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An electric bike, more commonly referred to as an E-bike, is a bicycle equipped with an electric motor to help the bicyclist with pedaling. Electric bikes have become an increasingly popular option for seeing the sights or commuting to work in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, the risks of accidents and injuries also increase.
E-bike accidents, like other cycling accidents, can leave victims with serious injuries or even permanent disabilities. Some of the most common injuries in electric bike accidents include lacerations, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and back and neck injuries. Because of how frequently negligence factors into e-bike accidents, injured riders should consult with a Washington, DC bike accident attorney immediately after an accident. A successful personal injury claim will recover financial compensation for your electric bicycle injuries and damages.
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The two most common e-bike injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, are fractures and contusions or abrasions. The most commonly injured areas are the limbs, head, and neck.
While some e-bike collisions only result in minor injuries, e-bikes can go faster than a regular bike, resulting in a more severe accident with significant injuries.
Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries are a risk for riders, as well as neck and spine injuries. Riders falling off bikes can also cause these injuries, even if a motor vehicle stops before colliding with the rider.
Internal injuries are common e-bike injuries, as well, particularly when riders are struck by a heavier vehicle.
The financial cost of e-bike injuries depends on the severity. A minor accident resulting in scrapes, bruises, and minimal property damage may receive minor compensation. However, an accident that causes severe injuries and property damage will likely have a higher case value.
An electric bike accident lawyer can review your case and help you accurately value your injuries and damages. Your case could be worth thousands or more, depending on the circumstances and damages.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has found that e-scooter and e-bike crashes have followed an upward trend since 2017. Injuries from e-bikes and e-scooters increased nearly 21 percent between 2021 and 2022. Children, specifically between 10-13 years old, tend to be at an increased risk for accidents on e bikes, according to a study published by Surgery Open Science in 2023.
Because e-bikes can reach higher speeds than traditional bikes, e-bikes pose an increased risk for more severe injuries. Higher speed can also contribute to drivers misjudging how quickly an e-bike is approaching.
Like conventional bicycle accidents, electric bicycle accidents happen for various reasons.
The main risk for riders commuting on e-bikes is not being seen by motor vehicles. Cars turning without looking for cyclists, side-swiping riders, or failing to yield the right of way are common causes of e-bike accidents.
Even if a collision doesn’t occur, a near miss may cause an e-bike rider to fall, resulting in serious injuries depending on where and how the rider falls.
Other common causes of e-bike accidents include poorly maintained roads or bike paths and debris or hazards left on the roadway. In these cases, liability may not be as clear as in a collision. An experienced personal injury lawyer will help you prove negligence and hold the liable party responsible for your injuries.
As with all personal injury cases, understanding liability in an e-bike accident requires a close look at the facts of the case. Liable parties could include a vehicle driver, a parts manufacturer, a government body responsible for road maintenance, or another private party.
Personal injury claims generally hinge on the legal idea of negligence. Negligence says that the liable party had a duty to behave in a specific manner; they failed to uphold that duty; the failure caused an accident; and you were injured in the accident.
For example, e-bike accidents can occur when a driver fails to obey the rules of the road or yield the right of way, a government body or maintenance team fails to ensure roadways are safe, or when a bike part manufacturer fails to ensure that the parts they made are safe.
An experienced lawyer can help you recover compensation for your e-bike accident injuries in any of these cases.
In many cases, e-bike riders are not at fault for an accident. As with many bicycle accidents, motor vehicles and drivers often overlook e-bike riders, resulting in crashes.
Electric bicycle riders are responsible for observing the road rules they share. In many cases, accidents result from drivers who wrongly claim the right of way or don’t look carefully before making a turn or otherwise maneuvering on the road.
Negligent drivers must be held liable for the injuries they cause to law-abiding cyclists.
You are not legally required to hire a bicycle accident lawyer in DC to help you recover compensation after an e-bike accident. However, when healing from injuries, it is unlikely to be in your best interest to take on a legal case without representation.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will conduct an independent investigation, communicate and negotiate with insurance companies, value your claim, and ultimately fight for the maximum compensation you deserve while you focus on your physical recovery.
When you or a loved one are suffering from electric bicycle-related injuries, it is recommended that you hire an experienced bicycle accident attorney to help with the legal process. Especially if you suffered a severe injury, it could be impossible to balance your recovery and legal proceedings alone successfully.
When you hire a skilled attorney from Regan Zambri Long, you give yourself and your case the best chance for success. Our e-bike accident lawyers will collect witness statements, police reports, expert testimony, and other evidence to prove that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries.
We will also speak with insurance companies on your behalf. Unfortunately, this is crucial because insurance companies are known for making minimal settlement offers and even offers that don’t fully cover your injuries and losses.
Your lawyer will help you value your claim to recover the compensation you deserve. In personal injury cases, you are entitled to compensation for economic damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. You can also claim non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and loss of enjoyment. Understanding how to value your current and future losses can be difficult without an experienced ally.
Additionally, your lawyer will ensure that your claim is filed within the state’s statute of limitations and that the state’s negligence standards do not bar you from recovering compensation.
Washington, DC, follows contributory negligence standards, meaning if you are found to be in any way responsible for an accident, you cannot claim compensation. Sometimes, a liable party or their insurance company may try to pin liability on you to avoid paying a fair settlement. An experienced lawyer will help you combat these techniques.
It’s also important to file your claim within a specific period, known as the statute of limitations. The statute provides a time frame for filing a personal injury claim. The clock starts when the accident happens and generally allows two or three years to make a claim. Once time is up, it is unlikely you will be able to recover any compensation.
You are entitled to compensation if you or your loved one are injured while riding an e-bike. When you hire Regan Zambri Long to handle your case, you are putting your trust in a law firm with more than 30 years of practice in the community and more than 100 years of cumulative legal experience.
E-bike accidents can cause neck injuries, soft tissue injuries, head injuries, and more. When someone else’s negligence is the cause of your severe injury, that person must be held liable.
E-bike-related injuries can be overwhelming, but Regan Zambri Long is here to help. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t take any payment until we’ve recovered in your favor. Schedule a free consultation today.
