Compensation linked to collisions involving e-scooters and e-bikes has now exceeded £110 million, according to new figures reported by the BBC. The total has more than doubled in a year, with much of the cost falling to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), which compensates victims injured by uninsured or untraced road users.

The victims deserve redress. That isn’t in question.

The bigger question is whether the UK is addressing the causes of these accidents—or simply preparing to absorb ever-growing compensation bills.

Who Really Pays?

The MIB is funded by the insurance industry, and those costs are ultimately reflected in motor insurance premiums paid by millions of responsible drivers.

As payouts rise, so too does the financial burden on motorists who have played no part in the accidents.

Without stronger regulation, today’s £110 million could become tomorrow’s much larger liability.

Regulation Hasn’t Kept Pace

The popularity of electric bikes and e-scooters has grown far faster than the rules governing them.

Privately owned e-scooters remain illegal on most public roads, yet they are widely used. Meanwhile, illegally modified e-bikes capable of motorcycle-like speeds are becoming increasingly common.

This regulatory gap leaves insurers, the courts and compensation schemes dealing with consequences that policymakers have failed to prevent.

A Familiar Pattern

The UK has seen similar cycles before. Genuine legal problems attract increasing numbers of claims, claimant firms expand into the market, costs escalate, and policymakers eventually intervene.

No one is suggesting e-scooter litigation has reached that stage.

But the pace of growth should encourage a more serious discussion about prevention before another area of personal injury law becomes significantly more expensive for everyone.

Prevention Should Come First

Compensation is essential when someone is injured through another person’s negligence.

But compensation should not become a substitute for effective regulation.

Clearer rules, tougher enforcement against illegal vehicles, and appropriate insurance requirements would do far more to reduce injuries than relying on compensation after the event.

Focus On Regulation

The £110 million figure should be a warning, not just a statistic.

Britain needs to focus on reducing accidents rather than simply expanding the mechanisms for paying for them. If regulation continues to lag behind technology, consumers will ultimately bear the cost through higher insurance premiums and an ever-growing compensation bill.