E-Bike Accidents: Insurance, Bike-Sharing, and Other FAQ’s
It may be easy to miss, but we’re currently living through a revolution in electric battery technology. From your cellphone and your laptop computer to potentially even your car, if you’re one of the DMV’s many electric vehicle owners, modern rechargeable batteries are more efficient, higher capacity, lighter, and cheaper than ever before. Much of this research is in service of the aforementioned electric cars, aiming towards a future of sustainable transportation and reduced petroleum dependency, but no new technology stays in its lane for long. The battery development boom has led to new forms of consumer transportation on our streets. One of the most visible is the electric bicycle or e-bike. With their low-output electric motors, e-bikes represent a cheap, convenient middle ground between tradition bicycles and motorcycles/motor scooters. Today’s Malloy Law blog post will cover e-bike accidents, insurance, and other considerations with this emergent form of transportation.
E-Bike FAQs: Do I Need Insurance?
Reflective somewhat of their new and ambiguous place in our modern transit infrastructure, e-bikes are often unregulated or underregulated. Most US states do not mandate any insurance for e-bikes. But this does not mean that e-bike owners should forgo insurance. Indeed, it may be even more necessary. Regular homeowner’s insurance policies will likely leave your e-bike out, and fail to protect it in the event of theft or damage. Commuters and committed hobbyist riders would be well-advised to consider how much their e-bike is worth to them, and how much of a headache replacing it might be.
The general advice we at Malloy Law Offices always provide is that people ought to purchase as much insurance as they can responsibly afford. When unexpected disaster strikes, these purchases can be the difference between a smooth claims process and serious financial distress.
The Dangers of E-Bike Accidents
E-bikes are heavier than conventional bicycles, and due to their electric motors, they’re often traveling faster than analog bikes as well. This makes them more dangerous for both riders and pedestrians. It’s of the utmost importance that e-bike riders stick to streets, bike paths, and bike lanes, and avoid riding in traffic. Collisions with pedestrians may result in serious injuries, such as:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, brain bleeds
- Spinal cord injuries, to the back or neck
- Ligament, tendon, and soft-tissue injuries
Furthermore, it’s worth considering that even with their increased power and weight, e-bikes are still bicycles. Collisions with cars, trucks, busses, and other motor vehicles can be catastrophic for e-bike riders. All the same advice we offer to cyclists still applies, wear a crash rated helmet, and consider ancillary safety gear beyond the essential head protection. This may include:
- Gloves
- Protective glasses
- Knee and elbow pads.
- Bright and reflective clothing (especially in low light)
- A first aid kit
- A repair kit
- Bike lights
E-Bike FAQs: What About Bike Sharing?
While private ownership of e-bikes has become more common, even more people encounter these vehicles through bike or scooter sharing services. Because riders must consent to liability releases before renting their bikes, bike sharing firms typically escape blame for accidents brought on by their clients’ disobedience of both company policies and local laws. Like most waivers, these might not be as tight as they seem, though. The likelihood of bringing a successful personal injury action increases significantly if it can be demonstrated that a bike sharing firm was irresponsible in some way that directly contributed to the accident. For example, if it can be demonstrated that the bike’s brakes were improperly maintained and the accident was caused by brake failure.
Responding responsibly to an Accident
Your personal health should be your top priority if you are engaged in an e-bike collision, whether you are a rider, a pedestrian, or the driver of another vehicle. Seek medical attention and, if required, contact emergency services. Taking pictures of the scene and gathering information from all parties involved in the accident are equally important. If your bike was rented and a mechanical malfunction resulted in the accident, thoroughly record the malfunction and note the scooter ID number and company name.
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in an e-bike accident, Malloy Law can help. Our experienced personal injury team can navigate the aftermath of your accident and win maximum compensation on your behalf. Don’t wait, contact Malloy Law today and let’s win your case.