Electric scooters and associated injuries: forensic aspects

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Abstract

Examinations in relation to living persons and of corpses of persons injured in incidents involving ground wheeled vehicles remain one of the leading places in the practical activities of forensic medical experts. Over the past 3–5 years, the means of individual mobility have become increasingly widespread. The use of means of individual mobility naturally leads to an increase in road accidents.

To date, coverage of issues related to automobile, motorcycle, and even bicycle injuries is sufficient. However, no data on scooter trauma in the domestic forensic literature is limited, which cannot be said about the work of foreign authors.

This literature review provides some epidemiological data and information on the mechanism and type of damage in cases of injuries involving electric scooters. This kind of road incidents, including fatal ones, was statistically analyzed. Scooter trauma is characterized by its seasonality with an upward trend mainly in the warm months of the year (summer and early autumn). Young persons who directly control electric scooters are often injured. Falls in the predominant type of incident. The most “traumatic” parts are the head and limbs. Injuries are isolated in nature and can be both external (such as abrasions, bruises, and wounds) and internal (such as fractures). Visceral injuries in scooter injuries are extremely rare.

About the authors

Maxim S. Siedin

Moscow Regional Research and Clinical Institute; Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination of the Health Committee of the Kursk region

Author for correspondence.
Email: dablV1@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4724-4008
SPIN-code: 9188-2988

MD

Russian Federation, Moscow; Kursk

Semyon S. Plis

Moscow Regional Research and Clinical Institute

Email: SSPlis.work@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0232-0425
SPIN-code: 4347-1925

MD

Russian Federation, Moscow

Vladimir A. Klevno

Moscow Regional Research and Clinical Institute

Email: vladimir.klevno@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5693-4054
SPIN-code: 2015-6548

MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor

Russian Federation, Moscow

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