Compensation Available for E-Bike Accident Injuries in Los Angeles

As the popularity of electric bikes grows, so does the number of e-bike accidents. In major cities such as Los Angeles, there has been a shocking rise in e-bike accidents and related hospitalizations in recent years. If you were hurt while riding an e-bike, you may be entitled to several types of financial compensation through the insurance process or a personal injury lawsuit in Los Angeles, CA.

Who Pays for E-Bike Accident Injuries in Los Angeles?

Electric bicycle accidents are now contributing to many more emergency department visits than in years past. A collection of e-bike injury data in California from 2018 to 2023 shows that within just five years, the number of e-bike accidents increased by 18.6 times, from 184 incidents to 3,429.

Collecting financial compensation for your e-bike accident starts with understanding California’s insurance laws. California is a fault state, which gives you the right to seek financial damages from the insurance provider of the at-fault party. This could be a negligent motor vehicle driver, the manufacturer of the e-bike, the government for an unsafe roadway or another party.

Necessary Medical Care

You may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages as an e-bike accident victim in Los Angeles. The most common category of economic damage is medical expenses. If you suffered injuries in the crash, you could recover compensation for necessary medical care. If you require ongoing treatments for a serious injury, your settlement should address these needs with an amount allocated to future foreseeable medical costs.

Property Repairs or Replacement

Your damaged e-bike may need costly repairs or – if it will cost more to repair than the electric bicycle is worth – be replaced entirely. In California, you can claim these property damage costs to receive reimbursement from the at-fault party’s insurer. You can also seek coverage for any damaged personal belongings, such as your helmet, gear, smartphone, headphones or laptop.

Lost Wages

If your e-bike accident injuries are severe enough to take you out of work, either temporarily or permanently, you can qualify for compensation for your lost wages. This damage category can cover lost income, job perks, tips, commissions, retirement contributions and other employment benefits, both now and in the future if you have a long-term disability.

Pain and Suffering

The civil justice system allows for the recovery of non-economic damages to make up for the intangible losses suffered by an e-bike accident victim in addition to economic losses. You may be eligible for an award assigned to your pain and suffering, emotional harm, psychological trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, fear of riding, mental anguish, and permanent disfigurement or disability.

Wrongful Death Damages

Sadly, wrongful death attorneys in Los Angeles have seen many e-bike accidents prove fatal for the vulnerable rider. Accidents involving drunk drivers or distracted drivers are especially dangerous, as the driver may not touch the brakes before colliding with the electric bicycle at a high speed. After a deadly e-bike crash, surviving family members may be eligible for funeral and burial compensation, lost income and inheritance, loss of consortium, and other wrongful death damages.

Punitive Damages

Even after an e-bike accident victim is fully compensated for his or her actual losses, additional punitive damages may still be offered. While compensatory damages are designed to pay a victim for his or her losses, punitive damages serve to punish a defendant for egregious acts of wrongdoing. This can include gross negligence, recklessness and intent to harm.

Don’t seek financial compensation for your recent Los Angeles e-bike accident alone. Contact a qualified personal injury lawyer at Rose, Klein & Marias, LLP, to get an honest and accurate estimate of the value of your injury claim.