Birmingham

E-BIKE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Electric bicycles give Birmingham residents another way to get around the city and surrounding communities. But when an e-bike rider is involved in a collision with a car or truck, the consequences can be severe.

An e-bike provides little protection against the weight and force of a motor vehicle. A crash can leave a rider with broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, internal injuries, or permanent disabilities.

If another person’s negligence caused your e-bike accident, you may have a claim for compensation.

At Shaun Capps Injury Law, we represent injured people throughout Birmingham and North Central Alabama. Our firm focuses exclusively on personal injury and handles cases involving motor vehicle crashes, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, and other serious injuries.

Fill out our online contact form or call 205-955-5555 so we can help you get the compensation you deserve. We provide free, no obligation initial consultations in E-Bike accident injury claims in Birmingham and throughout Alabama.

What Causes E-Bike Accidents in Birmingham?

E-bike crashes can happen anywhere bicycles and motor vehicles share the roadway.

Common causes include:

• Drivers failing to yield
• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Unsafe lane changes
• Improper turns
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Following too closely
• Passing an e-bike unsafely
• Drivers pulling out of driveways
• Vehicles entering bicycle lanes
• Opening car doors into an e-bike’s path

The driver does not necessarily have to strike the rider directly to cause an accident. A rider may be forced to swerve to avoid a vehicle and suffer serious injuries in the resulting crash.

E-Bike vs. Car Accidents

A collision between an e-bike and a passenger vehicle can be particularly dangerous because the rider has virtually no protection from the impact.

A driver may fail to recognize an e-bike at an intersection, misjudge the rider’s speed, or turn directly into the rider’s path.

Common vehicle-versus-e-bike crashes include:

• Left-turn collisions
• Right-turn collisions
• Failure-to-yield accidents
• Intersection crashes
• Unsafe lane changes
• Rear-end collisions
• Passing accidents
• Dooring accidents
• Parking-lot crashes
• Driveway accidents

Determining who caused the crash requires examining what both the driver and rider were doing immediately before the collision.

Left-Turn E-Bike Accidents

Left-turn crashes can happen when a driver concentrates on approaching vehicles and fails to see an e-bike traveling straight through an intersection.

The driver may turn directly across the rider’s path.

Evidence that can help establish what happened may include:

• Traffic-camera footage
• Surveillance video
• Witness statements
• Traffic signals
• Roadway markings
• Vehicle damage
• E-bike damage
• Police reports

The evidence can help establish whether the driver failed to yield or otherwise violated a traffic rule.

Right-Turn E-Bike Accidents

Right turns can create another dangerous situation.

A vehicle traveling alongside an e-bike may turn across the rider’s path. A driver may also fail to see an e-bike approaching from behind before making a turn.

These crashes can involve:

• Failure to check blind spots
• Failure to yield
• Distracted driving
• Improper lane positioning
• Crossing a bicycle lane
• Failure to signal

The roadway configuration and positions of the vehicles can be important when determining liability.

E-Bike Accidents Caused by Distracted Drivers

A driver looking at a cellphone, navigation system, passenger, or another distraction may fail to recognize an approaching e-bike.

Evidence of distracted driving may include:

• Witness statements
• Surveillance footage
• Dashcam video
• Cellphone records
• Statements made by the driver
• Other available electronic evidence

A driver claiming that an e-bike “came out of nowhere” does not necessarily establish that the rider caused the accident.

The question is whether the driver was paying adequate attention and operating the vehicle reasonably under the circumstances.

What If the Driver Claims the E-Bike Rider Was at Fault?

The driver’s version of an accident does not automatically determine liability.

Alabama follows a contributory negligence system, which can make fault particularly important in an injury claim. If an injured person is found to have contributed to their own injury through negligence, that can potentially prevent recovery.

That makes evidence especially important in an e-bike accident.

A driver might claim that an e-bike rider:

• Entered the roadway improperly
• Failed to obey a traffic signal
• Was traveling in the wrong location
• Failed to yield

But the evidence may show that the driver was also speeding, distracted, failed to yield, or made an unsafe turn.

Because Alabama’s contributory negligence rule can have significant consequences, an injured rider should be careful about making statements to an insurance company before understanding the facts of the case.

Shaun Capps Injury Law focuses exclusively on personal injury representation and handles motor vehicle and pedestrian injury cases throughout Birmingham and North Central Alabama. We offer a free case evaluation to people injured in Birmingham and throughout North Central Alabama.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a claim if a car hit my e-bike?

Potentially. If another person’s negligence caused the collision and you suffered injuries or other legally compensable losses, you may have a personal injury claim.

What if the driver says the accident was my fault?

Do not assume the driver’s statement is legally determinative. In Alabama, contributory negligence can significantly affect an injury claim, making it important to investigate exactly how the collision occurred.

What if the driver was texting?

Evidence that a driver was distracted can be relevant to proving negligence. Witnesses, video, cellphone records, and other evidence may help establish whether distraction contributed to the crash.

What if I was hit while riding in Birmingham?

Shaun Capps Injury Law is based in Birmingham and represents injured people throughout Birmingham, Jefferson County, and North Central Alabama.

Contact Shaun Capps Injury Law for a FREE Case Evaluation Today

Hiring an accident attorney from Shaun Capps Injury Law gives you someone in your corner who has the necessary experience to be able to accurately assess the value of your case and then fight on your behalf for fair compensation. To schedule a FREE Case Evaluation about your accident, contact us online or by calling 205-955-5555. With an office in Birmingham, we fight for the rights of injured pedestrians in Jefferson County and throughout North Central Alabama.