Several weeks ago, the fast-growing electric scooter company, Lime, issued a statement that their scooters were breaking apart “when subject to repeated abuse.” Now, Lime is recalling scooters from every city worldwide, after users report them breaking in half under normal conditions.
This recall comes only weeks after Lime recalled several scooters for concerns over battery fires that may have contributed to two deaths and multiple other injuries.
Riders have found Lime scooters are now developing cracks in the baseboard and snapping in half around the front deck. Lime blames the manufacturer, Okai, for the malfunctions of this model of electric scooter. Lime has removed all Okai scooters from 70 cities worldwide but does not have an estimate for how many scooters were affected.
Lime says they will be replacing scooters with newer and more advanced models, but they do not anticipate any disruptions in service while they do so. However, riders should take caution on the new models, as electric scooter injuries are rising at alarming rates.
Some emergency rooms have seen over a 160 percent increase in the number of emergency room visits involving electric scooters compared to last year. Doctors report over 40 of electric scooter injuries were head and neck trauma. Most of their patients admitted to not wearing a helmet when the injury occurred.
Other common scooter injuries include fractures and sprains to the shoulders, elbows, wrists and ankles, as well as road rash and lacerations.
These injuries can be quite painful and may result in lifestyle changes, ongoing health problems, massive medical bills and emotional distress. As such, if you suffered an injury on an electric scooter, it is important to consult with a doctor immediately to address your injuries and attempt to minimize the long-term damage.