Emergency rooms across the Florida peninsula and down through the Keys are reporting a sharp rise in injuries from electric bikes and scooters, with teenagers making up a growing share of the cases.

Dr. Harold Gomez, an emergency physician at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, says he now treats multiple patients each week for serious injuries linked to e-bike and e-scooter accidents.

“We’re seeing everything from brain bleeds and spinal fractures to chest trauma and internal injuries,” Gomez said. “And most of these patients weren’t wearing helmets.”

While collisions with cars are less common, Gomez says they’re often the most devastating—sometimes fatal.

E-bikes have surged in popularity in recent years. A Harvard Health study shows annual U.S. sales jumped from 250,000 in 2018 to over a million by 2022, with many teens joining the trend.

Doctors are urging parents to be proactive about safety, especially encouraging consistent helmet use.

According to Gomez, the Brandon ER typically sees two to three e-bike injuries every week. A National Institutes of Health study found e-bike crashes are significantly more likely to cause internal injuries and require hospitalization than regular bicycle accidents.

Tragically, the risks became all too real for one Florida family this month. Fourteen-year-old Maddox Moore of Polk County was hit by a vehicle while riding his e-bike on Florida’s east coast. He wasn’t speeding, but he also wasn’t wearing a helmet. He underwent two brain surgeries and spent two weeks in intensive care before passing away.

“I don’t want his loss to be for nothing,” said his mother, Summer Barnes. “If even one person sees his story and makes a different choice, maybe we can save a life.”

Gomez advises riders to always wear a helmet, stay off sidewalks, and use bike lanes whenever possible. Florida law sets a minimum age of 16 for e-bike riders, though no license is required.

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