Defenseless Spokane E-bike riders can be struck by reckless drivers and suffer devastating injuries.
Victims should never be responsible for their own hospital bills and lost income while they can’t work. CCD Law helps electric bike accident victims secure the maximum support while they heal.
Contact a Spokane E-Bike Accident Lawyer for a free, no-obligation case consultation that comes with no obligation to you. Find out what your case is worth and how to hold car insurance companies fully liable.
Do I Need a Lawyer After an E-Bike Accident?
If you only suffer very minor injuries, you may not need a lawyer’s help. But if you are dealing with serious injuries and a careless driver struck you, it’s important to speak to a lawyer. A serious injury can include broken bones, a neck or back injury, or a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
With these expensive injuries, car insurance companies fight much harder to avoid having to support victims. They can blame riders for accidents or claim an injury will heal in a few days, when in fact you have months of physical therapy ahead.
An experienced lawyer is a protection against these tactics and can often earn you much more than you could by handling your case yourself.
E-Bike Dangers in Spokane
An e-bike is a bicycle that gives riders assistance from an electric motor. Some e-bikes take care of all of the thrust, and riders don’t have to pedal. Other e-bikes offer help to riders while they pedal.
These bikes are a common sight around Spokane. Folks can rent them from a local bike shop. They can buy their own. They might take the rideshare route and hop on a Lime Bike.
On Spokane streets that feature bike lanes, like those along 10th Avenue, e-bike users have some protection from the rush of traffic. But careless drivers can still drift over into a lane or make a careless right turn without checking blind spots for a rider.
On other streets, such as Division, there are no bike lanes, and e-bicyclists are allowed to share the traffic lanes with drivers. This becomes hazardous when motorists are distracted and don’t make room for a cyclist, or try to pass them without enough lane to get by safely.
One careless mistake can take riders off their bikes for weeks or months. An experienced Spokane bicycle accident lawyer would fully investigate what happened so that the blame stayed with the reckless driver.
What to Do After an Electric Bicycle Collision
First, think of your safety. If you are left on the road, try to reach a place where you can’t be struck by approaching drivers. Then, contact 911. Get officers and an ambulance on the way.
Once the scene is secure, and if you are left strong enough, it’s a good time to gather evidence of what happened. If you can’t gather these details, ask someone with you or a helpful witness to gather some evidence for you.
- Get checked out fully by paramedics
- Go to the emergency room if necessary
- Take photos of the damaged bike
- Take photos of any damage on the car
- Take photos of the entire scene, including street signs and lane markings
- Take photos of any visible injuries
- Take photos of your helmet if you were wearing one
- Get the driver’s information if an officer does not provide it to you
- Get witness contact information
- If you are seriously hurt, contact a lawyer
E-Bike Laws in Spokane
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW 46.04.169) states that electric bikes should not have a motor more powerful than 750 watts.
There is no specific age limit for riders on lower-powered bikes (Class 1 & 2 bikes). But Class 3 bikes that go faster are limited to riders 16 and older.
This is how the State DOT defines the three classes of legal electric bikes.
- Class 1 – An e-bike in which the motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling. The motor will cease to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 mph.
- Class 2 – An e-bike in which the motor may be used to exclusively propel the bicycle. The motor is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20mph.
- Class 3 – An e-bike in which the motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling. The motor ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 mph. The e-bike is also equipped with a speedometer.
In 2026, Spokane County leaders are finally allowing some e-bike use in county parks. Class 1 and Class 3 bikes will be permitted for use on trails. This has been the rule for e-bikes in state parks for a long while.
Spokane Municipal Code (SMC 12.06A.040) explains that E-bikes are generally allowed in Riverfront Park, although riders must observe a speed limit that is generally under 5 mph.
Do I Have to Wear a Helmet If I’m on an E-Bike in Spokane?
In many cases, e-bike riders must wear helmets. SMC 16A.62.030 explains that anyone riding a personal motorized transportation device must wear an approved bicycle safety helmet.
However, those on app-based e-bikes (rideshares) don’t have to wear a helmet if they are 18 or older.
Contact a Spokane E-Bike Accident Attorney
E-bike accident victims hurt by a careless driver can demand help with their medical bills, replacing the paychecks they lose at work, and for their pain and emotional trauma.
Contact us to set up a free case consultation. It’s an easy way to find out if you need a lawyer and what your next step should be.
And you don’t need to worry about how you’ll afford a lawyer at such a difficult time. If you need our help, we represent you with no upfront cost to you. We aren’t paid unless we win your case. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check a car insurance company must write for you.