E-Scooter, E-Bike Injuries Cost Queensland $25M in Claims

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Queensland’s workers’ compensation claims for e-scooter and e-bike injuries have surpassed $25 million from 2020 to 2025, with most incidents occurring during work commutes.

Between mid-2020 and mid-2025, Queensland workers lodged 1,321 compensation claims for injuries involving e-scooters and e-bikes, totaling over $25.5 million, according to WorkCover Queensland, the state’s workers’ insurance agency, as reported by ABC News on July 31, 2025. The claims, primarily linked to accidents during commutes to and from work, have risen steadily, with 388 claims filed in the 12 months to June 2025, up from 107 in 2020–21. The majority of over 1,000 claims involved e-scooters, reflecting their growing popularity, with 3% of Queenslanders using them regularly, double the national average, per Main Lawyers. Costs include lost wages, medical expenses, rehabilitation, and lump-sum payments for permanent impairments, with annual claim costs escalating from $2.1 million in 2020–21 to $8.4 million in 2023–24, per WorkCover data.

The surge in claims highlights the economic burden of e-mobility devices, which lack mandatory insurance, complicating compensation processes. WorkCover’s no-fault scheme, governed by the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, allows claims for injuries during work-related travel, but the absence of Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance for e-scooters leaves gaps in coverage, as noted by Trilby Misso Lawyers. Dr. David Raftery of the Jamieson Trauma Institute told ABC News that e-scooter injuries, often upper limb fractures and head injuries, have risen 84% since 2021, with 1,273 hospital presentations in 2023. He attributed 25% of incidents to alcohol use and 10% to riders not wearing helmets.

The opposition has criticized the government’s oversight, arguing that lax regulations have fueled unsafe riding practices, per The Australian. Shadow Transport Minister John-Paul Langbroek called for stricter enforcement, citing Queensland’s unique allowance of e-scooters on footpaths at 25 km/h. In response, Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg announced a 2025 parliamentary inquiry to address safety, per Bicycle Network. Businesses face rising WorkCover premiums, with no premium increase for 2025–26, but the $4.4 million already paid in 2024–25 signals ongoing economic strain, per WorkCover Queensland. Enhanced safety measures could mitigate future costs.