E-bike injury payouts top £110m and push up insurance premiums

The BBC has learned that the cost of damages paid to people injured by e-scooters and e-bikes in the UK has exceeded £110 million, just seven years after the first claim was made. The largest individual payout was £20 million for a child who suffered catastrophic life-changing injuries. Experts say these claims have contributed to rising insurance premiums for ordinary drivers, as the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB), which pays compensation for accidents involving uninsured vehicles, is funded by a levy on insurance companies. One victim, Alison (not her real name), suffered a broken pelvis, wrist, and finger when she was hit by a private e-scooter while crossing a road in Coventry. The rider, Trevor Chandler, was jailed for 15 months. In another case, 19-year-old Billy Stokoe was jailed for six years and nine months after killing 86-year-old Gloria Stephenson with his e-bike in Sunderland. The MIB is calling for better regulation of such vehicles, including potential bans, as the number of claims rose to 168 in 2025, the highest figure to date.