Crime & Safety
UMass Memorial Doctors Warn Of Rise In E-Bike Injuries Among Kids
The hospital's emergency department is seeing three to five e-bike-related trauma cases each week, which is up from last year.
WORCESTER, MA — Physicians at UMass Memorial Medical Center are warning families about a sharp increase in serious e-bike and e-scooter injuries as summer begins.
The hospital’s emergency department is seeing three to five e-bike-related trauma cases each week, up from about one per week during the same period last year, according to Dr. Jonathan Green, a pediatric trauma surgeon at UMass Memorial Medical Center. One to two of those weekly cases require surgery, Green said.
“This is shaping up to be a significant public health concern,” said Dr. Errol Mortimer, an orthopedic surgeon at UMass Memorial Medical Center. “Without greater awareness and stronger safety practices, we expect these injuries to keep rising.”
Doctors said the injuries are often severe because e-bikes can reach speeds of 30 to 40 mph, increasing the force of crashes. The hospital has treated riders for brain bleeds and other traumatic head injuries, facial fractures and major orthopedic injuries such as femur and tibia fractures.
“These are not minor falls,” Green said. “Even with helmet use, we’re seeing significant injuries, particularly among children, where inexperience and speed are a dangerous combination.”
UMass Memorial physicians said several factors are driving the increase, including wider access to e-bikes among younger riders, limited awareness and enforcement of safety rules and a misconception that e-bikes carry the same risks as traditional bicycles.
The local increase mirrors national trends. A 2026 pediatric study found e-bike injuries among children have surged in recent years, becoming a leading cause of trauma visits in some children’s hospitals. The American College of Surgeons estimates more than 20,000 e-bike injuries occur each year in the U.S., including about 3,000 hospitalizations.
Federal data also shows micromobility-related injuries are rising, with sharp increases in emergency department visits, especially among children.
Doctors said parents should understand the speed and injury risks before allowing children to ride e-bikes or e-scooters, especially during the summer months, which are typically the peak season for pediatric injuries.
