Calls for E-Bike Insurance Law Reform After Forest E-Bike Accident

Laura Swaine

Forest E-Bike crash prompts calls for E-Bike insurance reform

A cyclist who was eight hours from death after colliding with a Forest E-bike has called for a change in the law to make E-bike hire companies have insurance to protect pedestrians and other road users.

The case was recently reported by the Evening Standard.

Cyclist left with life-changing injuries after Forest e-bike collision

Father of two Mohamed Ressum, 44, from Surbiton, Surrey, who needed emergency brain surgery after a Forest E-bike collided with him, was stunned when he was told that the hire company did not have public liability insurance – because, under the law, they are not required to.

This meant that builder Mohamed, who instructed our specialist Personal Injury Partner Laura Swaine, was unable to claim compensation for his injuries and loss of earnings, despite almost dying and not being able to work.

Laura is urging Forest to ‘do the right thing’ and agree a financial settlement with Mohamed.

He said: “Surgeons told me I was eight hours from death. This accident has changed my life forever. To make things even worse Forest are only insured if one of their bikes hits a car, but not people. How can that be allowed? It means I can’t get compensation from them even though I suffered terrible injuries and I cannot work.

“This is outrageous. There needs to be a change in the law to protect people who get hurt by these bikes. Nobody knows that if you are hit by a Forest bike then you are in serious trouble and won’t get any support. This company secured £13 million in funding earlier this year, yet they don’t have insurance that protects people and that is a disgrace. I have received no justice.”

Mohamed was riding along a two lane cycle lane in Surbiton in June this year when a boy riding a Forest E-bike came around the corner on the wrong side of the lane at speed and hit him. The crash was captured on CCTV.

Mohamed, who also suffered broken ribs in the crash, said: “I was hit really suddenly by the Forest bike and knocked over with force. I smashed my head and lay on the pavement for several minutes before anybody even came over to check on me. A police car stopped for one minute and the officers did nothing, not even checking if I was okay or if anybody was to blame.

“The pain in my head was excruciating but I was told to sit in A&E for hours. When I finally had a scan a bleed on my brain was found and I was blue lighted to another hospital for surgery. Afterwards I was told I had been hours away from death.

“Before the accident I was easy going and now I am terrified of a lot of things like walking under trees or seeing a bike. I wake up with a headache like I have been drinking all night, suffer nightmares and I can’t work on building sites. It’s changed me completely.

“Bike hire companies should be compelled by law to have insurance to protect other people. Children are riding these bikes and they aren’t protected. This needs to change now as I don’t want anybody else to go through what I have suffered.”

No insurance protection for pedestrians or other road users

Under current UK law, e-bike hire companies such as Forest are not legally required to hold public liability insurance covering injuries to pedestrians, cyclists or other third parties. While car drivers and rental e-scooter operators must carry insurance, e-bike hire schemes fall into a legal grey area, meaning victims of e-bike collisions are often left without compensation.

Laura Swaine, partner in our Personal Injury department, who represents Mohamed, said: “It is completely inconceivable that companies that hire out heavy E-bikes that move at speed do not have to take out public liability insurance but that is the unfortunate reality. The law needs be changed to reflect the risk the huge number of hired E-bikes pose to unsuspecting members of the public.

“People who suffer terrible life changing injuries like my client mist be able to access fair compensation to reflect their loss and I would urge Forest to do the right thing and offer him a financial settlement to help him rebuild his life.”

ITV News interviews Osbornes Law Partner, Laura Swaine

How Osbornes Law can help after a Forest e-bike accident?

Our specialist cycling team fights tirelessly to hold companies accountable and secure fair compensations, while supporting injury victims every step of the way. If you’ve been hurt and need legal advice, contact us by:

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