Escooter ACC claims rate increasing
AUCKLAND: There have been 285 public insurance claims for injuries caused by electric scooters since USbased Lime E Scooters launched in Auckland and Christchurch in October.
This included 171 Accident Compensation Corporation claims in Auckland between October 14 and November 25 and 102 in Christchurch — the two cities where Lime has launched its services.
Over the same period across the rest of New Zealand, there were just 12 claims for escooterrelated injuries.
The data also shows the rate of injuries has been accelerating.
In the first month after Lime’s launch — between October 14 and November 12 — there were nearly 150 injury claims. But since then almost as many claims have been made, with around 135 laid in the last 13 days.
The latest injury statistics come as Lime scooters continue to show up in unusual places.
Two have been found in Marlborough recently — one in Blenheim and one in Picton — despite the scooters only being officially available for use hundreds of kilometres away in Christchurch, media outlet Stuff reports.
Lime is also understood to be considering rolling out its scooters on Wellington’s streets.
Wellington City Council confirmed earlier this month several companies — including Lime — had approached the council about introducing electric scooters to the capital. — NZME