E-bikes – The Crashes Are More Frequent and More Serious than Traditional Bikes

August 16, 2022, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

E-bikes are all the rage! They are all over the roads this year, and there are models for fat tire-bikes and offroad riding too. They are a wonderful way of making long rides easier for people, and for helping out on hills and hot days.

Often overlooked by people is that they also can speed up your considerably and can make handling thE-bike more difficult for some people. This can result in crashes and more serious injuries resulting from impacts with other bikes, pedestrians, vehicles, trees or the ground. It is especially disturbing to see people riding them without helmets.

It is very important to remember that E-bikes are regulated by the province and have several conditions of operation.

According to recent studies the severity of injuries following E-bike accidents are greater than from regular bikes. In this observational study a total of 66% of all crashes (traditional and E-bike) were single-bike crashes. E-bike riders were older though, were hospitalized more often and had worse injuries. E-bike riders had higher rates of thorax/chest injuries and more severe external and skin injuries. The researchers concluded that even after controlling for the older age of E-bike riders the injuries were more serious.

If you are riding an E-bike make sure to wear a helmet and follow the rules of the road. Being keenly aware of how fast you are travelling and ensuring your biking skills match the speed you are going is a good idea as well.

About E-bikes:

• They must have a handlebar
• They must have working pedals
• They must have 2 or 3 wheels
• They must be powered by an electric (not gas) motor
• They must have brakes
• You cannot modify the motor to exceed more than 500Q or speeds greater than 32 km/h

What you need to Ride an E-bike:

• You must be 16 or older
• An approved bike or motorcycle helmet is required
• You must obey the rules of the road
• You must ride them on the road
• You may not ride them on the sidewalk (unless permitted by the municipality)

If you or a loved one are seriously injured in an accident with an e-bike you may be eligible for accident benefits. Please contact one of our experienced personal injury lawyers today for a free initial consultation.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.