E-bike Accidents in New York City

A few years ago, nobody had even heard of e-bikes. Now, there are dozens of companies selling them. This fashionable mode of transportation fills the gap for commuters who don’t want or need a car. Most models are also much more affordable than scooters or motorcycles. However, as the number of these trendy electric bicycles increases, so does the number of e-bike accidents in New York City.

What is an E-bike?

Technically speaking, an e-bike is simply a bicycle that has an electric motor attached or built onto it. However, most modern e-bikes are fairly high-tech machines with state-of-the-art batteries and electrical components able to deliver a tremendous amount of power.

Many cities, including New York have had a hard time regulating e-bikes because they fall into the gap between a bicycle and a motor vehicle. This lack of control has resulted in serious injuries to innocent pedestrians stemming from e-bike accidents.

E-bike Laws in New York City

New York City is trying to address the problems presented by unsafe e-bike operation. In June of 2020, New York City legislated that all e-bikes cannot exceed a top speed of 25 miles per hour.

However, advocates argued that the existing legislation unfairly disadvantaged certain populations within the city (specifically food delivery riders) who cannot really afford the fines (operating an unregistered electric-assist bicycle could be as high as $500). The new legislation lowered the maximum penalty to $250 but only allows e-bikes to be confiscated if they are being operated in an unsafe or hazardous manner.

Manhattan E-bike Accidents are on the Rise

According to The New York Post, the number of e-bike accidents has skyrocketed 233 percent in just one year (from 2019 to 2020). In 2020 alone there were eight e-bike-related fatalities—including two pedestrians who were struck by reckless e-bike riders.

E-bike Accident Attorney in New York City

If you were injured in an e-bike accident in the five boroughs of New York City, contact the experienced and skilled attorneys at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel. Call 212-385-1122 for a free consultation without any further delay.