Are you among the increasing numbers of people who rely on e-bikes to help them get from Point A to Point B in and around Santa Barbara, California? Although there are many legitimate reasons to opt for riding an e-bike instead of riding a traditional bicycle or driving a car to get around, you must remember that it’s always possible you will one day be involved in an e-bike accident that could leave you with major injuries.
Has this happened to you? You may be eligible for compensation if so. If your accident resulted from the negligence of another party, you can file a claim or lawsuit to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other such losses.
Discuss your case with a Santa Barbara e-bike accident attorney at the Law Office of John B. Richards for more information. If you do appear to be owed compensation, we are prepared to help you fight for it.
E-bikes may offer many advantages, but that does not mean they provide riders with substantial protection from harm when accidents occur. This is another way in which e-bikes are similar to traditional bicycles.
Someone who is driving or riding in a car or other such enclosed vehicle when they are involved in a collision has certain advantages over someone on a bike or e-bike. The steel frame of the car is going to offer them a degree of protection from harm already. Safety features such as airbags and seatbelts offer additional protection.
This is not the case when someone is riding an e-bike. Because they do not benefit from such safety features, if they are involved in a collision, there is a high likelihood that they will be thrown from their vehicle. This can result in very serious injuries requiring costly medical treatment. Such injuries will also typically deprive a victim of their ability to work and earn a wage. While some victims can eventually return to work after making a full recovery, others may struggle to secure gainful employment indefinitely.
E-bike accidents can happen for a variety of reasons in Santa Barbara. It is of course important that riders of e-bikes exercise caution and obey the rules of the road to minimize their chances of being harmed.
That said, even responsible and careful e-bike riders can be harmed in accidents in the Santa Barbara area due to the negligence of another party. The careless party responsible for causing an e-bike accident may be a motorist with whom the e-bike rider is sharing the road. Other drivers can cause accidents if they are:
There are also rare but not unheard of instances in which e-bike accidents occur due to the negligence of a party who may not even be on the road at the time of the accident. For example, if an e-bike accident is the result of a product defect, the negligent party who caused the accident may be the vehicle’s designers or manufacturers. It is even possible for an e-bike accident to occur because members of a local government agency responsible for addressing road hazards were careless.
At the Law Office of John B. Richards, an experienced Santa Barbara e-bike accident lawyer is on hand to investigate your case and determine who the liable party responsible for compensating you may be. Our investigation will also yield the evidence necessary to show that you would not have been injured had said the party not been negligent. Learn more about what we can do for you by contacting us online or calling us at 805-683-2736 today.