Electric Bike Accident Lawyer in Santa Barbara
Electric bikes are a fun and convenient way to travel around the city, but in traffic, they can pose a threat to the safety of the biker. Although e-bike accidents aren’t any more common than normal bicycle accidents, e-bike injuries are increasing. Accidents involving electric bikes can result in serious injuries to the e-bike rider. Serious injuries such as broken bones, brain damage, spinal cord wounds, and other serious injuries can occur because of an e-bike crash. If you are a victim of a reckless driving accident and want to know if you are eligible for a settlement, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer in Santa Barbara. They will hold the negligent driver responsible for the injuries caused by the electric bicycle accident and make sure you receive fair compensation. To learn more about your e-bike crash, contact Maho | Prentice Law today for a free consultation.
E-Bike Rules You Should Know
There are three classes of electric bicycles in California, each of which can only be used in designated areas. All eclectic bicycles must be ridden on roads on the far right in a practical manner. They are not allowed to be ridden on bike paths unless the path is part of a roadway or there is a sign that states that they are allowed.
Class I Electric Bicycles
These electric bicycles have pedal assist and reach a maximum of 20 mph.
Class II Electric Bicycles
Class II bikes have electric power whether the rider is pedaling or not but no longer provide power after 20 mph.
Class III Electric Bicycles
These electrical bikes receive power below a speed of 28 mph.
Electric bicycles don’t require a license or registration. They can’t exceed 750 watts or go faster than 28 mph. Only individuals aged 16 and older can ride one. Anyone under the age of 17 must wear a helmet.
Causes of Electric Bicycle Accidents
E-bicycle riders can get into accidents due to no fault of their own or because they made a serious error while on the road. Here are some reasons why bicycle accidents happen in Santa Barbara:
Dooring Accidents
Negligent car drivers sometimes leave their door open in the path of e-bicyclists. Sometimes this obstructs the bicycle lane or road. An e-bicyclist can collide with the open door and be thrown off their e-bike.
Unsafe Lane Changes
Car drivers that make unsafe lane changes often do this without checking their mirrors. They completely neglect that others may be in the new lane and cut e-bicyclists and other drivers off.
Left-Turn Collisions
E-bike riders are more difficult to spot because they are using a much smaller vehicle. When car drivers take a left turn, they may have missed an on-coming e-bike rider.
Blind Spots
Cars have to frequently check their blind spots when they are around bicycle riders. E-bikes can be hiding in blind spots around much larger vehicles, resulting in a horrific bike accidents.
Speeding
Car drivers that are speeding will be unable to prevent a bike accident because they won’t be able to slow down in time.
Running Red Lights
When drivers run red lights, they may not make it in time to avoid e-bike riders that are trying to cross the road at the green light.
Distracted Drivers
Car drivers that don’t pay attention to their surroundings will increase their risk of hitting e-bikes. They may be texting, talking, and other activities that prevent them from avoiding e-bike riders.
Intoxicated Drivers
When a car driver is inebriated or abusing a substance, this greatly inhibits their ability to make sound decisions while operating a motor vehicle. This makes them more likely to cause a bike accident.
What Are the Common Types of Injuries in Electric Bicycle Accidents?
Accidents that involve e-bikes increase the risk of catastrophic injuries because e-bike accidents are far more serious than those involving regular bicycles because they are moving at a faster speed.
Head Injuries
Bicyclists that are thrown off their e-bikes can hit their heads. They are likely to experience a concussion and other severe head injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries
After a car crash, e-bike rider can severely injure their spine by hitting the ground. A car may also hit the biker at full force, causing them to get deeply wounded.
Internal Organ Damage
It is possible for an e-bike rider to experience organ damage after they’ve been knocked off their e-bike. For example, punctured lungs can occur due to the force of a vehicle hitting a biker.
Face Injuries
When an e-bike rider hits the ground, they can suffer from facial injuries and lacerations that cause heavy scarring.
Neck Injuries
E-bikes are also the source of whiplash and other uncomfortable neck injuries due to the muscle strain that a heavy impact creates.
Compensation That Is Available in Electric Bike Accidents
Accidents that involve e-bikes create devastating injuries that will run up high medical bill fees. You may be dealing with financial deficits because of your damages. Here are the non-economic and economic damages you can claim for your injuries:
Medical Bills
Depending on how severe your wounds were, you may have to continue seeking medical care for months because of your e-bike accident. All of your healthcare costs will be included in your settlement compensation.
Lost Wages
If you missed time from work while you are recovering from your wounds, you will also include your lost income. Your attorney will use any lost wages from the past and include an estimate of how much you will continue to miss out on in the future.
Pain And Suffering
You may have been struggling with emotional turmoil because of your injuries, making your life completely miserable. Write down all the pain and suffering you experienced, because this will be compensated for as well. Your Santa Barbara attorney will use a multiplier to estimate how much pain and suffering damages you will receive.
Property Damage
After you were hit, your e-bike may have been wrecked or damaged because of the accident. The cost of repair or replacement will also be added to your total compensation.
Wrongful Death
You can claim wrongful death damages in the unfortunate case that you are a surviving family member or an individual named in the deceased’s will. In addition to common personal injury damages, you will also claim funeral and burial costs, loss of consortium, loss of earning capacity, and many other special compensation that wrongful death claimants will receive.
Why Do You Need an E-Bike Accident Attorney?
In some cases, electric bike accidents can be confusing and it is difficult to tell who is at fault for the e-bike accident. When you are unsure, let your attorney decipher the law for you. Although the helmet law doesn’t apply to you, an attorney would know that if the victim was under the age of 17 it does apply. Even if you contributed to your accident, you are still eligible for compensation based on the percentage of the accident you are not at fault for. E-bike accident lawyers in Santa Barbara work on a contingency fee basis that requires no upfront cost. You pay only when you win a settlement. Contact Maho | Prentice Law now for a free consultation.