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The total amount paid in compensation to individuals injured by e-scooters and e-bikes across the UK has surpassed £110 million, according to information obtained by the BBC. This figure comes just seven years after the first claim of this nature was made. The largest single payout reached £20 million, and such claims have contributed to increased insurance premiums for drivers, as insurers pass these costs on to policyholders.
One of those affected, who goes by the name Alison for privacy reasons, experienced serious injuries including a broken pelvis, wrist, and finger, along with cuts and bruises, after being struck by a privately owned e-scooter while crossing a road in Coventry last year. Alison hopes to receive compensation for the harm she sustained. She described the incident, recalling, “It was a lovely sunny day so we were all in a really good mood. Then the next thing I knew, it was just gravel and I was on the floor.” CCTV footage revealed that 47-year-old Trevor Chandler, who was riding his e-scooter, collided with Alison while she and a friend used a pedestrian crossing. After the collision, Chandler left the scene but was later arrested, jailed for 15 months, and his e-scooter was destroyed.
The Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB), the body responsible for handling claims such as Alison’s, calls for stronger regulation regarding the sale and use of these vehicles, even suggesting bans in certain cases. The rise in payouts for injuries caused by micromobility vehicles like e-scooters, e-bikes, mobility scooters, and e-unicycles—a category all legally defined as motor vehicles—is seen as a significant factor behind premium increases for ordinary motorists. While these vehicles have become more common on UK streets, concerns continue to grow over their safety implications, particularly in urban areas.
Legally, e-scooters are only permitted on public roads and pavements in areas where official trials are running, and even then, only those operated by authorised rental schemes are allowed. Privately owned e-scooters can be used solely on private property with permission from the landowner. Police regularly conduct enforcement operations resulting in the seizure and destruction of hundreds of privately owned e-scooters and modified e-bikes exceeding the legal speed limit of 15.5 mph. The MIB began paying claims related to e-scooters in 2019 and e-bikes in 2020. In 2025, compensation claims reached a record high of 168, with the most severe case involving a child who suffered devastating life-changing injuries and received £20 million in damages. Over the past year, the total compensation amount has more than doubled from £51 million to £110 million.
The MIB advocates for increased public education on the legal restrictions surrounding micromobility vehicles. It has supported some police forces financially to aid in enforcement efforts. During a national clampdown in Stoke-on-Trent, MIB representative Hayley Sutcliffe highlighted the far-reaching effects of the rising costs associated with claims, stating, “Whilst we will compensate victims of any injuries from e-scooters or electric motor bikes, everyone else has to pay for that. It has a huge impact on your law-abiding citizens as well.” PC Tom Cordell of Staffordshire Police, who frequently participates in these enforcement campaigns, acknowledged that while ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse, many riders are aware of the illegality of using these vehicles on public roads and pavements. He said, “I think the vast majority of people do know that they’re illegal. They’ve been around for a long, long time now. This isn’t something that’s new and just come out yesterday.”
The government has consistently maintained the current legal framework. However, earlier this year, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the BBC that the “genie was out of the bottle,” suggesting that new legislation governing micromobility devices could be introduced if parliamentary time allows
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