In 2025, Burgas University Hospital (UMBAL Burgas) treated 38 people for head injuries after falls from e-scooters. Thirteen of them had surgery and four were admitted to intensive care, the hospital said.
Neurosurgeons presented the figures at the 33rd National Conference on Neurosurgery. The study was written by Dr Svetoslav Todorov, Dr Stefan Shishkov and Dr Lyubomir Tomov of the hospital's neurosurgery department and the Faculty of Medicine at Prof. Dr Asen Zlatarov University in Burgas.
Of those hurt, 27 were children and young people under 18, and 11 were adults. Most were male. Almost 10% of all patients had life-threatening injuries.
One case was a 12-year-old boy who fell into a coma after an e-scooter accident. He had surgery, spent time in intensive care and is now recovering.
The typical injury is a blow to the head in a fall forward. The study blames the small wheels, instability on uneven ground and riding while standing upright. Possible results include brain contusions, bleeding in the brain and lasting problems with memory, focus and independent living.
Risk factors are high speed, no helmet and alcohol. Riders rarely wear helmets, and scientific data cited in the study says a helmet cuts the risk of severe brain injury by up to 60–70%.
By November 2025, Bulgaria recorded 560 road crashes involving personal electric vehicles. Four people died and 454 were injured. In the same period a year earlier there were 472 crashes, so the number rose by almost 19%, and 75 more people were hurt.
Besides helmets, the authors say riders need safe-riding training, responsible behaviour and safer roads.
Dr Svetoslav Todorov has urged more caution with e-scooters for years. He says the risk of serious brain injury should not be underestimated, especially when the rider is a child.