Electric Bike Accident Lawyer Salt Lake City UT

Electric Bike Accident Lawyer Salt Lake City UT 

Electric bikes have grown in popularity here in Utah and in other parts of the country. Last year, bike sales were down for every category except for electric bikes, which were up by 25 percent over the previous year’s sales. These vehicles look a lot like regular bicycles, but they have a motor that helps the rider travel, rather than relying solely on their own pedaling power. But along with how much easier they are, electric bicycles are also responsible for serious injuries victims have suffered in accidents. If you have been involved in an electric bike accident, you should call an electric bike accident lawyer Salt Lake City, UT victims recommend from Rasmussen & Miner to find out what legal options you may have against the party or parties responsible.

How Dangerous Are Electric Bike Accidents?

The injuries suffered in electric bike accidents are different than those suffered by victims of electric scooter accidents and the circumstances also vary compared to regular bike accidents. One major study highlights these dangers and differences.

The study was conducted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Researchers examined injuries involving electric bikes, electric scooters, and regular bicycles. They used data from 245 million injuries reported during their set study period, broken down as follows:

•   Electric scooter injuries: 130,797
•   Electric bike injuries: 3,075 injuries
•   Regular bike injuries: 9.4 million

The data showed that electric bike accident victims were more likely to suffer internal injuries and had to be hospitalized compared to the other two types of accidents. Almost 20 percent of victims suffered internal injuries compared to just seven percent of the other two types of accidents. An electric bike accident lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT has represented many accident victims and understands how severe these injuries can be and the devastating impact they can have.

Electric bike accident injuries were usually more serious than the other two, as well. Electric bicycle accidents were also three times more likely to involve a crash with a pedestrian than either a regular bike accident or an electric scooter accident.

Other findings from the study include:

•   The average age of electric bike accident victims is 32 years of age. The average age of electric scooter accident victims is 25, and regular bicycle accidents is also 25 years old.
•   The largest age group involved in electric bike accidents were those in the 18 to 44 and 45 to 64 age group. The largest age group of electric scooter accidents were those in the 10- to 14-year-old age group.
•   Males are most likely to be victims overall. They accounted for 83 percent of the electric bike accidents, 60 percent of the electric scooter accidents, and 75 percent of the regular bike accidents.
•   Electric scooter accident victims are three times more likely to suffer concussions than electric bike accident victims.

The study found that one of the most significant factors for these variables is the difference in speeds that users can reach with these vehicles. An electric bicycle rider can travel at speeds well over 20 miles per hour, while a regular bike rider usually travels at less than 10 miles per hour. A Salt Lake City, UT electric bike accident lawyer knows that when you couple this with the lack of biking infrastructure, it is a recipe for serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries for accident victims.

There are two different types of electric bikes riders can use, a throttle and a pedal-assisted model. Many e-bikes have both types of power modes. The pedal-assisted electric bicycles use a battery, as well as pedaling, to create power to make the bike go. It is possible for electric bicycles to reach a speed of up to 27 miles per hour.

Because e-bikes are fairly inexpensive to purchase, many people see them as an easy way to get back and forth to work, without exerting the same amount of effort that regular bicycles do. But the faster speeds of electric bicycles, combined with negligent vehicle drivers, can result in bad injuries from e-bike crashes. If you have been injured in an electric bike crash, contact an electric bike accident lawyer from Salt Lake City UT at Rasmussen & Miner.

Common Types of Electric Bike Accident Injuries

Most of the e-bike accident injury lawsuits a Salt Lake City UT electric bike accident lawyer handles are due to the negligence or recklessness of another party. These negligent operators include motorists, other bicyclists, and pedestrians. There have also been many accidents caused by defects in the electric bicycle as a result of negligence on the part of the manufacturer. For example, some e-bike operators have suffered serious injuries while riding pedal-assist electric bicycles b because of faulty brakes, defective lithium battery, and fork failure. There are multiple reports of the cyclists tapping the brakes slightly and the bike locks up, resulting in the operator being flung over the handlebars and seriously injured.

Other types of accidents an electric bike lawyer from Salt Lake City UT has handled includes reckless drivers under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and motorists who are looking at their phones instead of the road. We have also had e-bike clients who were injured because a pedestrian was not paying attention and walked right into the e-bike operators.

Some of the client injuries that each bicycle accident lawyer Salt Lake City UT offers from our firm have pursued damages for include:

•       Abrasions
•       Concussion
•       Contusions
•       Dislocation of the arm, elbow, knee, or shoulder
•       Fractured bones
•       Injuries to organs
•       Internal bleeding
•       Lacerations
•       Spinal cord injury
•       Traumatic brain injury

Contact a Salt Lake City UT Electric Bike Accident Lawyer 

Electric bicycles are a fun way to get around town, but as with any motorized device, they can be dangerous, too. Injuries sustained from an e-bike accident can range from minor bruises and scrapes to concussions and broken bones. If you or a loved one were hurt while riding an electric bike, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. An electric bicycle accident lawyer Salt Lake City UT clients trust from Rasmussen & Miner can guide you through the process of determining liability for your e-bike accident and seeking compensation for your pain and suffering. Call today to schedule a free consultation.