A few years ago, you mostly saw electric scooters in tech ads. Now they’re everywhere.
You see college students zipping to class, food delivery riders weaving through traffic, and parents cruising on e-bikes with kids on the back. In busy parts of Pasadena, Alhambra, and the San Gabriel Valley, scooters and e-bikes are just part of the scenery.
They’re convenient, affordable, and (usually) fun—until something goes wrong.
One pothole, one distracted driver, one bad brake… and suddenly you’re on the ground, staring at the sky, wondering what just happened—and how you’re going to pay for the ambulance, the ER, and the time off work.
If you’ve been injured in an E-Bike, E-Scooter and Micromobility Crash in Los Angeles County, you’re not alone—and you do have options.
You can call Doyle Accident & Injury Attorneys at (626) 737-0036 for a free consultation about your situation and your rights.
Why E-Bike, E-Scooter and Micromobility Crashes Are Exploding
The rise in micromobility has been great for short trips and the environment. But it’s also come with a big downside: injuries are climbing fast.A National Surge in “Micromobility” InjuriesAccording to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were an estimated 360,800 emergency department visits related to micromobility devices (like e-scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards) from 2017 to 2022. About 169,300 of those injuries were tied to e-scooters, and e-scooter injuries rose more than 20% in 2022 compared to 2021. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)Researchers at UC San Francisco reported a major nationwide surge in micromobility accidents, with e-bike injuries doubling every year between 2017 and 2022. (UCSF)The American College of Surgeons notes that:
- Over 1.1 million e-bikes were sold in the U.S. in 2022
- More than 20,000 people are injured while riding e-bikes each year, with around 3,000 hospitalizations
- E-bike injuries tend to be more severe than traditional bike injuries (ACS)
Los Angeles: A Hotspot for E-Scooter Injuries
In Los Angeles specifically, a UCLA study found about 115 injuries for every 1 million e-scooter trips—a rate higher than what we see for bikes or passenger cars. (UCLA)Why so many injuries?
- Riders are often sharing the road with fast, heavy cars
- Many streets were never designed for this kind of traffic mix
- Riders may not know the local rules
- Devices can malfunction or be poorly maintained
- Helmets are often not worn
Common E-Scooter and E-Bike Accidents in Alhambra, Pasadena, and Nearby Cities
If you ride in LA County, these scenarios will probably feel familiar.
- The Bike Lane “Near Miss” That Isn’t a Miss
- The Door That Opens at the Worst Possible Moment
- The Invisible Pothole
- Knew (or should have known) about the hazard, and
- Didn’t repair it in a reasonable time
- The Delivery Rider Crash
Who Can Be Held Liable After a Micromobility Crash?
Many riders assume that if they were on the scooter or e-bike, it’s automatically their fault. That’s often not true.Depending on the crash, one or more of these parties may be responsible:
- A Negligent Driver
- Speed, run red lights, or roll through stop signs
- Make unsafe turns across bike lanes
- Fail to yield at crosswalks
- Drive while distracted (texting, using apps, eating)
- Drive under the influence
- A Public Entity (City, County, or State)
- Deep potholes or broken pavement in bike lanes
- Dangerous intersections with poor visibility
- Inadequate lighting where riders are expected to travel
- Scooter or E-Bike Companies and Manufacturers
- The company that owns and maintains the fleet
- The manufacturer of the scooter or e-bike
- Component makers (like brakes, throttles, or batteries)
- Brake failures
- Stuck throttles
- Weak or unstable handlebars
- Battery fires or sudden power loss
- Property Owners or Businesses
What To Do Immediately After an E-Scooter or E-Bike Accident
Riders are often more exposed than drivers. Your body takes the direct hit. Even if you can stand up and walk away, treat any crash as serious.Here’s a simple checklist.
