North County San Diego Injury Lawyers
From neighborhood streets in San Clemente to larger and more urban roads in other parts of San Diego County, it is likely that e-bike and electric scooter accidents and injuries are occurring more often than they have in the past. According to a recent report in the San Francisco Examiner, a new study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) reveals that, over the last five years alone, the rate of e-bike and e-scooter crashes and injuries has risen significantly.
With more teens out of school during the summer, and with more visitors to Southern California, these numbers could ultimately show spikes over the summer months. Who is responsible when these accidents occur? And how can an injured person seek compensation? Our San Clemente e-bike accident attorney can provide you with more information.
Surge in E-Bike and E-Scooter Popularity
Even as municipalities in California have instituted rules to make e-bikes and e-scooters safer, alongside state laws, serious crashes and injuries have continued to occur. Part of the issue is simply the rise in popularity of these types of vehicles or modes of transportation. They are often depicted as environmentally friendly alternatives to driving, and they allow pedestrians and commuters to reach destinations much more quickly than they could on foot or on a traditional bicycle.
The authors of the UCSF study emphasize that, in addition to the rising popularity of these vehicles, there is still a lack of a “culture of safety,” and with that omission, a common failure among e-bike and e-scooter riders to wear helmets. As a result, it is relatively common for riders to sustain severe and life-threatening head injuries when accidents do occur.
Rising E-Bike and E-Scooter Injury Rates
As more Americans continue to purchase or rent e-bikes and e-scooters, the overall rate of accidents and injuries is likely to continue to rise, as well, unless actions are taken quickly to improve safety. In addition to head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which often affect e-bike and e-scooter operators who are not wearing helmets, limb injuries (including to the arms, hands, and wrists) are also common.
Just how significant has the rise in injury rates been? According to the study published in JAMA Open Network, over the last five years, e-bike injuries have increased by almost 100 percent, and e-scooter injuries have risen by about 45 percent annually. The authors of the study emphasize that cities and counties where these vehicles are especially popular need to consider infrastructure changes to make the roads safer for smaller vehicles like e-bikes and e-scooters. At the same time, it is important to know that in e-bike and e-scooter collisions involving automobiles, the car or truck driver may be at fault. In those cases, it is critical to gather information at the scene and to find out more about filing a claim.
Contact a San Clemente E-Bike Injury Lawyer
Accidents and injuries involving e-bikes and e-scooters happen more often than they should in Southern California and throughout San Diego County. If you were injured and believe that another person’s negligence caused the crash, you should speak with one of our San Clemente e-bike injury lawyers as soon as possible. Contact the Walton Law Firm for more information.
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