Who is Responsible if a Teenager Crashes an E-Bike?
E-bikes have quickly been sweeping the state as the ride of choice for many people, including teens. Similar in appearance to a regular bike, e-bikes join e-scooters as a faster technologically assisted version of a classic vehicle.
Faster speeds, assisted pedaling, and the ability to travel longer distances make e-bikes a choice for many young teenagers, but what happens when a moment of negligence or recklessness results in an accident? Who is responsible if a teenager crashes an e-bike, causing injuries to other unsuspecting pedestrians or riders?
Keep reading to learn more about liability in this type of e-bike accident, and how a personal injury attorney in California from the BD&J team can help your claim!
Key Takeaways
- In 2025, there were 1,366 e-bike crashes reported in California (OC Register).
- Most standard e-bikes can get to speeds of up to 28 mph.
- E-bike accidents caused by teenagers can lead to their parents or legal guardians being held responsible for negligence or recklessness.
- Personal injury attorneys in California, like the team at BD&J, can help represent injured victims of e-bike accidents for compensation.
Why Do E-Bike Accidents Happen?
E-bike usage in California has dramatically increased over the last five years. Accessibility and convenience have made e-bike usage grow, especially for teens, as you don’t need a license to operate one.
With a higher use of e-bikes, there’s also a greater chance of e-bike accidents. These accidents can be caused by:
Driver Error
Driver error for an e-bike accident can look like a rider failing to see a pedestrian in time, failing to do any maintenance or repairs on the bike before use, and not being aware of their surroundings.
Speeding
Speeding, like with any vehicle, is a common cause of e-bike accidents. Most standard e-bikes can go up to 28 miles per hour, but there are also super e-bikes (which under California law are no longer classified as e-bikes, but instead motorcycles or mopeds), which can reach more than 30 miles per hour.
Recklessness
Many young drivers who operate e-bikes often take reckless actions, like being on their phone while operating the e-bike, running red lights, cutting off other drivers, and going at high speeds in residential or school areas.
Who is Responsible if a Teenager Crashes an E-Bike, Causing Injuries?
If a teenager crashes an e-bike, causing injuries to other pedestrians or riders, their parent or legal guardian is the one who will be held responsible for their actions. In California, a few recent cases have highlighted these instances of liability.
- On April 16th, 2026, a 14-year-old teen doing wheelies on an e-motorcycle bike critically injured an 81-year-old substitute teacher on the road near El Toro High School in Lake Forest, CA. The minor’s mother now faces felony charges for child endangerment and being an accessory to a crime. (LA Times)
- In March 2026, a father in Yorba Linda, CA was charged with felony child endangerment and abuse for the July 2025 e-bike accident his own son caused by running a red light. An investigation had found that the father had modified the e-bike, changing the pedals and tampering with the wiring to allow the bike to reach up to 60 miles per hour. (LA Times)
In both of these cases, the parents and minors had been warned or cited for the reckless use of e-bikes. Unfortunately, even this would not deter the parents from letting their children continue to use e-bikes in a careless fashion.
The CHP highlights that parents and guardians are responsible for their children’s actions on e-bikes. This means that in the case of an accident, the parent or guardian could be held legally responsible in an e-bike accident for:
- Failing to take reasonable care in the prevention of an accident
- Being aware of the minor’s recklessness and not putting a stop to it
- Allowing the minor to use an unsafe or modified e-bike
Could a Manufacturer Be Responsible for an E-Bike Accident?
Yes, an e-bike manufacturer could be held responsible in a claim if the initial accident was caused by:
- Faulty brakes
- Defective battery
- Motor errors
- Flawed bike design
- Inadequate warnings around e-bike usage
Are There Any California Laws for E-Bikes?
Yes! Like with any vehicle, there are laws in place for e-bikes to keep both riders and other pedestrians safe. These laws include:
– Under the California Vehicle Code, e-bikes must comply with the same road laws as cars, trucks, and motorcycles, which include stopping at red lights and stop signs, using bike lanes or other riding lanes as required, slowing down for speed bumps, and never operating an e-bike under the influence of drugs or alcohol (CPSC)
– E-bikes are separated into 3 classifications: Classes 1, 2, and 3. Minors under 16 are not allowed to ride class 3 e-bikes.
