Get Legal Help From Top Bicycle, Scooter & Electric Bike Accident Lawyer
E-bikes, scooters, bicycles, and other alternative forms of transportation have increased in popularity. They’re fuel-efficient, fun, eliminate the need for paid parking, and give riders a chance to get outside and exercise. But as the popularity of these modes of transportation increases, so does the number of serious accidents.
Drivers have the responsibility to be vigilant, cities have the duty to provide a safe space to drive or bike, and manufacturers of these products have a public responsibility to design them with safety in mind. If you’ve been severely injured in a bicycle, e-bike, or scooter accident due to a product defect or someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Parker Waichman LLP to get a free legal consultation with a knowledgeable bike accident lawyer experienced in personal injury and bike accident cases.
Bike Accident Injuries and Their Causes
- Bicycle Injury Attorney
- Scooter Injury Attorney
- Electric Bicycle Injury Attorney
- Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Brooklyn
- Bicycle Handlebar Impalement Injury Lawsuit Lawyers
Bike accidents are common occurrences that can lead to serious, life-altering injuries. While many cities provide bike lanes, accidents still happen due to driver negligence, failure to obey traffic laws, obstacles in the street, and other oversights that endanger the lives of cyclists.
Unfortunately, many accidents are caused by negligent drivers who fail to follow the rules of the road. In those cases, drivers of cars, trucks, and buses are liable for the damages that their negligence caused, and a bike accident lawyer can help you bring them to justice. Another major cause of bike accidents is unsafe road conditions, which can be attributed to the city or municipality in charge of fixing them or the utility that caused the issue. Defects in streets and sidewalks can cause dangerous bike and scooter accidents. Some of these issues include:
- Construction plates
- Potholes
- Poor drainage
- Grates
- Road hardware
- Negligently placed equipment
- Trenches
When riders are involved in a bike accident, death, lasting injuries or other enormous losses are possible. Fatal bike accidents and serious injuries are all too common, and our personal injury firm is here to help those who have lost a loved one or suffered severe pain and injury due to a traffic accident while on a bike, e-bike, or scooter. While such damage can never be undone, a skilled bike accident attorney can help determine who should be held responsible and recover compensation that can make it easier to move forward with your life.
Electric Bike Types and Regulations
Electric bikes are motorized bikes that can reach speeds around 30 mph. New York State has several laws that define what an e-bike is and how it differs from a regular bicycle or a motorcycle. The electric bike must:
- Be no more than 36 inches wide
- Have an electric motor of less than 750 watts
- Be equipped with operable pedals
- Meet the equipment and manufacturing requirements for bicycles adopted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission under 16 C.F.R. Part 1512.1 et seq.
- Be unable to qualify for registration as a motorcycle, limited-use motorcycle, moped or ATV
E-bikes are separated into three classes under New York State law:
- Class 1: Pedal-Assisted Bikes (Including Citi Bike E-Bikes)
- Have a motor that provides assistance only when the person operating the bicycle is pedaling
- Cease to provide motor assistance when the bicycle reaches 20 mph
- Have no throttle
- Class 2: Throttle-Assisted Bikes
- Have an electric motor that can exclusively propel the bicycle
- Cease to provide motor assistance when the bicycle reaches 20 mph
- Class 3: Throttle-Powered Bikes
- Have an electric motor that can exclusively propel the bicycle
- Cease to provide motor assistance when the bicycle reaches 25 mph (though the e-bike industry sets this limit at 28 mph)
- Require riders to wear a helmet
- Are only permitted in cities with a population of one million or more (only New York City qualifies)
Do You Have Grounds for an Electric Bike Accident Lawsuit?
Even when someone riding an e-bike is following all laws, accidents can happen, and the consequences can be severe. Common electric bike injuries include broken bones, lesions, brain injuries, back injuries, and other types of severe injuries. Despite the many benefits of these vehicles, there’s no doubt that they can be gravely dangerous and that personal injury insurance for electric bike accidents is a good idea.
However, accident insurance may not cover all of the damage caused by an accident. When accidents happen, the fault may lie with a negligent motorist, a defect in the road surface, or a defect in the bike itself. If you’ve been injured in an e-bike accident, the skilled attorneys at Parker Waichman can help determine whether you have grounds for an electric bike injury product liability or negligence claim. Parker Waichman has ample experience representing those who have been grievously injured due to someone else’s negligent actions, and we can help you to pursue an electric bike injury lawsuit.
Electric Scooter Injuries
Along with the rise in e-bike injuries, electric scooter injuries are piling up. This type of vehicle has similarities to an e-bike. An electric scooter:
- Weighs less than 100 pounds
- Has handlebars, a floorboard or a seat that can be stood or sat on by the operator, and an electric motor
- Can be powered by the electric motor and/or human power
- Has a maximum speed of 15 mph
- Requires riders under 18 to wear a helmet
Electric scooter injury statistics indicate that tens of thousands of Americans have required emergency room visits after an accident. As the scooter injury rate increases, more scrutiny has been placed on traffic laws and the safety of scooter models.
Many of these injuries are preventable head injuries and bone fractures that have been blamed on a lack of scooter regulation; frequently, scooter rental accidents result when operators aren’t careful enough around motor vehicles or don’t wear helmets. However, defects in the road surface are also a common cause of scooter accidents: A pothole or crack that might be nothing for a car can be devastating for a scooter. When this happens, an electric scooter injury lawyer can help you hold the city or utility responsible for the pavement defect accountable.
If you or a loved one has been injured in such an accident, an electric scooter accident lawyer at our firm can advise you on the next steps toward gaining compensation for your losses.
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