Germany’s Bundestag has passed a law that makes it easier for people hurt in e-scooter accidents to get compensation, extending to e-scooters the same strict liability rules that already apply to cars and other motor vehicles.
The change responds to a sharp rise in e-scooter accidents. Until now, victims often had to cover their own medical costs because e-scooters were exempted from the tougher liability rules that apply to other motor vehicles. “There is simply no reason to treat the rental of e-scooters differently under liability law than the rental of cars,” said Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD). “Anyone who makes money renting out e-scooters must also take responsibility for the damage their vehicles cause,” she said.
The law introduces no-fault liability for e-scooter fleet operators, known as Halterhaftung (registered-keeper liability). This means the company that owns a rental fleet must cover accident costs whenever the person actually responsible for the accident cannot be identified or held liable.
The rules also change how accidents with parked e-scooters are handled. People injured by a parked scooter no longer have to prove that the last rider left it incorrectly parked.
Why this is happening
E-scooters have been allowed on German public roads since summer 2019, and accidents involving them have risen sharply since then, according to the federal government. In 2024, there were around 12,500 accidents involving e-scooters, and in more than 7,900 of those cases the e-scooter rider was at fault, the Transport Ministry reported. The number of e-scooter accidents has doubled since 2021.
What this means for you: If you rent e-scooters regularly, or if you’re a pedestrian or cyclist who could be hit by one, this change is meant to make it easier to get your costs covered after an accident, especially if the rider can’t be tracked down. It also removes the burden of proving a scooter was parked carelessly if you trip over one on the pavement.