California E-Bike Safety Laws 2025: What to Do After a Bike Crash

E-bikes are rapidly growing in California offering fun, eco-friendly transportation. However, the rise in bike crashes and injuries especially among youth has urged lawmakers to act.

What the New Laws Say

AB 544: Visibility for Safety

Effective July 14, 2025, AB 544 mandates that electric bicycles must be equipped, at all times (not just in the dark), with a rear red reflector or solid/flashing red light visible from 500 feet by a car’s headlights (Electrek, LegiScan).

Previously, such requirements applied only at night and only to traditional bicycles. This update means e-bike riders must be visibly marked at all hours, reducing the risk of drivers failing to spot them, especially in low-light or busy traffic situations.

In addition, for minors cited under helmet laws, a specialized e-bike safety course developed by the California Highway Patrol can satisfy requirements and avoid court records or fines bringing parity with standard bike helmet rules (LegiScan).

AB 545: No More Unauthorized Speed Unlocking

Signed alongside AB 544, AB 545 expands enforcement by clearly banning the use of smartphone apps or modifications that allow e-bikes to exceed their legal class speed limits (Electrek).

California law defines:

• Class 1 & 2: up to 20 mph
• Class 3: up to 28 mph
  AB 545 ensures these limits cannot be easily bypassed—making high-speed e-bike drift a clear violation.

Why This Matters: Real-World Impacts and Benefits

Marin County exemplifies the urgency: between 2019 and 2022, youth e-bike collisions climbed 110%, with injury rates for 10- to 15-year-olds five times higher than for other age groups. Surgeons report that among seriously injured e-bike riders, mortality rates are 37 times higher than for pedal bicycles (Upway United States).

The new laws aim to reduce both the frequency and severity of these incidents by:

• Making riders more visible (AB 544)
• Eliminating unauthorized speed (AB 545)

Broader Regional Concerns

Santa Barbara saw e-bike collisions surge from 10 in 2022 to 107 in 2024, predominantly caused by e-riders—prompting officials and medical professionals, such as trauma surgeon Dr. John Maa, to advocate for stronger safety regulations (SFGATE, CalBike, Electrek).

Even in Bay Area suburbs like Walnut Creek, rising youth involvement in e-bike incidents has spurred local education campaigns and police-led safety events (SFGATE).

Legal Implications if You’re Injured in an E-Bike Crash

1. Visibility compliance matters
   If the e-bike lacked a rear reflector/light as required by AB 544, that may bolster a personal injury claim demonstrating negligence or failure to adhere to safety laws.
2. Unauthorized modifications
   If the e-bike was unlocked to exceed its class speed via an app or tampering, that’s not only dangerous it’s now explicitly illegal under AB 545. This fact could significantly influence liability.
3. Minors and helmet compliance
   If the injured party is a minor, having completed the CHP’s safety course can protect them from penalties under the helmet infractions offering fairness while upholding safety (LegiScan, CalBike, Upway United States).
4. Product safety hazards
   On the consumer side, certain e-bike batteries have been recalled nationwide due to fire risks such as the recent recall of 24,000 VIVI batteries for overheating. If your injury involves battery malfunction, product liability may come into play (The Verge).

Balanced Considerations

• Support for the laws: They promise better safety through visibility and limiting dangerous speeds particularly for youth and in dense urban environments.

• Conservative voices: Some argue blanket measures still shift blame disproportionately onto riders, instead of forcing drivers and infrastructure to adapt.

• Implementation challenges: Ensuring enforcement and public understanding of these new mandates may take time and collaboration among law enforcement, schools, and communities.

If You’ve Been Injured in an E-Bike Accident

• Determine compliance: Check whether the e-bike had the required lighting and reflective equipment, and whether speed modifications were present

• Preserve evidence: Photographs, witness accounts, repair records, and medical reports can be vital especially if inspections can confirm noncompliance.

• Consult experienced counsel: With evolving laws like AB 544 and AB 545, interpreting fault in e-bike accidents requires specialized knowledge.

Doyle Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys is dedicated to guiding clients through the intricacies of California’s evolving e-bike law landscape. We’ll help you assess compliance, liability, and damages with compassion and expertise.

Call (626) 737-0036 today to schedule your free professional case review and protect your rights after an e-bike incident.

Resources for Further Research

• AB 544 full text & summary (Chapter 36, Statutes of 2025) (Digital Democracy | CalMatters, Digital Democracy | CalMatters, SFGATE, Upway United States, LegiScan)
• Governor Newsom signs AB 544 & AB 545 (Electrek) (Electrek)
• Marin County youth e-bike injury data (SF Chronicle / News21) (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Santa Barbara collision surge (SF Gate) (SFGATE)
• Bay Area suburb education efforts (SF Gate) (SFGATE)
• Federal e-bike battery recall (VIVI) (The Verge) (The Verge)