As electric bicycles become more common on American roadways, emergency departments are experiencing a rise in injuries related to these popular vehicles.
A recent analysis from Florida highlighted that between 2021 and 2024, there were 1,725 e-bike crashes resulting in injuries, including 70 deaths. This alarming trend has led the District Attorney’s Office in Orange County, California, to initiate an unusual e-bike and e-motorcycle buyback program this September.
Here are some notable incidents involving e-bikes in recent times.
Caught Between A Bug And A Hard Place
August 2026: A 44-year-old woman riding an e-bike found herself trapped underneath a Volkswagen Beetle after a collision. She had been biking without a helmet when the accident occurred, prompting help from both the police and passersby to lift the car off her.
Chrissy Vollmer, a local business owner who witnessed the event, recounted her experience to the media.
“All I could see were her legs under the car, and she was shouting, ‘Get this car off of me,’” Vollmer explained.
Damage Inflicted No Riding Required
May 2026: Firefighters responded to a garage fire in Ann Arbor, which appeared to have started spontaneously. Upon reviewing home surveillance footage, it was revealed that an e-bike parked inside had a lithium battery that exploded.
The Ann Arbor Fire Department emphasized that this incident underscores the potential dangers of lithium-ion battery fires, which can happen even when devices aren’t being charged.
The Bike Stops Deer
November 2025: A 13-year-old boy sped home at dusk when his e-bike collided with a deer. Sadly, the impact was severe enough to result in the death of the animal, while the boy was left fighting for his life.
Emergency responders found the scene right by a warning sign for deer crossings.
A Smashing Entrance
August 2025: A 23-year-old man decided to take his e-bike out for a ride when he suddenly lost control. His bike hit a curb, causing him to fly over the handlebars and crash through the window of an Italian restaurant. He was later taken to the hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.
