With gas prices rising again in California, bicycles have once again become a money saving and popular way to get around. Because of their size and light weight, they are easy to move around and travel by bike can even be faster than travel by a car. They are also eco-friendly and for many this adds to the appeal.
Bicycling leaves people more exposed to the dangers of the road than most modes of travel. There are on average over 125,000 bicycle accidents every year according to the Center for Disease Control. Now we have the additional attraction of electric bicycles.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of electric bicycles in the U.S. In 2021, over 350,000 E-bikes were sold and this is a 20% increase over the previous year. The government defines an e-bike as a low-speed, two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of 750 watts or lower. The Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates the use of e-bikes in the country.
E-bikes are different from a traditional bike because of the electric drive system. With an E-bike the battery powers the motor and can move you forward with or without the function of pedaling. Some have a potentially distracting display that shows information like current speed, distance covered, and remaining battery. More and more Americans are buying E-bikes as the prices have come down and due to our aging society. One of the most attractive features is the decreased physical effort required and ability to extend one’s range between transit hubs continue to attract American consumers.
Another reality is drivers still don’t pay attention to E-bikes and this means that accidents still happen and we are helping more riders than ever with their injury claims. Here a few things to know if you become a victim while riding:
• Medical bills add up quickly. The vulnerability of riders means more severe injuries such as fractures, concussions, or wounds requiring surgery.
• Bicycle crash victims frequently have trouble getting coverage from their insurance providers. Like we see with car crash victims, insurance companies look for any excuse to reduce the claim and avoid giving the full amount.
• Insurance companies are looking for a reason to deny your legitimate claim. They use things like partial fault, failure to see immediate medical treatment and disputes over liability and your failure to notify your car insurance company of your bicycle accident.
If you are experiencing any of these issues WE CAN HELP!
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We would be honored t
