NJ Accident Attorneys Explain the Rising Dangers of E-Bikes & E-Scooters
What New Jersey micromobility riders and families need to know
Micromobility promises cheap, convenient travel. But across New Jersey and the United States, in recent years, serious injuries and deaths tied to electric bicycles (e-bikes) and standing electric scooters (e-scooters) have surged. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has been warning for years that e-bike and e-scooter use carries an inordinate level of risk, yet the incidence of severe injury only seems to increase. At Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus, we’re concerned about the safety of New Jersey residents. We hope that this article illustrates the risks and will prompt anyone using a micromobility vehicle to exercise extreme caution.
Rash of severe e-bike and e-scooter accidents across New Jersey
We took a quick survey of headlines over the last few months to see how many micromobility accidents had made the news. We didn’t have to dig very deep to find nine such incidents over a four-month span, involving severe injury or death:
- Somers Point — On July 17, 2025, a 14-year-old riding an e-bike was struck at the intersection of Maryland Avenue and the bike path. He later died of his injuries.
- Linwood — On August 11, 2025, a 13-year-old boy, reportedly traveling at high speed, crashed an e-bike on a bike path, suffering a broken jaw, lost teeth and facial lacerations. He was hospitalized and required extensive care.
- Ewing Township — On Sept. 4, 2025, a 55-year-old man on an electric scooter suffered severe trauma and was hospitalized after a collision with a passenger vehicle.
- Orange — On Sept. 19, 2025, at a little after 3:00 a.m., a 22-year-old e-bike rider was struck by a vehicle on Main Street and later died of his injuries.
- Parsippany — On Sept. 24, 2025, at about 7:15 a.m., a 12-year-old on an electric scooter was struck by a car at the intersection of Halsey Road and Quaker Road, sustaining serious injuries and transported to a trauma center.
- Scotch Plains — On Sept. 24, 2025, a 13-year-old on an e-bike collided with a landscaping truck at Mountain Ave/Mountainview Ave. He was critically injured and later died.
- Cranford — On Sept. 29, 2025, two 17-year-old girls riding an e-bike were struck by an SUV in what was initially reported as a hit-and-run. Both girls died later. Authorities requested help, specifically in the form of video showing a 2021 black Jeep Compass with tinted windows.
- Trenton — On Sept. 30, a hit-and-run driver struck and dragged a 32-year-old man riding a scooter, leaving him in critical condition with a head injury, broken ribs, and a fractured leg. On Oct. 15, 2025, the driver, 22-year-old Aiyona Reddon of Burlington Township, turned herself in to authorities.
- Stafford Township — On Oct. 21, 2025, after a collision on Route 9, an adult e-bike rider was airlifted to a trauma center with serious injuries.
We understand that micromobility vehicles offer convenience, allowing riders to cover territory quickly without the hassle and expense of a car. But riders also do not have the protection a car affords.
Common injuries in e-bike/e-scooter crashes
Micromobility riders are as exposed to traffic as bicyclists or pedestrians, so they run the same risk of severe injury in a collision with a motor vehicle. The most frequent and severe injuries include:
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) — Helmet use is low among riders. Thus, head trauma is a leading cause of death and long-term disability.
- Orthopedic trauma — Fractures of the arms, legs, pelvis, and ribs are common from high-speed falls or vehicle strikes.
- Spinal injuries and internal organ damage — This type of trauma, often seen in high-energy impacts with motor vehicles, can do permanent damage.
Injuries can occur in the blink of an eye, but the repercussions can last a lifetime.
Safety tips for e-bike and e-scooter riders
Micromobility riders must take the same types of precautions as pedal cyclists and motorcyclists:
- Wear a helmet
- Obey traffic laws. Ride with traffic, use lights at night, and follow signals.
- Avoid sidewalks and busy arterials where vehicle speeds are high. Use bike lanes where available and legal.
- Match your speed to your skill level and your surroundings.
- Do not carry passengers unless the vehicle is designed for two.
- Secure batteries and chargers — Since battery fires are also a concern, use only manufacturer-approved chargers and avoid cheap “universal” chargers that can overheat or catch fire.
Riders must think in terms of avoiding accidents and limiting the harm that might come from one.
Liability in an e-bike or e-scooter accident
Accident victims can demand compensation for injuries. In many cases, NJ’s no-fault insurance law will govern claims. In cases of serious injury, a driver can sue, but the victim must be able to prove another party was at-fault. Additionally, if the e-bike rider was careless and thereby contributed to the crash, a court could reduce the amount of their compensation considerably.
When e-bike manufacturers can be held liable
Product liability laws allow injured riders to sue manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and component makers when a crash results from:
- Design defect — The product’s design is unreasonably dangerous
- Manufacturing defect — A specific item left the factory with a flaw
- Failure to warn / inadequate instructions — Missing or insufficient safety warnings about speed, rider age, battery charging, or use limitations
In this regard, most cases against manufacturers have centered on batteries that produce sparks or fires. Federal and consumer-safety agencies are active in this area. The CPSC has issued warnings and safety notices about unsafe e-bike batteries and “universal” chargers implicated in fires. Recalls are increasingly common. However, proving that a defect caused an accident in traffic is a different matter entirely.
How an NJ personal-injury lawyer can help
If you or a loved one suffered major injuries from an e-bike or e-scooter crash, a New Jersey personal-injury attorney can:
- Assemble and preserve evidence (the device, charger, maintenance logs).
- Arrange expert engineering reconstructions and medical prognoses.
- Subpoena vital records, such as police reports and manufacturer service records.
- Evaluate claims against drivers, municipalities (dangerous roadway design), or product manufacturers/retailers.
Given the surge in severe micromobility injuries and growing regulatory attention, victims should act quickly to preserve important evidence and their legal rights.
Contact Razi & Giampa Law for a free e-bike accident consultation
Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus provides highly professional and compassionate legal representation for victims of e-bike and e-scooter accidents in Bergen County and throughout New Jersey. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at (201) 534-5011 or contact our firm online.
