The number of accidents suffered by drivers of electric scooters increased by 39%
The number of accidents suffered by drivers of electric scooters increased by 39%
Doctors raised alarm about high injury rate among drivers of electric scooters when falling from it while driving fast, which is acknowledged by the information at the insurer’s disposal. BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS (hereinafter – BTA) this spring received by 39% more insurance claims for accidents, suffered by drivers of electric scooters, than in March, April and May last year.
As long as the total number of insurance claims submitted to BTA for accidents that occurred this spring remain at the same level as the year before, injuries from electric scooters occurred by 39% more often.
“As soon as spring break started when children had more free time, they often spend the warm days outside, while left unsupervised by grownups, they play daredevil. Including speedy driving of electric scooters, manoeuvring the sidewalks and performing various tricks. Misfortunately, such kind of fun is known to end up with a fall, a visit to a hospital and spending the rest of the summer with a plastered hand, scratched legs or bedrest due to a concussion. Therefore, I encourage parents to have a serious talk with their youngsters about the sense of responsibility when driving an electric scooter and enforce wearing a helmet and other means of protection,” – BTA Insurance Claims Handling Department Kārlis Liepiņš encourages, adding that the parents themselves will benefit greatly from reconsidering their habits when driving an electric scooter. For instance, unreasonably speedy driving on sidewalks or driving together with kids.
At the beginning of June doctors of Children’s Clinical University Hospital reported that every day children are being admitted to the hospital, who are injured while driving an electric scooter. Moreover, Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopaedics spread the news that in May there was an increased number of injuries observed that occurred while driving an electric scooter or pedestrians suffered the injuries due to a collision with an electric scooter driver. As compared to May of last year, this year the number thereof increased by 30%. 3-4 patients are admitted to hospital daily and more than half of the injuries are severe ones, which require one or several surgeries to avert the consequences thereof. Most frequent injuries occur while driving rented electric scooters, while drivers lack driving experience and are sometimes intoxicated.
About BTA
BTA Baltic Insurance Company is one of the leading insurance companies in the Baltics, offering the broadest range of non-life insurance services in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. BTA employs more than 1,000 employees in the Baltics. The sole shareholder of BTA is Vienna Insurance Group AG (VIG), the leading insurance group both in Austria and in the entire Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. Around 50 insurance companies in 30 countries form a Group with a long-standing tradition, strong brands and close customer relations. The more than 25,000 employees in the VIG take care of the day-to-day needs of more than 22 million customers. VIG shares have been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since 1994. The VIG Group has an A+ rating with stable outlook by the internationally recognised rating agency Standard & Poor's. VIG cooperates closely with the Erste Group, the largest retail bank in Central and Eastern Europe.
Additional information:
Elīna Zvejniece
Marketing and Public Relations Department Director
BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS
e-mail elina.zvejniece@bta.lv
tel.: 66936074, mob. 29374827