Safety Tips For Electric Bikes To Avoid A New Haven Bicycle Accident

It’s not an uncommon site to see throughout the city of New Haven during the summer months, people zipping around on their pedal powered vehicles.  However, a new entrant into the vehicle marketplace has emerged and that is the increasing prevalence of the electric bike.  Electric bikes may limit your need for pedal power, but they certainly do not decrease your risk of getting into a New Haven bicycle accident, in fact, there may be a case to be made that they may be more likely to get into an accident.

While there are few statistics to point to whether or not electric vehicles are at greater risk of getting into an accident, the speed at which electric vehicles can travel and the perceived ability for riders to pay less attention to their pedaling are two very good signs that electric vehicles may present more challenges then pedal power.

If you are interested in riding an electric bike or you’ve actually used one you should be aware of some of the safety measures you should take when riding one of these new vehicles.

1.) You should always wear a helmet.  While Connecticut statute does not require a helmet for riders over the age of 16 years old, a helmet is an important way to keep yourself safe in the event that you are involved in some sort of incident.

2.) Install the proper safety equipment.  A horn/bell can notify people that you are in the area and are approaching.  A mirror can help you identify hazards behind you that may become a problem for you as they approach.

3.) Beware of drunk drivers.  This can be especially troubling on nights and weekends and if you are sharing the road with people who are behind the wheel and intoxicated you should be much more aware of your surroundings.

4.) Slow down.  It can be tempting to race through the city streets with a little extra electric power behind you, but regardless of the speed you CAN travel at you should be aware of the speed you SHOULD be traveling at and keep your speed lower then you might want to travel.

Driving an electric bike can be fun and exhilarating.   You may be tempted to ride it everywhere you need to go because you can get to and from places and in and out of locations very easily.  However, they present the same dangers as a pedal bike and then some.  If you are riding an electric bike you can still get into a New Haven bicycle accident and the damage may be worse than initially thought.

If you’ve been injured riding your electric bike, you may need to speak with an attorney.  Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.