Had an E-Scooter Accident in Dubai? Here’s What to Do Next

Customer came in last week. Arm in a sling. Face scraped.

“Car hit me in JLT. I called the police. They said I’m at fault because I was riding outside the designated zone.”

“Insurance won’t pay. I have to pay for the car damage myself. 4,500 AED.”

He thought the car driver would be responsible. He was wrong.

E-scooter accidents in Dubai follow different rules than car accidents. If you don’t know what to do in the first 10 minutes, you’ll make expensive mistakes.

By the IonicRide team — we’ve seen dozens of accident cases. Most riders make the same mistakes: no police report, wrong zone, no documentation. This guide walks you through exactly what to do if you crash.

Table of Contents

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First 60 seconds: stop and assess

You crashed. Now what?

Don’t move yet.

First 60 seconds determines everything that happens next. Do this:

Immediate actions (first 60 seconds):

1. Check yourself for injuries — Can you stand? Any bleeding? Sharp pain anywhere?
2. Check others — If you hit someone, check if they’re injured
3. Turn on hazard lights (if it’s a car collision) — Alert other drivers
4. Move to safety if possible — If minor accident, move to side of road
5. Don’t ride away — Leaving = hit and run = criminal charge

If there’s serious injury (bleeding, broken bones, unconsciousness), call 999 immediately. Request ambulance.

If minor (scratches, small dents, no injury), move to the reporting process.

Common mistakes in the first 60 seconds:

• Riding away because “it’s just a scratch” — This makes you liable for hit and run
• Admitting fault (“Sorry, my fault”) — Police determine fault, not you
• Arguing with the other party — Save it for the police
• Not checking for injuries until later — Adrenaline hides pain

The insurance reality you need to understand NOW

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Here’s what no one tells you about e-scooter accidents in Dubai:

E-scooters have NO mandatory insurance in the UAE.

Cars? Required by law to have third-party insurance minimum.

E-scooters? Nothing.

This creates massive problems when accidents happen.

If you hit a car (and you’re at fault)

You pay for everything:

• Car damage repair costs (average: 3,000-8,000 AED for minor accidents)
• Your own medical bills
• Your scooter repair (no one else pays)
• Any fines issued (200-500 AED)

The car driver’s insurance won’t cover you. You have no insurance to cover the car.

You pay out of pocket. All of it.

If a car hits you (and car is at fault)

The car driver’s insurance covers:

• Your medical bills
• Compensation for injuries
• Your scooter damage (if comprehensive insurance)

But this only works if:

1. You were riding legally (in designated zone, with permit, following rules)
2. Police report says car driver is at fault
3. You have proper documentation

How to report the accident (step-by-step)

In Dubai, every accident must be reported. Even minor ones.

No police report = No insurance claim = You can’t get repairs done.

Here’s the exact process:

Option 1: Call Dubai Police (999)

Use this for:

• Any injuries
• Serious damage
• Other party is aggressive or refusing to cooperate
• You’re unsure who’s at fault

Report arrives within 24 hours by email or SMS.

Option 2: Dubai Police App (for minor accidents only)

Use this if:

• No injuries
• Minor damage only
• Both parties agree on what happened

App cost: 200-520 AED depending on accident type

Time: 3-5 minutes to file

What you need to have ready

Police (or app) will ask for:

If you don’t have permit, you’ll get fined for that too (200 AED) on top of the accident.

Critical: take photos immediately

Before anything gets moved, take photos. This is evidence.

Take:

• Wide shot showing both vehicles/scooter and surroundings
• Close-up of all damage on your scooter
• Close-up of all damage on other vehicle
• License plate of other vehicle
• Road conditions (wet, dry, potholes)
• Traffic signs nearby
• Your scooter’s position relative to designated zone (if relevant)

Take 15-20 photos minimum. You can’t take too many.

