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Electric bikes and scooters have become increasingly popular in downtown Portland. Whether it’s commuters riding e-bikes or others renting electric scooters from Bolt, Lime, or another company, many people regularly use e-scooters and bikes throughout the city.
Unfortunately, serious accidents involving people riding e-bikes and electric scooters sometimes occur in Portland. And when they do, riders often sustain serious injuries that result in a wide range of long-term medical problems.
When this happens, injury victims should seek immediate medical care, whether at Providence Portland Medical Center Emergency Room or another nearby hospital, and consult an electric scooter accident lawyer right away.
Electric bike injury victims also need to know their legal rights. That’s why it’s critical that injury victims talk to a Portland scooter accident attorney at Zbinden & Curtis, experts in scooter accident cases, right away. We have years of experience handling complex injury claims and can help you every step of the way.
Sometimes called a motorized scooter, an electric scooter (or “e-scooter”) is a regular scooter with a small, electric motor attached to the rear wheel.
E-scooters have become a worldwide phenomenon. You’ll often see them on sidewalks in cities. This is because you can rent them from a wide range of online ride-share companies (Bolt, Uber, Lime, etc.) in cities throughout the world, including Portland.
But it’s important for drivers to share the road with e-scooters, something that’s easier said than done.
Cycling has long been popular in Portland. Electric bikes combine traditional bicycles with innovative electric motors. And while e-bikes might seem similar to electric scooters, there are distinct differences between the two electric-powered devices.
Most e-bike riders power their bicycle’s rechargeable battery by pedaling the bike. The electric bike’s motor simply provides extra power to cyclists rather than serving as the sole power source.
Some e-bike electric motors are built directly into the bike. Other e-bikes have rechargeable electric motors mounted on the frame. Either way, electric bikes give cyclists extra power when they need it most, often on hills or if commuting long distances.
Collisions involving electric scooters or e-bikes and another vehicle often occur due to the negligent or reckless behavior of the other driver. Examples include:
Is this how your electric bicycle accident happened in Portland? Or are you dealing with a different type of collision? Whatever the circumstances, make sure you know your rights by consulting a scooter accident lawyer. Make sure you talk to a scooter accident lawyer as soon as possible.
The rules and regulations for electric scooters and e-bikes vary from state to state and sometimes even from one city to another. In Portland, a variety of state and local laws apply to electric bikes and scooters. Many of these laws are similar to existing regulations that apply to mopeds in Oregon and can be found in Oregon Revised Statute 801.348.
According to a pocket guide compiled by the State of Oregon, the following laws apply to electric-assisted bicycles in Portland and throughout Oregon:
As for electric scooters and gas-powered scooters, the following laws apply in Portland and throughout Oregon:
Oregon has an at-fault insurance system, which means the at-fault party is responsible for compensating injury victims for all their accident-related expenses. As a result, you should not have to pay for your injury-related expenses if another road user caused your electric bike accident.
However, actually getting the money you rightfully deserve can often be much more complicated than you might expect. Don’t be surprised if the at-fault driver’s insurance company does everything they can to reduce or deny your injury claim.
This is why it’s critical that you have an experienced Portland e-bike accident lawyer, a scooter accident injury lawyer, on your side who knows the laws that apply to such cases and who understands how the legal system works in Oregon.
It’s important to take certain steps right away if you get hurt in an accident on an e-bike or electric scooter involving another driver in Portland, including:
You might think you don’t need a scooter accident lawyer if another driver clearly caused your Portland electric bike accident. This is especially true if a police officer from the Portland Police Department is investigating your electric scooter or bike accident.
But it’s important to understand that such investigators are only concerned with determining whether any local, state, or federal laws were violated. Their investigation does not take into account how much money you receive for your injury-related expenses.
That’s why the Portland electric bike accident lawyers at Zbinden & Curtis, the expert scooter accident lawyers, want to meet with you. Our legal team is familiar with the latest laws concerning E-bikes and electric scooters. We know how the legal system works in Oregon. That’s why we have such a strong track record of success.
Contact us, the scooter accident lawyers, and discover what we can do for you. Schedule a free case evaluation today. We have offices in Portland and Woodburn.
817 NE Broadway St.
Portland, OR 97232
503-287-5000
1385 Mt. Hood Ave.
Woodburn, OR 97071
503-982-7000
