Springtime signifies the start of many things – warming weather, flowers blooming and family road trips to the beach for spring break. While there is much to enjoy, there are several risks to bear in mind while you engage in your spring break activities to help keep everyone safe and spirits high. 

April Showers Bring More… E-bike Accidents?

Rising in popularity over the last few years, electric bike and scooter rentals have been a great addition for sightseeing and being active outdoors. Since their big introduction in 2017, e-scooter apps like Bird and Lime scooters reached over 80,000 weekly downloads during spring and summer last year. Similarly, the pandemic encouraged bike sales while people were  at home, leading to a 145% increase in e-bike owners from 2019 to 2020. This means nearly half a million people began enjoying the eco-friendly approach of riding under sunny skies and pedaling with electric ease. 

However, there is a downside to having roads and sidewalks filled with novice e-transport riders. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, emergency room visits  due to these “micro-mobility” devices have increased since 2017, totaling 190,000 incidents and claiming the lives of 71 individuals. For e-scooters specifically, the number of hospital-grade injuries tripled during those four years.  

Reports of breaking issues with scooters and fire hazards with hoverboards pose risks for users. These products have proven to be dangerous for riders and pedestrians alike, from collisions leading to broken bones, lacerations or even fatalities.  

Be Sure to Check Your Insurance Policy

The next time you set out on an e-bike ride or rent e-scooters with your family, it is important to know that most of these accidents are not covered by most insurance policies. These considerations should also be made for recreational vehicles, personal watercrafts such as jet skis or boats, or any other rental that may not be covered with your current insurance policy. Especially as an owner of one of these products, it may be worthwhile to consider investing in specific policies to avoid high costs in the case of an accident.  

While you are traveling and renting for recreation, verifying you are protected from these specific exposures could be a benefit in the long run. An excess liability (umbrella) coverage can provide an additional layer of protection against unexpected life events, such as an injury from an e-bike or a rented watercraft through increased limits. This broadened liability coverage can help if an accident occurs which  could put you at serious financial risk.  

Have questions or concerns? Contact Brown & Brown’s Personal Lines team for more information.

Personal Lines Team