The federal cabinet approved a draft law that will tighten liability for accidents involving electric scooters. The Justice Ministry said the changes will make it easier for victims to obtain compensation by introducing a strict‑liability regime that holds scooter owners responsible regardless of fault. For scooter drivers, the new rules impose a presumed negligence liability that can be rebutted only if the driver can prove otherwise.
Accident numbers have risen sharply. In 2020, fewer than 6,000 people were involved in scooter‑related incidents, while the figure in 2024 already exceeds 12,000. The number of third‑party injuries has similarly climbed. The law extends these liability provisions to other small electric vehicles such as Segways, but explicitly excludes commercial vehicles used in construction and agriculture.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) highlighted that e‑scooters from sharing services are particularly prone to accidents. “We cannot allow victims to be left out of pocket simply because the driver has vanished” she said. “There is no reason to treat e‑scooters differently from cars; rental cars already carry this responsibility”.