- Get to Safety and Call 911
- Call the Police and Make Sure a Report Is Filed
- Who was involved
- The position of vehicles and devices
- Basic facts and any obvious rule violations
- Witness contact information
- Document the Scene
- Take photos and video of your scooter or bike, the vehicle, skid marks, road hazards, and your visible injuries
- Photograph traffic signals, signs, and lane markings
- Get names and phone numbers of any witnesses
- Get Medical Care and Follow Doctor’s Orders
- Explain exactly how you were injured
- Mention all areas of pain, even if they seem minor
- Follow through on imaging, referrals, and therapy
- Avoid Casual Statements and Social Media Posts
- Scrutinize what you said at the scene
- Review social media for “proof” you’re not that hurt
Dealing With Rental Apps and Insurance Adjusters
One of the most confusing parts of a micromobility crash is figuring out which insurance applies.Rental Apps: “You Accepted the Terms”If you were on a rental e-scooter or shared e-bike, you probably tapped through a terms-of-service screen. Those agreements often include:
- Liability waivers
- Arbitration clauses
- Complex rules about when the company might be responsible
- Your health insurance (for medical bills)
- Your auto insurance in some situations (for example, if a car hit you and you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage)
- A homeowner’s or renter’s policy in rare cases involving certain types of liability
- Has insurance at all
- Has enough coverage to pay for a serious injury
How Doyle Accident & Injury Attorneys Helps Injured Riders Rebuild
Trying to heal while juggling hospital bills, app terms of service, and competing insurance companies is exhausting.Here’s how Doyle Accident & Injury Attorneys can help if you were injured on an e-scooter, e-bike, or other micromobility device in Pasadena, Alhambra, or anywhere in LA County.
- Investigating What Really Happened
- Collect and review police reports and witness statements
- Secure photos, video, and, where possible, device data
- Work with experts to analyze vehicle speed, impact, and road conditions
- Identifying All Potentially Responsible Parties
- Road design and maintenance
- Device design and maintenance (for rentals or personal devices)
- Corporate policies that may have encouraged risky behavior (like unrealistic delivery times for gig workers)
- Handling Insurance and App Companies
- Communicate with all relevant insurers
- Review rental app agreements
- Push back against lowball settlement offers and blame-shifting tactics
- Valuing Your Case Fairly
- Broken bones, concussions, or spinal injuries
- Dental and facial trauma
- Long-term pain and mobility issues
- Future treatment needs
- Lost income and reduced earning ability
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
Free Case Review: Talk to a Local Micromobility Injury Lawyer Today
If you’ve read this far, chances are:
- You were hurt on an e-scooter or e-bike, or
- Someone you care about was
References
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – E-Scooter and E-Bike Injuries Soar: 2022 Injuries Increased Nearly 21% https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/E-Scooter-and-E-Bike-Injuries-Soar-2022-Injuries-Increased-Nearly-21
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – Micromobility Products-Related Deaths, Injuries, and Hazard Patterns 2017–2022 (Report) https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Micromobility-Products-Related-Deaths-Injuries-and-Hazard-Patterns-2017-2022.pdf
- American College of Surgeons – Statement on Electric Bicycle Safety and Injury Prevention (2025) https://www.facs.org/about-acs/statements/statement-on-electric-bicycle-safety-and-injury-prevention/
- UCLA – L.A.’s Injury Rate from E-Scooters May Exceed National Rates for Bicycles and Passenger Cars https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/e-scooter-injury-rate-los-angeles
- UC San Francisco – Electric Scooter and Bike Accidents Are Soaring Across the U.S. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/07/428096/electric-scooter-and-bike-accidents-are-soaring-across-us
- Smart Cities Dive – US E-Scooter Injuries Treated in ERs Rose 80% Last Year https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/electric-scooter-injuries-increase/759357/
- Singleton Schreiber – E-Bike Fatalities (2018–2022 Trend Data) https://www.singletonschreiber.com/theblog/e-bike-fatalities
- California DMV – Motorcycles, Mopeds, and Scooters (Rules for Motorized Scooters) https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/new-registration/motorcycles-mopeds-and-scooters/
- Shouse Law Group – 8 Important E-Scooter Laws You Should Know in California https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/blog/laws/8-important-e-scooter-laws-you-should-in-california/
- The Verge – E-Bike Battery Recall and Safety Concerns (VIVI E-Bikes) https://www.theverge.com/analysis/709727/e-bike-battery-recall-ul-certification-mandate
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