Tort Law — Light Electric Vehicles
Electric Scooter Accidents in Israel
Liability and Claims
Injured by or on an electric scooter? Adv. Liron Elmaliach explains who is liable — the rental company, the rider, or the municipality — and how to pursue your claim under Israeli law.
Who Is Liable in an Electric Scooter Accident
Electric scooter accidents in Israel can involve multiple potential defendants, each governed by a different legal framework. Unlike car accidents — which fall under the Road Accident Victims Compensation Law and its automatic no-fault regime — scooter accidents are adjudicated under general tort law, meaning fault must be actively proved.
The scooter rider may be liable if they rode negligently — at excessive speed, on a pedestrian pavement where prohibited, without a helmet, or while distracted. Riders owe a duty of care to other road users and pedestrians, and breach of that duty can give rise to a full negligence claim.
The rental company (Bird, Lime, Wind, and others) may be liable for maintenance defects — faulty brakes, a broken handlebar stem, a defective battery, or inadequate safety warnings. Rental companies owe a duty to inspect and maintain their fleet, and failure to do so can ground both a negligence claim and a product liability claim under Israeli law.
The municipality may bear responsibility if the accident was caused or contributed to by a defective pavement, an unmarked hazard, a damaged cycle lane, or inadequate signage. Local authorities have a statutory duty to maintain public infrastructure in a safe condition.
A motor vehicle driver who collides with a scooter rider may be liable both under the Road Accident Victims Compensation Law (which covers the motor vehicle side) and in negligence. In these mixed accidents, the scooter rider may be entitled to claim from the car driver's compulsory insurance (bituach chova) as well as in tort.
What Victims Can Claim and How
Because the Road Accident Victims Compensation Law does not apply to electric scooters (classified as light electric vehicles, not motor vehicles), there is no automatic right to compensation. Victims must bring a claim in negligence under the Torts Ordinance, proving that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached it, and that the breach caused the injury. Damages can include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and future care costs.
Evidence to gather immediately: photographs of the accident scene and the scooter (especially any visible defects), the scooter's serial number and QR code (to identify the rental company), witness contact details, CCTV footage requests from nearby businesses, and a contemporaneous police report (Form 17). Medical records documenting injuries should be collected from the outset.
Claiming against the rental company's insurance: Rental companies operating in Israel are required to carry commercial liability insurance. Once the rental company is identified (via the scooter's QR code or app), a formal demand can be submitted to their insurer. An attorney experienced in tort claims will know which insurer covers each company and how to submit an effective claim.
Helmet requirement and contributory negligence: Israeli regulations require electric scooter riders to wear an approved helmet. Riding without a helmet does not extinguish a claim but may reduce the damages awarded if the court finds that a helmet would have mitigated the injuries. The court apportions contributory negligence as a percentage reduction in the final award. An attorney can argue to minimise any such reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions — Electric Scooter Accidents in Israel
Answers to the most common questions about scooter accident liability and claims
Injured in an Electric Scooter Accident?
Free Initial Consultation — Adv. Liron Elmaliach
Tort law · Light electric vehicles · Rental company claims · Municipal liability