Rental e-scooters and the law – what do I need to know about making a personal injury claim?

As the government extends the rental electric scooter trial until May 2028, it remains important to know what to do in the event of an accident as it may be possible to claim compensation.

According to Bristol City Council, electric scooters including rentals have been linked to about 100 serious road traffic incidents in the city in a year (2022).

And the Department for Transport says its national figures for 2023 show six people were killed in collisions involving e-scooters, 416 seriously injured and 965 slightly injured.

Why have the e-scooter trials been extended?

The primary reason is to collect data examining safety issues and to see what infrastructure works best going forward.

It is the fifth time the scheme has been extended since 2020. It will now be opened up to new towns and cities on the condition a ‘new feature’ – such as a focus on different speeds, terrain or integration with existing transport systems – is included in the trial.

It comes as concerns are raised about a disparity between police and hospital e-scooter accident data sets and the under reporting of casualties.

Margaret Winchcomb, Deputy Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said: “For all, it is essential that the methods for measuring their hazard to riders and danger to other road users are consistent and robust so that safety is adequately understood. The Government should make the most of the extension of the rental trials, until May 2026 (now extended to May 2028), to improve and widen the way injuries from e-scooter collisions are recorded.”

What is the law on e-scooter use?

It is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter on public roads, pavements and cycle lanes.

The only exception is using rental e-scooters, which are limited to 15.5 miles an hour, as part of a government-run e-scooter trial up and running in various locations across the country.

You must be 18 or over and have a full or provisional driving licence.

The trial in Bristol is now being operated by Dott (formerly TIER) after taking over from VOI in 2023.

Can I make a compensation claim for an e-scooter injury?

There are a number of scenarios in which you may be able to do this:

• If you are using an e-scooter and are injured because of another person or driver’s negligence.
• If you have been injured as a pedestrian by an e-scooter rented out under the government’s trials. The company involved should have insurance in place which makes pursuing a claim more straightforward.
• If the rental e-scooter you were using at the time of an incident was faulty or the issue was caused by something like a pothole on a poorly maintained road.
• If you have been injured by a privately-owned e-scooter. Even though it’s currently illegal to ride one of these on public roads, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau – which provides compensation for victims of accidents caused by uninsured and untraced drivers – may be able to help.

Should I get specialist legal advice after an e-scooter accident?

Yes, and it’s important to take prompt action as time limits for making a claim apply.

If you have been involved in an e-scooter collision, please contact Wards Solicitors’ Accident and Injury team.

Wards Solicitors is endorsed as a South West leading firm in the independent Legal 500 guide for 2025  with our Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Team highlighted as a recommended service area.

We are also Bristol Law Society’s Regional Law Firm of the Year.

Partner Helen Boyd, is a recommended Legal 500 solicitor, is highly experienced and is noted as a ‘vastly experienced and a first-rate lawyer’.

She has specialised in Accident and Injury law since qualifying in 1992 and has been a member of the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel since 2008.