E-mobility injuries, crypto cash, synced droughts and a stalled Raiders run game

Trauma cases and hospitalizations are growing as e-mobility devices gain popularity. Between 2017 and 2024, emergency departments nationwide treated an estimated 380,000 e-scooter-related injuries and 155,200 e-bike injuries.

So, what do these numbers tell us about the state's drivers and micromobility users?

For Dr. Deborah Kuhls, professor and acute care surgery chief at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, they are a stark reminder that these devices are new and that the traffic environment has not yet adapted to their presence.

Kuhls says this is a relatively new mode of transportation, and people do not need a driver's license to use these devices. As a result, she says, many riders don't really know the rules of the road. She says that in trauma centers, she sees breadwinners who can no longer work and children whose bright futures are now in question.

As for how officials can use the information to make the roads safer for everyone? Kuhls says policymakers need to enact laws such as restrictions on where and when people can ride, as well as helmet and minimum age requirements.

However, those steps may only go so far due to one simple fact: Most roads are designed primarily for cars.