<![CDATA[San Diego bicycle accident lawyer - Walton Law Firm]]> https://www.northcountyinjurylawyers.com/blog/tags/san-diego-bicycle-accident-lawyer/ Tue, 18 Mar 2025 22:17:03 GMT en-us <![CDATA[Could a Proposed E-Bike Law Reduce Accidents and Injuries in San Clemente?]]> https://www.northcountyinjurylawyers.com/blog/could-a-proposed-e-bike-law-reduce-accidents-and-injuries-in-san-clemente/ https://www.northcountyinjurylawyers.com/blog/could-a-proposed-e-bike-law-reduce-accidents-and-injuries-in-san-clemente/ Fri, 08 Dec 2023 14:05:59 GMT Electric bikes, or e-bikes for short, have become extremely popular in Southern California. As a report from NBC 7 San Diego points out, the cities of Carlsbad and Encinitas recently declared states of emergency due to deaths in e-bike crashes. Both adults and children alike are suffering serious and fatal injuries in collisions involving these…

]]> Electric bikes, or e-bikes for short, have become extremely popular in Southern California. As a report from NBC 7 San Diego points out, the cities of Carlsbad and Encinitas recently declared states of emergency due to deaths in e-bike crashes. Both adults and children alike are suffering serious and fatal injuries in collisions involving these forms of transportation, and while they remain popular and accessible, state legislators in California want to change the rules concerning their legality. In short, a new bill that remains before the state legislature “would prohibit kids under 12 from riding e-bikes and require an online test and license.”

As the report underscores, the new bill is designed to “tighten e-bike rules” and to make it more difficult for riders to use e-bikes without any kind of safety training or knowledge. Our San Clemente personal injury attorneys can tell you more.

Learning More About E-Bikes and Injury Risks in San Diego County

Whether you are in San Clemente or elsewhere in San Diego County, you probably see e-bike riders on the road, on paths, and even sometimes on sidewalks where they are not supposed to be riding. A recent article in the Los Angeles Times reported that speeding is a major issue in e-bike collisions. Although the speed limit is set in the single digits for most e-bikes in certain beach areas, for example, many riders are clocked at speeds of more than 20 miles per hour, and many e-bikes reach speeds of up to nearly 30 miles per hour. When an e-bike rider speeds, they can injure themselves and other e-bike owners or renters, as well as pedestrians, skateboarders, and regular bicyclists.

Common injuries include but are not limited to:

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which include concussions;
  • Severe abrasions;
  • Severe lacerations;
  • Crush injuries;
  • Broken bones; and
  • Traumatic amputations.

Text of the Proposed Bill

The proposed bill to restrict e-bike use to riders aged 12 and older and to those who are properly licensed was introduced several months ago and remains before the state legislature. It is not yet clear whether the bill will pass, but if it were to, it would essentially create a type of driver’s license requirement to ride an e-bike lawfully in California.

In addition to the age requirement for e-bike use, AB-530, the proposed law, “would create an e-bike license program with an online written test and a state-issued photo identification for those persons without a valid driver’s license.” The aim of the bill is to reduce injuries and to make e-bike riding safer throughout the state.

Contact a San Clemente E-Bike Injury Lawyer Today

If you were injured by a negligent e-bike rider, or if you were struck by a vehicle or otherwise injured while riding an e-bike, you could be eligible to file a claim for compensation. E-bike injuries are on the rise in Southern California, but one of our experienced San Clemente e-bike injury attorneys can help you seek the compensation you need. Contact the Walton Law Firm to get started on your claim.

See Related Blog Posts: Are E-Bikes More Dangerous Than We Thought? E-Bike Accidents in Encinitas: What You Should Know

]]> <![CDATA[Bicyclist Sustains Head Injury in San Marcos]]> https://www.northcountyinjurylawyers.com/blog/bicyclist-sustains-head-injury-in-san-marcos/ https://www.northcountyinjurylawyers.com/blog/bicyclist-sustains-head-injury-in-san-marcos/ Wed, 10 Jun 2015 16:25:05 GMT Do you need to wear a helmet when you’re riding a bicycle? If you want to help prevent the risk of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), it’s important to take precautions when you’re out cycling. Indeed, a recent bicycle accident in the San Diego area left a cyclist with serious head trauma after he fell…

]]> Do you need to wear a helmet when you’re riding a bicycle? If you want to help prevent the risk of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), it’s important to take precautions when you’re out cycling. Indeed, a recent bicycle accident in the San Diego area left a cyclist with serious head trauma after he fell from his bike while trying to brake on a steep hill.

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Head Trauma and Bicycle Accidents

According to an article in the Times of San Diego, “a 52-year-old man suffered a serious head injury . . . when he was thrown over the front of his bicycle at the top of Double Peak Park in San Marcos.” The crash occurred just after 9:30 a.m., and the injured cyclist was not wearing a helmet.

While bicyclists can sustain TBIs even when they do wear helmets, the risk is much greater when cyclists fail to take safety precautions. The injured bicyclist had been riding down San Marcos hill when he tried to apply his brakes in order to slow down. An article in the Oceanside-Camp Pendleton Patch reported that the cyclist had been on a particularly steep grade. As he applied his brakes, “he was thrown over the front of the bike.” He fell and struck his head on concrete. Emergency medical responders rushed the victim to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.

The recent accident, while tragic, isn’t anomalous. Indeed, an article in the Los Angeles Times indicated that California has one of the worst records when it comes to bicycle accident deaths. While many of these collisions involve negligent automobile drivers, the risk of a deadly cycling accident in the San Diego area should alert all bicycle riders to the need to take safety measures seriously.

California Leads Country in Bicycle Accident Deaths

A report from the Governors Highway Safety Association indicated that California “leads the nation in cycling deaths.” To be sure, “if you are going to be killed by a car while riding a bicycle, there’s a good chance you are male, older than 20, and living in California.” Between 2010 and 2012, 338 bicyclists in California sustained fatal injuries in collisions with automobiles. That number was the highest in the country, with the state of Florida close behind at 329 bicycle accident fatalities.

California also showed a shocking increase in the total number of bicycle accident deaths. The number of cyclist traffic fatalities in our state rose from 23 in 123 in the course of just two years, and California “had the most bicyclists killed of any state in 2012.” Cycling-related deaths are on the rise across the country, but the high numbers in California should concern all San Diego residents—whether you cycle to work or drive an automobile.

And unsurprisingly, the lack of helmet use is one of the primary factors in fatal bicycle injuries. In 2012 alone, “two-thirds or more of fatally injured bicyclists were not wearing helmets.” While experts can’t be certain about the factors that have produced the rise in bicycle fatalities, we do know that areas in which cyclists are separated from motor vehicles are the safest.

While cyclists can take steps to prevent serious injuries in a bicycle accident, it’s also important to remember that other drivers can be held responsible for accidents caused by negligent driving. If you or someone you love has been injured in a serious collision, you should discuss your case with a dedicated San Diego bicycle accident lawyer. An advocate at the Walton Law Firm can answer your questions today.

Photo Credit: pistbiker via Compfight cc See Related Blog Posts: Bicycle Accidents and Highway Interchanges Preventing Bicycle Accidents with San Diego Bike Loop

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