E-Bike Accidents in Fresno

Fresno, like many other cities in California, has seen an increase in the use of electric bicycles–also known as e-bikes–in recent years. As technology improves and the cost of commuting by car increases, riding an e-bike has become an economical and more environmentally-friendly way to travel throughout our city.

But with this booming popularity comes more risk for accidents. Because of an e-bike’s electric assist motor, they can reach higher speeds more quickly than a normal bicycle can. Consequently, these higher speeds could mean an accident with injuries that are much more serious than a normal bicycle accident.

Skilled Representation From Fresno Bicycle Accident Lawyers

When you have suffered an injury due to an e-bike accident in Fresno, our team of experienced, understanding bicycle accident lawyers at Maison Law can help. Although relatively new to Fresno’s streets and roads, e-bike accidents still have the same legal framework for getting you the support you need for your injuries.

Our firm has helped hundreds of clients in Fresno and throughout California, providing us with a proven system of success in e-bike and other accident claims. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today for a free consultation.

Differences Between E-Bikes and Normal Bicycles

An electric bike, or e-bike, is a bicycle with an electric motor to assist you when you’re pedaling.  The first thing you’ll likely notice about e-bikes is that they look a lot like normal bicycles. The only significant difference in appearance is an e-bike’s electrical driver system that includes:

• A motor
• A battery
• A display screen on some models.

Mechanically, the battery powers the motor, and the motor offers you assistance as you pedal and also helps you propel the bike forward.

Thus, an e-bike is one where you pedal and rely on a battery to power the motor. Rather than the motor propelling you, how hard you pedal tells the motor how much assistance to provide.

The differences between e-bikes and normal bicycles, at least in terms of Fresno, are broken down into two categories: legal and mechanical.

Legal

According to California law, electric bicycles do not require:

• Registration
• Insurance
• A driver’s license to ride them.

This means that every person in California has a legal right to ride an e-bike, with rare exceptions depending on where and what type of e-bike you are riding. Like other bicycles, e-bikes are allowed on most bike paths, roadways, and public roads. The only exception here is Class 3 e-bikes, which aren’t allowed on bike paths.

Additionally, there are no maximum power regulations for e-bikes, and California’s helmet laws also apply, with riders under the age of 17 being required to wear a helmet.

Mechanical

Depending on the power of the battery and motor, e-bikes are split into three classifications in Fresno and throughout California:

• Class 1 – Class 1 e-bikes are pedal assisted and offer a maximum assist of 20 MPH from the electric motor.
• Class 2 – Class 2 e-bikes provide electric power from the motor whether you are pedaling or not, but stop providing power once you reach 20 MPH.
• Class 3 – Class 3 e-bikes continue providing electric power up to 28 MPH. Also, they are not allowed on bike paths and only riders above the age of 16 can ride them.

With these differences, e-bikes obviously involve faster speeds than a normal bicycle. When speed increases, so does the risk for accidents, especially if you are riding in a crowded area of Fresno like downtown or Blackstone Avenue.

How Do E-Bike Accidents Happen in Fresno?

Much like normal bicycle accidents, e-bike accidents can have a variety of different causes and happen in many different scenarios. By and large, e-bike accidents in Fresno occur on the city’s streets and avenues. Coupled with Fresno’s population, e-bike accidents most commonly caused by the following:

• Other vehicles – Like other bicycle accidents, the most frequent cause of accidents is other drivers on the road. Because the vast majority of e-bikes are being used on Fresno’s busy city streets, e-bike riders are moving among a large number of cars and other vehicles. Moreover, e-bikes move even faster than normal bicycles, so drivers don’t have as much reaction time in the event that an e-bike rider moves along beside them or in front of them.|
• Inexperience or Mishandling – As a relatively new product on the market, some e-bike riders may not have much experience in riding them. This inexperience can frequently cause accidents, as e-bikes handle and move faster than normal bicycles. Even experienced cyclists may also have trouble with the pedal assist, which can make an e-bike harder to maneuver. This can cause problems when trying to move within crowded areas of Fresno.
• Mechanical or equipment failures – Because e-bikes are relatively new, that also means that the technology within them is also new. While new advances are made every day, some e-bikes can lag behind in terms of the technology that powers them. This, then, leads to mechanical or equipment malfunctions. When an e-bike malfunctions, the person riding it is very likely to be injured, usually being thrown off the e-bike or being sent out of control by the pedal assist function. Also, like other bicycles, brake malfunctions or other equipment failures can lead to accidents.

Regardless of what causes an e-bike accident in Fresno, a person riding one is very likely to be injured. Injury risk, too, goes up for e-bike riders because of the speed and power that these devices provide. One similarity between e-bikes and normal bicycles are the types of injuries that can come out of an accident.

Injuries That Are Common In Fresno E-Bike Accidents

The nature of e-bike injuries are extremely similar to other bicycle accidents. Because they happen most in accidents with larger, heavier vehicles, e-bike accidents can see any number of different injuries for the rider. Most of the time, e-bike accidents lead to the following injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Concussions
• Head and neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Muscle sprains or strains
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Burns
• Lacerations

Also like normal bicycle accidents, injuries mean that you will need to see a doctor for treatment and possibly even surgery. Thus, your medical bills and property damage can quickly add up.

Liability in Fresno E-Bike Accidents

Answering the question of liability in a Fresno e-bike accident involves figuring out who caused the accident, what the circumstances were that led to the accident, and whether or not the person (or entity) that caused the accident was acting negligently. Most of the time, liability in an e-bike accident in Fresno falls on one of the following:

• Driver of vehicle that struck a person on an e-bike – Like any other accident, a driver is at-fault when their negligent or reckless driving caused the accident with the e-bike. If they were speeding, trying to get around the person on the e-bike, or simply weren’t paying attention and collided with an e-bike rider, the driver will be liable for the damages caused.
• The manufacturer of the e-bike – Manufacturers of e-bikes can also be liable for any damages when mechanical failure or an otherwise defective part or software causes an accident.
• The city or entity that is responsible for street or road maintenance – If a pothole or a road defect caused the e-bike accident, the City of Fresno or State of California can be held liable. Depending on the circumstances and where the accident occurred, as the entity responsible for keeping the streets and roads in a safe condition, these government entities could be held responsible for your e-bike accident.

California’s “comparative negligence” statute will also come into play during a Fresno e-bike accident, meaning any percentage of your recovery is reduced by the same percentage of fault you are deemed to have contributed to the accident.

Our Fresno E-Bike Accident Lawyers Can Help You

Being injured in an e-bike accident is not an ideal situation. E-bikes are certainly a fun alternative to regular bicycles, but many of the same dangers are also involved. At Maison Law, we know the impact that any bicycle accident, e-bikes included, can have on you and your family. But we also know how to help you get the support you need.

If you have been injured in an accident involving an e-bike in Fresno, contact us today for a free consultation.