Exchange information (but don’t admit fault)

Get the other party’s:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Vehicle plate number
• Insurance company (if car)
• Insurance policy number (if car)

Give them yours:

• Name
• Phone number

Be polite. Be factual. Don’t assign blame. Let the police report determine fault.

Who’s actually at fault? (How police decide)

Police determine fault based on:

Common scenarios and who’s typically at fault

After the police report: next steps

You got the police report. Now what?

If you’re at fault (pink form)

You’re responsible for:

What to do:

1. Contact the other party’s insurance company
2. Provide police report
3. They’ll send car for assessment
4. You’ll get bill for repairs
5. Pay or negotiate payment plan

Average car repair for minor accidents: 3,000-8,000 AED

Major accidents: 10,000-25,000 AED

If other party is at fault (green form)

Their insurance should cover:

What to do:

1. Get other party’s insurance details from police report
2. Contact their insurance company
3. Submit claim with police report + photos + medical reports
4. Get scooter assessed for damage
5. Wait for claim approval (7-30 days typical)

If you were injured

Go to hospital immediately. Even if you feel fine.

Adrenaline hides injuries. Concussions, internal bleeding, fractures might not show symptoms for hours.

This documentation proves injury for insurance claims.

Your health insurance (if you have it) covers emergency treatment.

If other party is at fault, their car insurance should reimburse your medical costs.

Can you sue for compensation?

Yes. If you were injured and the other party was at fault.

You can file civil claim for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability (if applicable)

You’ll need:

• Police report showing other party at fault
• Medical reports proving injury
• Evidence of losses (pay stubs, medical bills)
• Lawyer (recommended for serious injuries)

What if the accident was with a pedestrian?

This is serious.

If you hit a pedestrian:

If pedestrian steps into your path suddenly (jaywalking), you might share fault.

But default assumption: rider should have been going slow enough to stop.

This is why designated zones exist. Mixing scooters with pedestrians = accidents.

The mistakes that make everything worse

Seen customers make these mistakes. All expensive:

1. Not reporting the accident

“It was just a scratch, we agreed to handle it ourselves.”

Then the car driver files police report 2 days later claiming you hit and ran.

Now you have no documentation of what actually happened. Police assume you’re guilty.

Always file report. Always.

2. Admitting fault at the scene

“Sorry, totally my fault, I’ll pay for everything.”

Later you realize you were actually in the right. Too late. You admitted fault.

Police report will reflect your admission. Can’t take it back.

3. Accepting cash settlement without documentation

Car driver offers you 1,000 AED cash “to forget about it.”

You take it. Later your scooter stops working (hidden damage from crash). Your shoulder still hurts (delayed injury).

You have no police report. No documentation. No recourse.

1,000 AED cash = giving up all legal rights.

4. Not checking if you were in designated zone

You think you’re in JLT (designated zone). Actually you crossed the boundary into neighboring area (not designated).

Police report: Violation of zone rules. You’re at fault regardless of circumstances.

Check zone boundaries on RTA map before riding. Know where the edges are.

5. Continuing to ride after crash

Scooter still works. Wheel wobbles a bit but you make it home.

Next day: wheel completely fails. You crash again. Now you’re injured.

After any crash, get the scooter inspected before riding again. Structural damage isn’t always visible.

How to protect yourself (before accidents happen)

Prevention is cheaper than paying for accidents.

One thing about rental scooters

If you’re on a rental (Tier, Lime, Arnab, Skurtt), the rental company has insurance.

But it only covers:

• Damage to third parties (if you hit someone/something)
• Liability for injuries you cause

It does NOT cover:

• Your own injuries
• Your medical costs
• Your lost wages

And the coverage only applies if you were riding legally.

Riding rental scooter outside designated zones = insurance void = you pay everything.

Bottom line on accidents

Accidents happen fast. Next steps happen faster.

First 10 minutes determine who pays, how much, and whether you face criminal charges.

Most accidents are preventable. Stay in designated zones. Wear your helmet. Follow traffic rules.

But if you crash, now you know what to do.