E-Bike Injuries and The Dangers Associated With Them

Riding bikes has become increasingly popular this past year since a lot of us were otherwise housebound. Biking gets people outside and helps people stay active. On the other hand, it likewise involves wind, distance, uphills and downhills, and achy legs, which could be very daunting for some. Introducing electric bikes, more commonly known as simply e-bikes. They are basically mountain or road bikes with battery-powered motors for goosing the cyclist’s pedaling power.

However, a study found that e-bikes have an increased risk of serious injuries, even death, than traditional bikes. They also have a different injury risk pattern when compared with e-scooters.

E-bikes Cause More Severe Injuries than Traditional Bikes

According to the study, e-bike riders have an increased risk of suffering internal injuries and getting hospitalized compared to riders of traditional bikes and e-scooters. The majority of injuries from e-bike accidents also involved collisions with pedestrians.

Most notably, however, the study found that e-bike injuries were more serious because e-bikes could run more than 20mph, while traditional bikes could only run less than 10mph. In addition, according to data from a report that the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has yet to release, the hazard patterns related to micro-mobility products, such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and hoverboards, are as follows:

• Micro-mobility products accounted for more than 190,000 visits to the emergency department over three years. Emergency room visits increased steadily by 70% from 34,000 ER visits in one recent year up to 57,800 ER visits three years later.
• Injuries involving micro-mobility products occurred most frequently to the neck, head, lower limbs, and upper limbs.
• The CSPC is only aware of approximately 71 deaths linked to micro-mobility products in the years over the last three years, but reporting is incomplete.

The dangers linked to these products mainly fall into three categories, electrical, mechanical, and human error. These typically encompass the following hazards:

• Pedestrians, drivers, or other motorists not noticing e-bikes on the road
• Hazards due to excessive speed
• Dangers associated with faulty batteries and other e-bike components
• Improper operation of e-bikes

Ensuring Your Safety While Riding Your E-bike

To make sure that you avoid accidents and injuries when riding your e-bike, always wear a helmet. Also, before riding, always check your bike for any damage to the brakes, handlebars, lights, throttle, tires, frame, and cables. Damage to any of these components could make you lose control of your e-bike and lead to an accident.

But even the most careful people could get hurt while riding an e-bike if the accident was the result of another road user, like a driver, pedestrian, etc.

Talk to an Experienced California Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Did you sustain serious injuries in an e-bike accident because of another person’s negligence? Reach out to Bamieh & De Smeth to arrange a free appointment to talk about the circumstances of your case. Our skilled California personal injury lawyer will listen to your case carefully, answer any questions you may have, and help you understand the best options for your case. Call 805-643-5555 or fill out our online contact form to reach us.