They Look Like Bicycles. They Travel Like Motorcycles. And They Are Sending People to the Emergency Room at an Alarming Rate.

E-bikes were supposed to make getting around easier, greener, and more accessible. For millions of Californians, they have done exactly that.

But as sales have surged and e-bikes have flooded neighborhood streets, bike paths, and school routes across the state, hospitals are recording something troubling alongside the growth: a sharp and accelerating rise in serious brain injuries, many of them involving riders who never thought to put on a helmet.

The Numbers Behind the Trend

A study published in a peer-reviewed journal and reported widely found that e-bike-related brain injuries at hospitals have increased dramatically in recent years, tracking closely with the explosion in e-bike sales nationwide. Researchers found that e-bike riders are significantly more likely to suffer head injuries than traditional bicycle riders involved in crashes, and more likely to require hospitalization.

Part of what makes the trend alarming is who is getting hurt. E-bike injuries are not concentrated among experienced cyclists or thrill-seekers. They are showing up among everyday commuters, older adults who turned to e-bikes for low-impact transportation, teenagers riding to school, and children on entry-level models purchased as gifts. The assisted speed that makes e-bikes so appealing is the same feature that makes crashes far more dangerous than a tumble off a traditional bike.

Emergency physicians treating these patients have noted that many riders arrive without helmets, and that the severity of injuries often reflects speeds that riders themselves did not realize they were reaching. A rider who feels like they are casually pedaling may be traveling faster than they have ever gone on a bicycle, with no additional protection and no additional training.

California’s E-Bike Laws: What Riders Need to Know

California has a three-tier classification system for e-bikes, and understanding the differences matters both for safety and for legal purposes when a crash occurs.

• Class 1 e-bikes provide pedal assistance only, meaning the motor engages when the rider is pedaling and cuts off at 20 miles per hour. These are permitted on most bike paths and trails where traditional bicycles are allowed.
• Class 2 e-bikes have a throttle that can propel the bike without pedaling, also limited to 20 miles per hour. Like Class 1, these are generally permitted on bike paths, though individual jurisdictions can restrict them.
• Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 28 miles per hour, making them significantly faster than the other two classes. In California, Class 3 e-bikes are restricted from bike paths unless a local authority specifically permits them, and riders must be at least 16 years old. Helmets are required for all Class 3 riders regardless of age, and for all riders under 18 on any class of e-bike.

That last point is where the gap between the law and reality becomes dangerous. California does not require adults riding Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes to wear helmets. In practice, helmet use on e-bikes of all classes remains inconsistent, and enforcement is rare. The result is a large and growing population of riders traveling at speeds that carry real injury risk, with no head protection and no legal requirement compelling them to wear any.

“The law has not fully caught up to what these bikes actually are,” said Chris Hagan, partner and attorney at the Law Office of Chain | Cohn | Clark. “People treat them like bicycles because they look like bicycles. But the injury profile when something goes wrong looks a lot more like a motorcycle crash than a bicycle fall.”

Where Crashes Are Happening

E-bike crashes in California are occurring across a range of environments, and the circumstances vary widely. Some involve riders struck by cars at intersections, particularly in situations where drivers did not anticipate the speed at which an e-bike was approaching. Others involve single-rider falls on uneven pavement, gravel, or debris that would have been manageable at traditional cycling speeds but become dangerous at 25 or 28 miles per hour.

A growing category of crashes involves younger riders on bikes that were not intended for their age group, or that had been modified to exceed their rated speed limits. California law prohibits tampering with an e-bike’s speed limiter, but enforcement is difficult, and modified e-bikes capable of exceeding 30 miles per hour are not uncommon.

Shared paths and multi-use trails present another risk factor. Pedestrians, traditional cyclists, and e-bike riders often share the same narrow corridors, and the speed differential between them creates dangerous conditions, particularly at curves, intersections, and areas with limited sightlines. When a Class 3 e-bike traveling near 28 miles per hour encounters a pedestrian stepping off a curb or a child on a tricycle, the margin for error is extremely small.

In Bakersfield and throughout Kern County, the combination of wide, flat streets, year-round riding weather, and a growing commuter culture has contributed to a steady increase in e-bike use, and with it, an increase in e-bike-related emergency calls and injuries.

Who Is Legally Responsible When an E-Bike Crash Happens

E-bike crashes can involve multiple parties and multiple areas of legal responsibility, and sorting through them requires understanding both traffic law and product liability principles.

When a crash involves a motor vehicle, the driver’s negligence is often the central issue. Did the driver see the e-bike rider? Did they yield appropriately? Were they distracted or speeding? California law requires drivers to exercise the same duty of care toward e-bike riders as toward any other cyclist or vulnerable road user, and that duty is not diminished by the fact that an e-bike is faster than a traditional bicycle.

When a single-rider crash occurs, the condition of the roadway, path, or trail may be relevant. If a government agency was responsible for maintaining the surface and had prior notice of a hazardous condition such as a significant pothole, raised pavement, or broken asphalt, there may be a premises or government liability claim. These cases have strict procedural requirements in California, including short deadlines for filing government claims, which makes consulting an attorney quickly after a crash essential.

In cases involving mechanical failure or a bike that behaved unexpectedly, products liability may come into play. E-bikes are complex machines with motors, batteries, software-controlled speed limiters, and braking systems. Defects in any of those components can cause or contribute to crashes, and manufacturers, distributors, and retailers can be held responsible when a defective product injures someone who was using it as intended.

“E-bike cases are more legally complex than many people realize,” attorney Hagan said. “The injury can look like a bicycle accident on the surface, but the liability analysis involves vehicle law, road maintenance obligations, product safety standards, and sometimes all three at once. Getting the right legal help early makes a real difference.”

What Riders and Families Can Do Right Now

The most effective thing any e-bike rider can do to reduce their risk is also the simplest: wear a helmet, every ride, regardless of distance or speed. Research is unambiguous that helmets significantly reduce the severity of head injuries in crashes. The fact that California does not legally require adult helmet use on Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes does not mean going without one is safe. It means the law has not yet caught up to the risk.

Beyond helmets, riders should understand which class of e-bike they own and where that bike is legally permitted to operate. Riding a Class 3 e-bike on a restricted bike path is not only a legal violation, it is a safety issue that could complicate an insurance or injury claim if a crash occurs.

Parents purchasing e-bikes for children and teenagers should be particularly attentive to top speed, age restrictions, and helmet requirements. Under California law, all riders under 18 must wear a helmet on any class of e-bike. A bike marketed as a gift that is capable of 28-mile-per-hour speeds is not a toy, and it should not be treated like one.

If a crash does occur, the steps that protect someone’s health also protect their legal rights. Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor, because some head injuries do not present symptoms right away. Document the scene with photos. Collect contact information from witnesses. And before speaking with any insurance company, whether it is a driver’s insurer or an e-bike retailer’s carrier, consult an attorney who understands how these cases work.

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MEDIA COVERAGE

• Kern Case by Case: Episode 3 | Bicycle + E-Bike Safety in Bakersfield (Green Lanes, Takeovers, Tips)

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If you or someone you know is injured in an accident at the fault of someone else, or injured on the job no matter whose fault it is, contact the attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark by calling (661) 323-4000, or fill out a free consultation form, text, or chat with us at chainlaw.com.