With booming e-bike popularity comes more accident danger. When you suffer injuries in an e-bike accident, you need a skilled California electric bike accident lawyer on your side to recover maximum compensation.
Statistics show that e-bike accidents are spiking, including electric bike fire accidents. Due to the high speeds that these gadgets can hit, a crash can be devastating. The injuries are likely far worse than those suffered in a bicycle accident.
Building Your Personal Injury Case
Following a scooter accident, it is critical to record all evidence with pictures, videos, and a police report. This proof is crucial for legal claims and pursuing damages.
No Win, No Fee Attorneys
There are no up-front costs since our accident lawyers operate on a contingency basis. We work hard to help our clients recover compensation while negotiating the complicated legal system.
We have decades of experience handling injury claims. We have a 99% success rate and have won more than $900 million for our clients.
If you suffered injuries on an e-bike or any accident involving an electric bike in California, our firm will fight for you. Call (800) 561-4887 now for a free consultation with top-rated bicycle accident attorneys.
California Electric Bike Accident Lawyers
How Long Will My Injury Claim Take?
The time it will take to settle your claim depends on several factors, including cooperation from medical providers, insurance companies, and defense teams.
You must also follow all your attorney’s instructions to help move your case along. Many personal injury claims are unsuccessful when the client doesn’t follow the lawyer’s advice, including continuing all medical treatments. A typical accident claim can take six months to a year to negotiate and settle.
Elements of a Personal Injury Case
Duty of care: The defendant must have owed the plaintiff a legal duty of care. This means they were required to act a certain way to prevent harm to others.
Breach of duty: The defendant breached this duty by acting or failing to act in a way that a reasonably prudent person would.
Causation: The breach of duty must have directly caused the plaintiff’s injury. This involves showing that the harm would not have occurred “but for” the defendant’s actions and that the actions were a proximate cause of the injury.
Damages: The plaintiff must have suffered actual damages, including medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and more, due to the injury.
Negligence is the core of your personal injury claim. Proving negligence determines your financial compensation.
What is an E-Bike or Electric Scooter?
Electric bikes (also known as E-bikes or scooters) are replacing traditional pedal-powered bicycles. They still have pedals but come with a rechargeable battery-powered electric motor that assists the rider.
The origins of the e-bike can be traced back more than 100 years. The first patent for a basic battery-powered bike came in 1895. Since then, the technology has massively advanced.
Sales started to take off in the U.S. in the late 1990s. But it is only in recent years that e-scooters have powered to the top of the transport charts. Everyone uses them in California, from commuters to schoolchildren.
Some cities have rentable e-bikes in docks as public transport, similar to electric scooters. Many people are also now buying their own bikes, with both high-end and budget options available. The price ranges from about $600 to $8,000.
But electric bikes are not without risks. This page explores everything you need to know about filing an e-bike accident lawsuit. If you have questions about your e-bike injury, call us today for a free consultation. Our California electric bike accident lawyers have recovered almost a billion dollars for our clients in California. Call 800-561-4887.
Causes of E-Bike Accidents
E-bike accidents are becoming more and more common. Insurance companies say they are the fastest-rising cause of injury claims in California.
But why are injuries related to e-bikes so common? The following are some of the top causes of accidents and injuries.
- E-bike manufacturing defects.
- Injuries caused by e-bike rental companies
- Inadequate safety gear
- Uneven or defective roads.
- Collisions between electric bikes and pedestrians.
- Impacts with other bikes and scooters on paths and sidewalks.
- Crashes with cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, and other vehicles on roadways.
- Explosions and fires caused by malfunctioning bicycle batteries.
- Hazardous conditions from a property owner.
The sheer speed of an e-bike can make a crash more likely than with a pedal bicycle. The higher speeds also make personal injury outcomes more likely.
Any accident could result from the negligence of the bike rider or the careless actions of those around them.
No matter how your injuries occurred, you need an experienced California e-bike accident attorney on your side to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Common Injuries from Electric Bicycle Incidents
The injured party in a bike accident could include e-bike riders, pedestrians, and others they might collide with.
The most common injuries in these types of accidents include:
- Cut and bruising.
- Broken bones.
- Head and neck injuries.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Wrongful death.
Some of these are catastrophic injuries that can greatly impact the victim’s life. When you or a loved one have suffered injuries, you should seek a personal injury attorney. Our electric bike accident lawyers will provide a free case evaluation and ensure you have the help and support you need.
