Rise in Severe Orthopaedic Injuries Caused by E-bike Accidents

Andrew Middlehurst

The specialist personal injury team at Osbornes Law represents clients seeking compensation for e-bike injuries.

Accidents involving e-bikes have led to at least 150 patients with orthopaedic injuries coming through the Royal London Hospital trauma centre in the past six months, the BBC recently reported – and it’s causing a “massive burden”.

The nature of injuries caused by e-bikes are also reportedly becoming more severe, including complex fractures, multiple broken bones and brain injuries.

Our injury lawyers are representing more than 14 Lime bike riders following accidents in London where the bikes were faulty. And the number of injured people contacting us about e-bike accident claims is increasing.

Why e-bikes can be dangerous

E-bikes are heavy (Lime’s bikes are between 35-39kg) and far more cumbersome than a standard bike. Given their weight, they are harder to control for younger riders (anyone over 14 can hire an e-bike) and in an emergency stop.

And because of their weight and build, e-bikes are more likely to cause major injuries if the rider collides with someone else.

Lime is the leading e-bike hire operator, hiring out the biggest fleet of dockless e-bikes across London. According to the company, it saw an 85% increase in total journeys in 2024. While that’s great news for a growing company, the reality is that the huge rise in the use of e-bikes in London, where there is a high volume of other vulnerable road users, is directly causing more injuries of greater severity.

We know that not all e-bike accidents are caused by a defect with the bike itself. A rider can, for example, be injured after a collision with another vehicle, hitting a pothole or defective bollard and falling off the bike or there may be unclear signage on roads or cycle pathways.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an e-bike accident, the team at Osbornes Law is best placed to help you claim compensation from the responsible party.

Who’s liable?

In some cases, it’s quite clear who should be held accountable for the accident. In other cases we will need to investigate further before deciding who the responsible party is. The potential parties include:

• The e-bike hire company, such as Lime Bikes, Forest Bikes, TFL or Voi (if the bike was unsafe)
• The driver (if you were hit by a vehicle or other road user)
• The local authority (eg if the road was in a state of disrepair or there were hazards)

Usually, the claim will be against the responsible party’s insurer, but we will explain the process to you in due course.

Can I claim compensation?

You can claim injury compensation if your e-bike injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence. We will need to establish who owed you a legal duty of care; and prove on balance that their actions or failures breached their duty and caused your injuries.

Even if you think you are to blame, it’s important to speak with specialist lawyers because you may discover you were only partially to blame (or not at all).

How can we help?

At Osbornes Law, our specialist cycling accident team combines deep legal expertise with a genuine understanding of the challenges faced by cyclists who have been injured following a collision. From securing vital rehabilitation support to negotiating fair settlements, we’re committed to guiding our clients every step of the way. As the trusted legal partner of the London Cycling Campaign (LCC), we’re proud to stand up for cyclists’ rights and help them move forward with confidence.

To speak with Andrew Middlehurst about your injury please contact us by:

• Filling in our online enquiry form; or
• Calling us on 020 7485 8811