ACC pays out $740,000 for e-scooter-related injuries in five months

Friday, 8 March 2019

In the five months Lime has operated in New Zealand, ACC has paid out more than $735,000 for 1486 incidents involving e-scooters.

The controversial e-scooters made their debut in Auckland and Christchurch in October, launched by a California-based company.

Lime e-scooters were then distributed in Hutt Valley in December, followed by Dunedin in January.

The Accident Compensation Corporation has paid out a total of $739,184 for all e-scooter related injuries, as of March 6, since Lime arrived in New Zealand.

E-scooter company Lime launched in New Zealand in October.

* Lime confirms e-scooter fault caused by software glitch

* Lime has one-day deadline to explain safety glitch to Auckland Council**

After media reports of the wheels locking up and throwing riders off some Lime scooters, Auckland Council ordered Lime's scooters off the streets on February 22.

Lime also removed its e-scooters from Dunedin at the same time.

After fixing the glitch and providing safety information to Auckland Council, the ban was lifted and Lime e-scooters returned on March 7.

Lime e-scooters were back on Auckland's streets on March 7.

From February 24 until March 6, when Lime scooters were off Auckland and Dunedin streets, ACC data shows there were just 28 e-scooter related claims throughout the country.

The week of February 17 saw 73 claims made and a further 108 the week before.

Chris St Bruno fractured his clavicle in two places after falling off a Lime e-scooter which glitched and sent him flying in November.

The largest number of claims, for any week since mid-October, was 113 the week beginning February 3.

E-scooter-related claims were most prominent in Auckland, with a total of 742. ACC has paid out $466,883 as a result.

Christchurch followed with 420 claims totalling $162,702.

Dunedin, Hutt Valley, and the rest of the country had 324 claims costing ACC $109,599.

The large majority of claims - 1298 - said the injury was caused by a loss of balance/personal control.

Lime's public affairs manager for New Zealand Lauren Mentjox said on Friday safety was a 'paramount importance'.

'Unfortunately, like all forms of transportation, there is a risk that we work to mitigate but cannot entirely eliminate,' she said.

'Data shows scooters are a safe form of transportation, comparable to or safer than bicycles. But there are risks even if they are very small.

'We therefore recommend riders to always put the safety of themselves and others before anything else when using any of our vehicles.'

Mentjox said while on the scooters, riders were responsible for obeying the road rules including wearing a helmet, following the speed limit and only having one person riding at a time.

WHEEL LOCKING CAUSES INJURY

Auckland's Chris St Bruno was thrown off a Lime e-scooter in November because of the glitch.

His 'excruciating' injuries required three days in hospital and 10 weeks off work.

The barista was on his first ever Lime trip on Dominion Rd near his house late November when he started noticing problems.

'The wheels locked a couple times very briefly … but I managed to stay on.'

But despite St Bruno trying to control the scooter, the glitch struck again, sending him flying through the air and onto a footpath.

'Then, half a kilometre from my friend's place it happened again but worse; the scooter stopped and I kept going.'

He landed on his right shoulder, breaking his collarbone in multiple places.

'I don't cry often but I did that day. It was excruciating,' he said.

He was taken to hospital and said the pain was so intense he was given intravenous morphine.

'My accident alone has cost the country thousands of dollars. Hospital stay, ACC payments and now physiotherapy.'