Las Vegas Hospitals Report Sharp Rise in E-Scooter and E-Bike Injuries

Local trauma centers are sounding alarms as serious injuries surge

The hum of Las Vegas is loud enough on an ordinary day, but lately another sound has been taking over: the alarms coming from local trauma centers as e-bike and e-scooter riders arrive in numbers no one expected. What started as a fun, convenient way to zip around town has quickly become a greater risk of scooter and bicycle accidents. Nowhere is that more evident than in the story of a 16-year-old who found his holiday break replaced with hospital hallways and head injuries after a crash he never saw coming.

The teen was riding near his home in Lake Havasu City when an SUV struck him. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. In an instant, his quick ride down the street turned into a flight to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, where doctors treated a cracked skull, a brain bleed, a broken collarbone, and damage to his hip. Despite the trauma, he stayed upbeat, and he shared one message he hopes other riders take seriously: wear a helmet and stay alert.

His mother, still rattled from the ordeal, said it was the kind of experience no parent prepares for. “We didn’t know what was going to happen at first,” she said. “I think our kids need more road safety education.” She’s hoping her son’s crash pushes other families to have those conversations before it’s too late.

How serious is the issue in Las Vegas?

This story isn't an isolated incident. Local hospitals are watching the numbers climb month after month. Sunrise Hospital reported over 170 e-scooter and e-bike injuries in 2025 as of mid-November, and they expect the year to close at well over 200. What’s more concerning is that about 75 percent of those riders were hurt badly enough to need hospitalization.

University Medical Center is seeing the same trend. Nearly 190 injured riders came through their trauma center in the first ten months of the year, up from 160 last year and just 97 the year before. That’s over a 400 percent increase in three years. Doctors say the injuries they’re treating are especially severe, with head trauma accounting for a large share of cases.

It isn’t only injuries that are raising red flags. From January through mid-November, eight riders were killed in crashes involving e-scooters or e-bikes. Most were teenagers or young adults. Among them were a 12-year-old and a 10-year-old, both struck while riding in Las Vegas neighborhoods.

In October, a 22-year-old died in Boulder City after being hit while riding a scooter. These aren’t numbers on a chart; they’re lives cut short, families grieving, and communities left searching for solutions.

Why are e-scooter and e-bike crashes rising so quickly?

There’s no single reason behind the surge. E-bikes and e-scooters have exploded in popularity, especially among younger riders. Here are some common reasons for these crashes:

• Many devices can reach speeds comparable to mopeds, yet require no training or licensing.
• Helmets are rarely worn.
• Some riders use earbuds or headphones, cutting off their ability to hear traffic.
• Others hop on small motorcycles without realizing they’re operating something that’s not legal on streets or sidewalks.

Police say enforcement is tricky. Riders can quickly veer down trails or side paths when officers try to stop them. Some devices fall into gray areas of the law, depending on their speed and features. When a rider is under 18, the problem becomes even more complicated.

How are lawmakers and the community responding?

Clark County approved new rules this year limiting e-device speeds to 15 mph and requiring helmets for minors. Boulder City went a step further, adding requirements for audible warnings so riders can alert pedestrians. But at the state level, lawmakers haven’t yet taken action.

Assemblyman Reuben D’Silva, who represents a district heavily affected by e-device crashes, said he hoped safety regulations would come up during the latest special session. They didn’t. Still, he believes the issue will remain a priority in future legislative discussions.

Sgt. John Glenn, with the Boulder City Police Department, said many kids simply don’t understand the risks. Helmets are worn incorrectly or not at all. Some ride powerful bikes that should never be used on sidewalks. Too often, the conversation about safety never happens at home. “Parents need to help,” Glenn said. “They need to make sure their kids have the right device and know how to use it safely.”

One parent is doing exactly that now. As her son begins his long recovery back in Arizona, she’s trying to turn their terrifying experience into something that helps others. “Turn off the headphones,” she said. “Know the laws. And buy your kid a helmet.”

Hurt in an e-scooter or e-bike accident? Get a Las Vegas attorney who knows how to fight back

An e-scooter or e-bike crash case can be overwhelming, especially when injuries are serious, and the insurance companies start pushing for quick, low settlements. If you or someone you love was injured in one of these accidents, you need a strong legal advocate fighting for you. Lasso Injury Law LLC has earned a strong reputation in Las Vegas for standing up for injured riders and making sure their voices are heard.

When you reach out to us, your consultation is completely free. We’ll listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your potential options moving forward. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, you won’t owe us anything upfront, and we only get paid if we win your case. That means you can focus on healing while our legal team handles the insurance companies, investigates what happened, and fights for the compensation you deserve.

Don’t give the insurance company the upper hand. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and get the support of a team that knows how to win for injured riders. One conversation could be the turning point in your recovery.

“Seriously, I have to give it up to Al & Christine. Day in & day out, they worked around the clock to make sure my case was handled properly. They performed beyond my expectations & God forbid I'm ever injured again, but if it happens, I'm calling Al!” – G.P., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