Injured in an Electric Bike Accident? Here's Everything You Need to Know
As trusted injury attorneys serving Orange County, California, we’ve helped countless accident victims find justice through personal injury lawsuits. If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, we may be able to help you, too. Schedule a free consultation to get started.
Electric bikes are a staple in many major cities, offering rentable transport to residents and visitors. Although they can be a great way to catch a motorized, eco-friendly ride around the town, e-bikes also lead to many devastating accidents every year in major American cities.
If you've been injured in an electric bike accident, you don’t have to navigate your legal options alone. Our team is here to help you stay informed about everything you need to know following an electric bike accident, including what a lawyer can do to help you recover.
First 3 Things to Do Immediately After an Electric Bike Accident
In the aftermath of an electric bike accident, you may be unsure where to turn. You may be injured, overwhelmed, and worried about making a misstep. Here are the first things you need to do when you are hurt. 
- Seek Medical Attention: First, always seek medical attention. Your health is always a priority, and acting can prevent your injuries from worsening. It can also help prevent the insurance company from claiming that your injuries were unrelated to your accident.
- Gather Evidence: If possible, gather evidence at the scene of the accident. Accident scenes are cleaned up quickly, so taking pictures now can help you later. However, if this would put you or others in danger, let your Costa Mesa personal injury lawyer handle the details.
- Contact the Proper Authorities: Be sure that you contact the proper authorities, including the police. The police typically file a police report about the crash, especially if someone was injured or killed in the accident. This police report can also provide critical evidence for your claim, so acting now can help support your version of events later.
Finally, speak to an attorney about your options. Your lawyer has experience and tools to help you get compensated when you have been hurt on an electric bike.
Liability for Your Electric Bike Accident
Electric bikes are provided for rent in many cities by electric bike companies. In many cases, riders do not have protection, so when a bike malfunctions or the rider makes a mistake, it can lead to severe injuries. In these situations, injured riders may have grounds for a lawsuit against the electric bike company, which may not have produced safe riding opportunities or failed to warn riders about related dangers adequately.
In other cases, riders are injured because a driver or another rider was not paying attention and caused a serious accident. Distracted, drowsy, or even drunk driving leads to many devastating accidents every year.
Worse, if you were on an electric bike, you may have needed more protection for your safety. That means your injuries may have been worse because of your situation. Talk to your lawyer about holding the at-fault party accountable for your injuries.
Insurance Companies Are Not Your Friends
Following an accident, you may think you can contact your insurance company for help. Unfortunately, the insurance company may not be so willing to assist you. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, meaning they are less interested in your recovery and more interested in maintaining their profits.
Because of this, they may try unfair tactics to prevent paying for your claim. For example, they may delay answers and avoid your messages until you’re desperate to accept a lowball settlement offer. In other cases, they may outright deny you in bad faith.
If the insurance company fails to compensate or help you, you may need to speak with an attorney to get your due compensation. If you suspect that you are getting less than what you deserve, your lawyer can calculate what your claim is worth, negotiate with the insurance company, and defend your case in court to get the funds you need.
Compensation for Electric Bike Accident Victims
Recovery from an electric bike accident can be expensive. Even a minor spill can lead to head injuries, broken bones, and back injuries that leave you unable to work. These expenses can add up quickly, and you may be left dealing with medical bills, lost wages, and the cost of future treatment. These losses fall under the category of economic damages.
But what about your non-economic damages? These damages cover the intangible losses you've experienced, including pain and suffering. Because these damages are intangible, you may need an attorney to help you determine exactly what your claim is worth.
Unsure what you are due for your compensation? Check out the list of damages your attorney may be able to help you get compensated for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Depending on the details of your case, you may be entitled to even more. The best way to find out what your case is worth is by consulting an experienced legal professional.
Remember: You Have a Limited Time to File
After your electric bike accident, you only have a certain amount of time to file a claim. If you do not file your claim within the allotted time frame, you may lose your grounds for a lawsuit, which leaves you without the funds needed to recover.
You have only two years in California to file a lawsuit for your losses. If you are concerned that you are getting close to this time limit and have not yet filed, reach out to an injury attorney to make the most of this time and get the funds you need for your recovery.