– All riders are required to wear a helmet on a class 3 E-bike (CVC Section 21213)
– E-bike lighting is required to ride in the dark, specifically a white front light visible from 300 feet, a rear red reflector, and white or yellow reflectors on the pedals, and on the sides and rear of the center of the e-bike (CHP)
Can a Personal Injury Attorney in California Help Me After an E-Bike Accident?
Definitely. If you or a loved one is injured due to the recklessness of another minor or individual in an e-bike, you can hold a parent or the individual (if they’re not a minor) responsible in a personal injury claim.
While you recover from your injuries, a personal injury attorney can help present the claim, gather evidence, negotiate a fair settlement, and handle all communications on your behalf, as well as offer legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?
All injured Californians have 2 years from the date of their e-bike accident to file a personal injury claim. This is known as the statute of limitations.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim 3 Years After the Accident?
No, once the statute of limitations has passed, you forfeit all rights to seek compensation after an accident.
What Are the Most Common E-Bike Accident Injuries?
Some of the most common e-bike accident injuries presented in a claim can include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, burns from contact with asphalt or a hot part of the bike, spinal cord injuries, and lacerations.
What Compensation Can I Recover in an E-Bike Accident Lawsuit?
Some of the compensation recovered in an e-bike accident lawsuit can be used to cover current and future medical expenses, property repairs, loss of income, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering or mental trauma.
What if I’m Unable to Work While Recovering from My Injuries?
It can be devastating to know you can’t support your household while in the recovery process after an e-bike accident, but this is where filing a personal injury claim can help.
You don’t even have to worry about legal fees. At BD&J, our personal injury attorneys in California work on a contingency fee basis, which means we advance all legal expenses for a lawsuit and recover attorney fees through the final settlement amount. This means peace of mind for you, and no fees until we win your case*.
Are E-Bikes Safer Than Regular Bikes?
While technologically advanced, e-bikes can often have more dangerous features than regular bikes. Faster speeds, a motor, and even the presence of battery that could potentially explode leads to greater danger risks in an e-bike compared to a standard bike.
Why Should I Call BD&J to Help My Claim?
BD&J is a leading California personal injury law firm with more than 20 years of experience fighting for the rights of injured residents and their families. Our personal injury attorneys in California have recovered more than $2 billion* in compensation for our clients, and we’re ready to fight for you after an e-bike accident, car accident, or other personal injury incident!
Are BD&J’s California Personal Injury Lawyers Near Me?
We are dedicated to helping Californians everywhere throughout the state from our offices in Los Angeles, Riverside, Fresno, and other areas. If you can’t make it to our offices, we’ll come to you.
How To Navigate Your Claim After an E-Bike Accident
After an e-bike accident, you could be left trying to navigate an uncertain time of recovery, legal claims, and more. While there’s no instruction manual on navigating a claim (besides what your attorney advises), there are a few steps that can make the process easier, including:
- Consult with a personal injury attorney in California as soon as possible. – If you have not done so, sit down with a personal injury attorney in California as soon as you’re able to discuss and start working on your claim.
- Avoid speaking to the insurance and legal representatives of the other party without an attorney. – In the middle of a legal claim, avoid speaking to insurance or the other party’s representatives. Insurance companies in particular are often out to lower your payout as much as possible, so let your personal injury attorney handle these communications on your behalf.
- Stay up to date on your claim. – Being attentive to the progress of your claim is extremely important, as well as checking in with your lawyer to see if there are any questions or details you may need to clarify.
- Avoid posting anything on social media regarding your case. – Social media is a great place to share updates and stay in contact with loved ones, but it is not a platform to discuss details about your case. Social media posting can greatly harm your case, especially if you are posting about liability or other private matters.
California Personal Injury Attorneys Ready to Fight for You!
When a minor hurts another person in an e-bike accident, their parent or legal guardian is the one who ultimately faces liability. We’ve seen this time-and-again in recent years, with minor-related e-bike accidents on the rise.
If you or a loved one were injured due to the recklessness or negligence of another person, whether it was a parent or child, or an adult e-bike rider, you can pursue compensation for your injuries. Talk to a BD&J personal injury attorney in California to learn more about filing a lawsuit.
Our team is available 24/7 to answer your call! Complete our form or call us today to get started.
Injured in an e-bike accident? Call 855-906-3699 to book your free initial consultation with BD&J! Hablamos español.