Scooter riders suffer broken bones, brain injuries, doctor says
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Devin Craig wound up in a hospital bed after he rented an electric scooter for a ride downtown.
Craig said he broke his knee, scraped his arm and chipped his tooth.
“It’s going to be a long road to recovery,” he said.
The Indianapolis man said a police officer warned him to stay off the sidewalks — which city ordinances require. So Craig took a Bird scooter to the street. He said he was riding down Maryland Street around 11 p.m. Sunday near Victory Field when he flipped forward.
“I’m not sure if I hit a pothole or an uneven surface in the road,” Craig said. “Maybe the sidewalks might be a better option versus the streets.”
But another Indianapolis man made headlines riding on the sidewalk last month, when a truck hit him and he suffered a brain injury.
Craig said he was treated by Franciscan Health. The health group said they’ve treated two scooter-related injuries over the past week and a half.
Dr. Nicholas Pettit with IU Health said the IU Health staff has treated broken bones and brain injuries related to scooter accidents.
“It’s actually really common,” Pettit said.
Pettit said he’s personally seen about five patients with scooter-related injuries over the past two months.
“Just like bicycle safety, we tell them to wear a helmet, but what we do sometimes doesn’t really impact what they do outside of here,” Pettit said.
Bird sent us a statement saying in part, “Bird is committed to partnering with cities to ensure that the community, and its visitors, safely embrace our affordable, environmentally friendly transportation option.”
The company said it sends helmets to riders who will pay for shipping.
Craig said he wasn’t wearing a helmet, but if he had been, he still would have been injured.
“If you’re watching this and you’re a city leader, please look into this,” he said during an on-camera interview. ” It hurts.”
Brandi Pahl, spokesperson for the city’s Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, said the city is keeping a close eye on scooter companies and riders’ behavior and city leaders are meeting regularly “to discuss possible future regulations.”
“ Indianapolis is a city that embraces innovative forms of transportation, but we must also ensure the safety of our residents, neighborhoods and visitors. We would encourage anyone using a scooter to learn and follow the rules to keep themselves safe, as well as everyone around them,” Pahl said.
Pahl said scooter riders are encouraged to wear a helmet, wear bright colors and obey traffic laws. The city is also encouraging drivers to be aware of riders and allow them extra space.