On August 13, New York Injury Law partner John DeGasperis joined Chaz & AJ in the Morning, heard on 99.1 PLR in Connecticut and 94.3 The Shark on Long Island, to discuss the growing popularity of e-bikes and the serious legal and safety issues that have come with them.
During more than 16 years practicing law, John has watched new technology change the landscape of personal injury cases. The rise of ridesharing services, for example, introduced new questions about liability and insurance. Today, he sees e-bikes presenting another challenge.
John is quick to point out that e-bikes are not inherently bad. They can provide affordable transportation for people without access to a car. But when it comes to safety and regulation, he described the current environment as the “Wild West.”
E-bikes can travel at significant speeds, yet riders may have little training, wear inadequate protective gear, or fail to follow the rules of the road.
John noted that in many of the e-bike injury cases his firm encounters, the rider is both the injured person and the one responsible for causing the accident. That can create an additional complication because e-bike riders typically do not carry insurance, potentially leaving fewer options for compensation when a rider causes an accident.
Of greatest concern are accidents involving children. John has seen young riders suffer serious injuries, including head trauma, fractures and injuries requiring surgery.
As e-bikes become more common, their benefits must be balanced with the very real risks they can create.
