamiliar legal questions all at once. When you or your child get hurt due to negligence, you may have legal options.
Contact our Windsor-based law firm to speak with one of our personal injury lawyers today. Your initial consultation is completely free, and there are no upfront costs to pay. We only get paid if you do.
Call Greg Monforton & Partners today to see how we can help. (866) 320-4770
