Orange County E-bike Accident Lawyer
Skilled E-bike Accident Attorneys in Orange County
In California, across the country, and worldwide, e-bike ridership has exploded over the last 5-10 years — and for good reason. Electric bicycles are a fun, convenient, healthy, and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. They also carry some serious risks — some of which are heightened compared to conventional bicycles.
At Aitken Aitken Cohn, we know that an e-bike injury can be life-altering — physically, emotionally, and financially. Our skilled and caring Southern California personal injury lawyers have decades of experience and the necessary resources to investigate and pursue your case thoroughly. Our Orange County E-bike Accident Lawyer is dedicated to helping injury victims secure the compensation they need to move on with life after a serious accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an e-bike accident, contact us today for a free consultation.
E-bikes’ soaring popularity, promise…and problems
Global sales of electric bicycles, also known as e-bikes, have surged in recent years. In 2022, the U.S. e-bike market was valued at just under $2 billion and projected to grow by nearly 16% year-over-year through 2030.
The growing demand for e-bikes is easily understandable. Like traditional bicycles, they offer an enjoyable way to get around, get outdoors, get some exercise, and socialize with friends, family, or other cycling enthusiasts. Motor assistance makes the benefits of bike riding more accessible to people of varying fitness levels; even for athletic types, it makes challenging terrain a bit easier, while still providing a nice workout.
E-bikes are a great way to commute to work — like regular bicycles, they’re zero-emission and can help reduce your carbon footprint. The battery power increases your speed, gets you there a little quicker, and makes long distances more manageable. In California cities, plagued by smog and gridlock, e-bikes hold special promise for reducing congestion on roadways and bringing clearer skies. E-bikes can even help cut noise pollution.
Amid rising fuel costs, e-bikes are often more cost-effective to operate than cars. Technological advancements keep improving both the bikes themselves (lighter, more portable, enhanced safety features, smart technology such as GPS) and their batteries (faster charging, higher efficiency, longer ranges, regenerative braking). Additionally, there are various supportive government programs, including California’s E-Bike Incentive vouchers, which provide rebates to eligible individuals who meet specific income requirements.
E-bike use has also surged among young people, especially teens, who enjoy the freedom, independence, and sense of adventure an electric bike can provide.
Unfortunately, with rapidly increasing use has come a wave of safety concerns and an alarming spike in accidents and injuries — underscoring the reality that laws, regulations, and infrastructure must catch up.
Troubling E-bike accident statistics
According to data from California’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), the number of e-bike accidents increased almost 19-fold from 2018 to 2023, from 184 to 3,429 (from 1.5% of all bike accidents to 4.9%).
A 2024 study from UC San Francisco found that nationally, E-bicycle injuries doubled each year between 2017 and 2022.
As the American College of Surgeons (ACS) reports, statistically, e-bike injury severity is increased compared to conventional bikes, and “Pediatric populations appear to be particularly susceptible to serious injury, with a recent review noting 35% of all e-bike-related trauma occurs in patients under 18.”
What is an e-bike?
E-bikes are part of a class of electric mobility devices — small, low-speed, battery-powered transportation devices — which also includes e-scooters.
According to the California vehicle code, an e-bike is: “[A] bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.”
In short, e-bikes give riders a boost with a battery-powered motor that provides assistance in pedaling, and in some cases, can propel the bike on its own.
E-bikes are further divided into three classifications, based on a system developed by PeopleForBikes, and adopted by more than 40 states, including California.
- A Class 1 electric bicycle has a motor that provides assistance only while the rider is pedaling; the motor stops providing assistance when the bike reaches 20 mph.
- A Class 2 electric bicycle has a motor that can be used exclusively to power the bike without rider pedaling (throttle); the motor stops providing assistance when the bike reaches 20 mph.
- A Class 3 electric bicycle has a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling (no throttle allowed); the motor ceases to provide assistance at 28 mph; the bike must come equipped with a speedometer.
E-bike dangers
Compared to a regular bicycle, an e-bike’s considerable speed reduces reaction time for the rider — there’s less time to respond to dangerous situations and avoid collisions, and stopping takes longer. Increased speed can also make a crash much more severe.
The battery makes an electric bike heavier than a traditional bike, leading to quicker acceleration downhill and the potential for loss of control.
There has also been an ongoing problem with tampering — owners unlocking an e-bike’s capability to travel at higher speeds.
The product itself carries certain risks, including lithium-ion battery fire. In June 2023, the New York State Attorney General issued a consumer alert cautioning that in New York City, where many residents travel by battery-powered mobility devices, e-bike batteries had caused more than 100 fires to date, resulting in 13 fatalities.
Further, inconsistent e-bike classification and regulation across states and countries has presented challenges for policymakers trying to increase safety, improve infrastructure, and impose commonsense restrictions.
Concerns about e-bike regulation
In many states, including California, the law treats e-bikes more like conventional bicycles than motor vehicles. This has both pros and cons.
Per California Vehicle Code, a rider does not need to be licensed to operate an e-bike; e-bikes do not need to be registered with the DMV or have license plates, and e-bike riders are not required to carry insurance.
Removing these barriers makes e-bikes accessible and affordable to a broader segment of the population, encouraging electric bike use. This, in turn, supports many broader goals, including efforts to make travel more environmentally friendly and sustainable, as well as helping people become more active.
E-bikes must adhere to all regulations that apply to regular bikes. However, treating e-bikes like traditional bikes poses dangers that regulation and infrastructure have not yet solved:
- Young people may not have the experience and traffic skills to operate an e-bike safely.
- Faster, battery-powered e-bikes share lanes with slower conventional bikes; this mismatch can create hazards, especially when roads are crowded. Historically, bike lanes were designed for slower conventional bikes.
- Many e-bikes, especially if they have been tampered with, drive more like mopeds or small motorcycles.
- E-bikes’ appealing modern design and similarity to regular bicycles may make riders, especially young ones, less aware of how powerful and dangerous they can be.
- Lack of insurance can make it difficult to collect damages if you’ve been hurt in an accident with an e-bike.
Common e-bike injuries include:
- Lacerations and abrasions
- TBI and concussion
- Broken bones
- Back and neck injury
- Internal injuries
AS ACS also points out, “The e-bike injury pattern includes pelvic fractures, which are more commonly seen in motorcycle riders than bicyclists,” highlighting concerns about the distinction between e-bikes and traditional bikes.
New Regulations in California in 2025
Until 2025, California law treated all classes of e-bikes mostly the same as traditional bicycles.
This year, Senate Bill 1271 introduced several significant changes, including updating and clarifying classifications and their respective limitations on speed and power, and explicitly prohibiting modifications that change power and speed capabilities. As of January 1, 2026, new certification and labeling requirements will take effect, along with updated battery testing and charging system requirements.
Why Do You Need An Orange County E-bike Accident Attorney?
Any bicycle accident case can be challenging, but due to evolving laws and regulations, e-bike accident cases can be especially complex. When you’ve been hurt by an e-bike or in an accident with an e-bike, the skilled and compassionate Orange County E-bike Accident Lawyer at Aitken Aitken Cohn can significantly increase the compensation that you receive.
Our experienced injury lawyers in Orange County:
Help ensure that our client is seen by a knowledgeable and reputable medical professional who can provide appropriate treatment and assess the full extent of their losses.
- Collect crucial evidence (photos of the scene, surveillance video, eyewitness statements, official reports, and more) to establish liability for the accident.
- Manage all communication and negotiations with powerful insurance companies to secure fair compensation for their clients’ losses.
We get to know each client and case personally, providing the care, attention, and confidence you need when navigating recovery from an e-bike injury. Call today.
