E-bikes have become increasingly popular across California. With more e-bikes on the road, an increase in reported collisions is also all but inevitable.
Local authorities have observed that e-bike crashes have increased substantially in the last few years, with no signs of the trend reversing. These crashes can injure people and cause serious property damage. Everyone involved may have questions about their rights, as those who operate e-bikes but do not have larger vehicles may not have liability insurance.
E-bike riders, drivers of larger vehicles and even pedestrians can end up involved in e-bike collisions. Who is liable for the cost generated by an e-bike crash?
Fault determines financial liability
People may assume that the person driving a larger vehicle is liable for e-bike crashes, but that isn’t always true. In some cases, e-bike riders may be directly responsible for collisions.
Many municipalities do not allow e-bikes on sidewalks, including downtown Burbank. The law also requires that e-bike riders follow all traffic laws and signs. If a person operates an e-bike on trails or sidewalks where they should not, they may be liable for knocking down pedestrians and causing their injuries.
In cases where e-bike riders get hurt by others, they may have the option of holding unsafe drivers responsible. Especially when they share the road with larger vehicles, e-bikes are vulnerable to severe damage. Riders can sustain catastrophic injuries, and their losses may exceed what the driver at fault can pay with their insurance.
Reporting an e-bike crash and then reviewing collision details with a bicycle collision attorney can be helpful. Insurance claims and personal injury litigation are both potentially viable solutions for covering the costs of an e-bike collision.