A fatal collision in Charleston between a motor vehicle and an e-bike adds to the ongoing rise of e-bike accidents and concern for riders.
On January 6, WCBD News reported that Charleston Police Department officers responded to a hit-and-run crash on the Ashley River Bridge. On the scene, “officers learned that a bicyclist was traveling in the roadway when they were struck by a vehicle,” WCBD News reports.
“The driver of that vehicle took off; police said neither the driver nor the vehicle had been located as of Wednesday [January 7] afternoon.”
The Charleston County Coroner identified 36-year-old male Sherif Mahmoud as the deceased.
The Charleston Police Department is continuing its investigation and is currently seeking a black or dark blue 2011-2015 Lincoln MKX. The vehicle may have front-end damage, and its last known location was the exit ramp to Lockwood Drive toward Bee Street.
What is an E-Bike?
Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, are gaining popularity in South Carolina as a fun pastime and as a mode of transportation. Equipped with an electric motor that gives the rider an extra boost of power when pedaling, raising many questions as to their classification and what that means when an accident occurs.
Are they considered in the same group as a traditional bicycle, or are they considered a motor vehicle?
In short, it depends on their classification.
Classifying an Electric Bicycle
Understanding South Carolina laws in reference to e-bikes starts with understanding how they are classified.
In South Carolina, e-bikes are sorted into three categories: class 1, class 2, and class 3.
Class 1 E-Bikes
Class 1 electric bicycles have a top speed of 20 miles per hour and a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling.
Class 2 E-Bikes
While maintaining the same top speed as class 1 e-bikes, these bikes are equipped with a throttle that activates the motor. This throttle provides extra assistance when the rider is not pedaling, which places it in this category.
Class 3 E-Bikes
Bikes in this class reach a top speed of 28 miles per hour and aid only when the rider is pedaling.
Riders of e-bikes are treated similarly to riders of traditional bicycles and held to the same standard set of rules on the road, such as using hand signals for turns, obeying traffic signals, and so forth.
The Rise in E-Bikes: A Closer Look at E-Bike Accident Statistics
As e-bikes continue to gain popularity, injuries and accidents are also on the rise.
According to a recent study on electric bicycle injuries and hospitalizations, there was a 30-fold rise in e-bike injuries and a 43-fold increase in hospitalizations annually between 2017 and 2022. The same study reported a 49-fold increase in e-bike riders with head trauma on a national scale, which they attribute to a lack of safety regulations, speed limits, and age restrictions for riders.
To support this evidence, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that injuries associated with e-bikes and e-scooters increased nearly 21% in 2022 compared with 2021, with an estimated average increase of 23% since 2017.
Despite having an electric motor, e-bikes are subject to similar laws as traditional bicycles and therefore do not include age restrictions or specific safety requirements.
Key factors that drive the accident rate up may include:
- Misjudging the speed of an approaching e-bike
- Lack of experience with high-torque motors
- Lack of the proper safety gear (thin bicycle helmets are not rated for impacts at speeds of nearly 30 mph)
What to Do If You’ve Been Involved in an Accident on an Electric Bicycle
The laws surrounding e-bikes can be confusing, especially as they continue to be standardized and grow in popularity as a mode of transportation.
That’s why you leave it to Hoffman.
With the help of a personal injury attorney near you, we can help you navigate the realm of South Carolina bike accident laws and provide you with the guidance and reassurance you need to move forward with your claim.
With offices in Georgetown, SC, and Charleston, SC, our team is here to help you receive the representation and compensation you deserve.
Contact a bicycle accident attorney in our office today to schedule a free consultation.
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