Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego reported three e-bike injuries in 2021, a number that jumped to 262 in 2025. It’s no secret that e-bikes can be incredibly dangerous when used irresponsibly, and the reality is that younger children often don’t think of danger.
Many adults have also sustained catastrophic injuries because they don’t realize how powerful e-bikes can be. Many e-bikes can reach up to 28mph. On sidewalks and busy city streets, moving at such speeds can have shocking consequences.
In response to the rapidly increasing number of e-bike injuries, San Diego, Escondido, and Carlsbad are working to implement stronger regulations. Referencing the reports from Rady Children’s Hospital, councilmember Raul Campillo said, “Now the number one reason children show up at Rady’s with a traumatic injury is from an e-bike accident.” According to statistics, the majority of children injured were between 11 and 14 years old.
The proposed regulations aim to prevent increases in these numbers and to reduce the overall number of e-bike injuries and fatalities significantly. Campillo’s powerful statement continued with him saying, “This is not scraped knees and elbows. These are broken femurs, broken collarbones, and traumatic brain injuries…” The new regulations will ban e-bike use for children under 12 and improve education for young children and their parents.
Additionally, passengers on single-rider e-bikes will be banned. Passengers are permitted only on e-bikes with a permanent second seat. Law enforcement will also be given the power to confiscate bikes in dangerous situations and issue steep fines: $50 for a first offense, up to $200 for a third violation. While council members say they support the mission to improve e-bike safety, some are concerned about the language used.
The police department’s blanket authority to seize e-bikes and the strict ban on riders under 12 are seen by some as going too far. They believe that education, not punishment, should be the primary goal. These apprehensions must be balanced with the fact that the number of e-bike accidents involving children increased by over 300% from 2019 to 2023. Children are also four times more likely to suffer an injury on an e-bike than on a pedal bike.
At this point, there are no minimum age limits for class 1 and 2 e-bikes, which Campillo believes to be a significant contributing factor to the number of injuries. Furthermore, driver’s licenses, registration, and insurance proof are not required to use an e-bike. Due to a general lack of understanding about e-bikes, many parents believe that the lack of regulations makes them safe for children. This is clearly not the case, and stricter rules for e-bike use are critical.
New e-bike regulations will be discussed again on June 30, where, if approved, they will go into effect 30 days later. There will also be a 60-day grace period before police start issuing citations.
Who Is Responsible for E-Bike Injuries?
Under California comparative fault rules, multiple parties can share liability for a single accident. The e-bike rider and their parents (if the rider is a minor), manufacturers, and the city itself can be held liable depending on the specific circumstances of the accident. While the law treats e-bikes like bicycles instead of mopeds or motorcycles, most e-bike users don’t follow the same rules as cyclists. In San Diego, cyclists must wear helmets at all times and stay in designated bike lanes.
Drivers in San Diego are becoming increasingly frustrated by e-bikes on the road that can’t move as quickly as cars, creating serious road hazards. Because e-bikes are legally treated as bicycles, any injuries or property damage resulting from a rider being on the main road may be considered the rider’s responsibility. What this means is that even if a car hits an e-bike, seriously injuring the rider, the rider will share liability with the driver because they were already breaking the law by being on the road.
Another common scenario that results in hundreds of accidents is manufacturing defects that cause malfunctions while in use. In these cases, the family of an injured child can sue the manufacturer under product liability. If the rider was wearing a helmet and using a bike lane, the manufacturer will most likely be assigned the majority of fault, if not all of it. Plaintiffs must prove that the product was defective to receive compensation.
Pursue Compensation for E-Bike Related Injuries and Fatalities
It’s undeniable that e-bike use has increased the number of children injured and killed on the road. While the San Diego government is putting rules in place to prevent the numbers from rising, hundreds of individuals and families have been permanently affected by unregulated e-bike use. Taking legal action to seek compensation for personal injury or wrongful death is an important, yet exceptionally challenging part of life after an accident.
We encourage parents to seek legal counsel to support them in such difficult situations. At HHJ Trial Attorneys, we work closely with families, providing emotional support and visibility while advocating for them and their children. If you need to prove fault and damages through a lawsuit, contact our team to schedule a free case review. We are here to discuss your options and guide you through the legal process. You don’t have to deal with this alone.
