Key facts
- Germany is enacting legislation to make rental e-scooter operators liable for accidents.
- The law aims to simplify compensation for victims by holding companies responsible for damage caused by their vehicles.
- Riders will also be held liable for collisions they are presumed to have caused.
- The legislation specifically targets accidents caused by improperly parked e-scooters.
- E-scooter accidents in Germany have more than doubled since 2021, with nearly 12,000 casualties in 2024.
- Victims will be able to claim compensation directly from rental companies.
Germany is poised to pass legislation that will hold rental e-scooter operators liable for accidents, a move designed to make it easier for victims to receive compensation. The draft law, supported by consumer rights advocates, places rental companies on a similar legal footing to car owners regarding accident liability.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig stated that companies profiting from e-scooter rentals should bear responsibility for the damage they cause. The legislation also stipulates that riders will share liability for collisions where they are presumed to be at fault, aligning with existing rules for motorized vehicles. E-scooters have been legal on German roads since 2019, with a minimum age of 14.
The new policy specifically addresses incidents involving e-scooters that are improperly left on sidewalks and pavements, a persistent issue in German cities. Government figures indicate a significant increase in e-scooter-related accidents, with casualties more than doubling from 5,535 in 2021 to nearly 12,000 in 2024. In 2024, these accidents accounted for approximately 4% of all traffic accidents involving casualties, resulting in 27 deaths, primarily among riders, and over 11,400 minor injuries.
Insurance data suggests rental e-scooter users are often younger, less experienced, and more prone to riding on pavements. The number of non-riders injured by e-scooters rose to about 5,000 in 2023 from 1,150 in 2020. Under the current system, victims must prove rider fault, which is challenging due to difficulties in identifying riders. The new law allows victims to claim directly from rental companies, strengthening their rights.
However, the Shared Mobility lobbying group expressed concerns about potential fraudulent claims, arguing that damage could be attributed to providers regardless of fault, potentially leading to a surge in lawsuits. They noted that while identifying a rider involved in a collision is possible through rental data, accidents caused by errant parking are harder to trace.
A YouGov poll indicated that 67% of German voters favor the new liability rules. The government has also approved stricter safety regulations for e-scooters, set to take effect next year, including mandatory turn indicators and increased fines for carrying multiple passengers.