Electric Bike Laws in California
An electric bicycle almost bridges the gap between a pedal cycle and a car or moped. They are more like motor vehicles than pedal cycles and, as such, require regulation. Most states have set laws to ensure riders operate e-bikes safely. For example, New York may have different regulations from California.
To start with, there are three classes of ebikes:
Class I: Pedal assist only. Max speed of 20 mph.
Class II: Electric motor powered with no pedaling necessary. Up to 20 mph.
Class III: Electrical power up to 28 mph – the max speed for an electric bike.
Generally, bikes in classes I and II can go anywhere regular bicycles without motors can. If they are not allowed, authorities must post signs that specifically ban electric bikes. More restrictions apply to class III bikes due to their greater speeds. They are not allowed on trails and pathways.
Additional electric bicycle laws in California are in place to keep everyone safe. They include:
E-bike riders should be at least 16 years old.
Electric motors must not exceed 750 watts.
You do not need a license to ride an electric bike.
Helmets are advised for all electric bicycle riders but only compulsory for those under 18.
Even with these laws in place, bicycle accidents happen all the time. Contact our personal injury lawyers at Binsar Chase if you have suffered injuries and need legal guidance.
E-Bike Accidents: Facts and Statistics
E-bikes are quickly gaining traction. They are more cost-effective than gas-guzzling cars, eco-friendly, and much quicker than pedal bicycles without requiring as much effort.
However, as e-bikes become more common, multiple extra dangers arise, including dangers for the riders and those around them.
E-bike riders are more at risk on the roads. When the bike can move fast, it is more challenging for a motor vehicle driver to see, overtake, or react in time to avoid collisions.
A fast-moving ebike is also a danger to pedestrians and other cyclists. Motorized bikes are both faster and heavier, making them harder to control for riders. Naturally, the higher the collision speed, the worse the impact.
Dangers of electric bikes in California:
- Projections indicate the number of electric bikes sold worldwide from 2020-2023 will top 130 million.
- By 2023, more than 300 million e-bikes will be used worldwide.
- Injuries associated with electric scooters and electric bikes have boomed by 70% in the last four years.
- According to a study of trauma center cases involving cyclists, e-bike riders are twice as likely to require hospitalization after an accident as pedaling cyclists.
- E-bikes are more than three times as likely to be involved in a collision with a pedestrian.
- An e-bike accident is more likely to result in chest trauma and internal injuries. They also lead to an increase in traumatic brain injuries.
- E-bike accidents result in injury patterns more similar to bicycle accidents than motorcycle accidents, with a notably higher incidence of head injuries, particularly among older riders.
- E-bike riders experienced more moderately traumatic brain injuries and pelvic injuries than bicyclists.
- The report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission highlights a nearly 21% increase in injuries related to e-scooters, hoverboards, and e-bikes in 2022, with e-scooter injuries rising 22%.
- Lithium-ion battery explosions in e-bikes that resulted in flames have been reported around the United States. In 2023, 267 lithium-ion battery-related fires in New York City resulted in 150 injuries and 18 fatalities. E-bikes are prohibited in pedestrian-only zones of the Port of San Diego and Incline Village in Nevada.
Tragic Death in California
Recently, on August 29, while riding her scooter in Sacramento, California, Dr. Geohaira Sosa, a 32-year-old psychiatry resident physician at UC Davis, tragically passed away. Known affectionately as “Geo,” her peers revered her for her joyful and kind nature.
Originating from Puerto Rico, Dr. Sosa was the first in her family to pursue a career in medicine. As a first-generation college student, she held a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Queens College. A crowdfunding page has been created in her memory to support her family.
Emerging health hazard
While electric bikes offer significant environmental and economic benefits, their increasing use has resulted in higher injury rates and public safety concerns, necessitating stronger regulations, public education, and advocacy by health professionals to enhance safety.
- The global sales and use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) have surged, contributing to traffic-related injuries and deaths, especially among youths.
- Regulations on e-bikes vary widely internationally and within the US, complicating safety efforts.
- E-bikes can travel at relatively high speeds, which increases the likelihood of accidents, particularly in urban areas or among inexperienced users.
- Policy challenges include inconsistent classification and regulations across jurisdictions and varied laws on power limits, age, and helmet use.
- The development of e-bikes includes transitioning from simple battery-powered models to sophisticated pedal-assist and throttle systems.
- Specific incidents and studies highlight the severity of injuries compared to traditional bicycles, particularly among children and adolescents.
- Statistical data from places like Marin County and San Diego illustrate the rising trend of e-bike incidents and their severe outcomes.
