E-Bike Use Associated With Higher Rates of Head Injuries

More and More E-Bike Users Suffering Serious Head Injuries as Helmet Use Falls, According to New Study

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (March 15, 2024) – More and more Americans using e-bikes are sustaining life-altering head-injuries, according to a new study.

The study was first published in JAMA Surgery. The majority of e-bike riders are not wearing helmets when they are riding.

In fact, helmet use has actually decreased by an estimated 6 percent every year from 2017 to 2022. This occurred at the same time that the number of people seeking treatment for head trauma after an e-bike crash went up by a multiple of 49.

E-bikes are capable of reaching high speeds between 15 and 28 mph or even faster. When riders fall off or are involved in accidents, they can easily sustain a head injury.

One of the findings of the JAMA study is that riders without helmets were nearly twice as likely to sustain a head injury compared with riders who were wearing helmets.

Liability For Brain Injuries Involving E-Bike Accidents

E-bike accidents are much more likely than many people may realize. According to National Public Radio, “about 46,000 children and adults showed up in U.S. hospital emergency departments with injuries from motorized bicycles between 2017 and 2022. The number reflected a 43-fold rise in hospitalizations during the period.” This rise coincides with the sharp growth of companies like Lime and Bird. There are a number of factors that could contribute to an e-bike accident.

• E-bikes travel at faster speeds than manual bicycles, which increases the risk of accidents.
• E-bikes have more components that can malfunction, including the braking system and engine.
• E-bikes have a smaller profile than vehicles and are thus more likely to be overlooked.

All drivers have a legal obligation to take precautions in order to avoid hitting bicyclists and pedestrians. Pursuant to New York Vehicle Code 1146, all drivers must exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians, bicyclists, and domestic animals in the roadway. If a driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting a bicyclist, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

The company that manufactured the e-bike could also be liable for a collision. Companies have a legal obligation to take steps in order to prevent accidents involving their products. If an e-bike company creates a product that is unreasonably dangerous, they can be held liable through a civil claim. Many product liability claims will assert design, marketing, or manufacturing defects. Victims of e-bike accidents should take a number of measures.

• They should seek medical care as early as possible.
• Photos of the accident site should be taken.
• Medical records related to the collision should be preserved.
• An experienced bicycle accident attorney should be contacted.

It can be hard to know what to do after an e-bike collision. This is especially true for those Americans who sustained brain injuries. According to Chandi Edmonds, assistant professor at Feinberg, “The lifetime costs of a patient’s treatment for a traumatic brain injury are estimated to run from $85,000 to $3 million.” Any person who is injured in an e-bike collision may have legal recourse through a civil claim.

Investigating New York E-Bike Accidents

We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all of the people who have suffered injuries in e-bike accidents. March is brain injury awareness month. If you are thinking about riding an e-bike, please make sure that you are wearing your helmet. This just may save your life or spare you from a serious injury.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an e-bike accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of bicycle accident attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the support and justice that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.