Yann Gorbatov, who turned 13 this week, loves to test the limits of his electric bike. But a recent ride — down a tall stairway in his neighborhood — turned into a life-altering experience when he crashed. He sustained multiple serious injuries, including broken bones. Fortunately, though, Yann was wearing his helmet, which helped him to avoid a traumatic brain injury.
His story underscores a growing concern: the surge in injuries related to e-bikes and e-scooters, especially among children and teens. Dr. Beth Ebel, a pediatrician with UW Medicine, says many riders she sees aren’t wearing helmets. “(At Harborview Medical Center) we’ve seen increases of almost 36% from last year,” Ebel said. “And I would expect that we’re going to see higher numbers this year.”
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