- Policymakers should consider enforcing helmet laws, imposing speed and rider restrictions, possibly reclassifying some e-bikes as mopeds, and enhancing public education on e-bike safety.
- Surgeons and health professionals are urged to participate in advocacy and educational campaigns to influence safer e-bike practices and inform policy.
The stats are clear. E-bike use is becoming much more common, and that trend will continue. An e-bike can also be very dangerous for the rider and others. Contact an experienced California electric bike accident lawyer for expert help if you suffer an injury.
Electric Bike Battery Explosions
Riding injuries are not the only dangers associated with e-bike use. Lithium-ion batteries used to power electric bike motors also pose risks.
There are thousands of examples of these batteries spontaneously igniting and causing fires and explosions.
Many products, from laptops to electric cars, use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, and this danger is an ongoing problem.
There have been several serious cases involving e-bike battery fires across California, including this incident in Newport Beach in 2017. A couple parked their brand new bikes at the beach, only for one of the ebike batteries to explode. With the bikes engulfed in flames, it sent battery components flying across the beach.
An e-bike battery fire is a type of product liability or defect. When a fire breaks out, it may just cause property damage, or it might cause serious injuries if anyone is nearby at the time.
Our personal injury law firm has a top reputation and track record in winning product liability cases. Contact Bisnar Chase now for a free consultation.
What is Your California E-Bike Accident Case Worth?
The amount of money you could recover from a personal injury lawsuit will vary depending on various factors.
Generally, the more serious the impact on your life, the more it will be worth. Some of the factors that can influence the compensation you could receive include:
- Pain and suffering.
- Medical bills.
- Lost wages.
- Property damage.
- Costs of further rehab or care.
- Ongoing or permanent impact on quality of life.
Our California electric bike accident lawyers can ensure you receive compensation if an e-bike accident causes you physical or financial harm. Contact Bisnar Chase today.
Why You Need a Lawyer for an E-Bike Claim
Working with skilled e-bike accident lawyers is essential to maximizing the value of your injury claim.
Winning electric bike accident cases can be complex. It first involves determining liability. This means identifying who is to blame for the accident and who we should name in a lawsuit. At-fault parties can include:
- Vehicle drivers who strike an e-bike rider.
- A cyclist who crashes into a pedestrian or another bicycle rider.
- An e-bike manufacturer if the accident was due to a product fault.
- A city authority if poor road or path conditions cause an accident.
A skilled injury attorney will look at every aspect of your claim, building a solid case that proves liability.
A claim may involve negotiating with an insurance company to secure a settlement. Alternatively, if the insurance company does not make a fair offer, we may have to take the case to trial.
Bisnar Chase features trial attorneys who achieve outstanding results at the negotiating table or in the courtroom. We have won more than $900 million for our clients. Call 800-561-4887 for a free consultation.
E-Bike Accidents: FAQs
When it comes to accidents involving e-bikes in California, it can be daunting to engage in a lawsuit. But it is the best way to ensure you receive full compensation.
We have answered some frequently asked questions below to help put your mind at ease. If you have further questions, please reach out to us!
Liability will depend on the specific circumstances of your accident. An experienced attorney will help you identify those at fault and file a claim against them.
Your health should always be your first priority. Once you are out of danger, there are several steps you can take, from preserving evidence to filing an accident report. It is a good idea to contact Bisnar Chase first, as our team will be able to guide you through these steps.
The statute of limitations for most injury claims in California is two years.
Hiring an attorney at Bisnar Chase for a bicycle accident case will cost you nothing out of pocket. We offer a no win no fee promise, so you pay nothing unless we win for you.
Top-Rated E-Bike Accident Attorneys Near Me
Bisnar Chase is a top-rated law firm that has helped thousands of clients recover compensation for their injuries.
You may be entitled to compensation if you have endured pain and suffering, lost wages from missing work, or been hit with massive medical bills. We can help you recover that compensation. Our results speak volumes:
- We have a 99% success rate.
- More than $900M won for over 12,000 clients.
- Law offices in Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego.
- Prestigious awards and decades of experience.
- Free consultation and a no-win fee promise.
- Easy to contact with a compassionate approach, building a strong attorney/client relationship.
Accidents involving e-bikes can have deadly consequences. But we are here for you, providing superior representation.
Please contact our law firm today for expert legal advice and unparalleled representation. Call an e-bike accident lawyer at Bisnar Chase at (800) 561.4887. You can also send us an email or use our website live chat 24/7.
