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Lever & Ecker, PLLC April 18, 2019 General
CITI BIKE PULLS ITS ELECTRIC PEDAL-ASSIST BIKES OUT OF SERVICE
Due to multiple reports of malfunctioning brakes, Citi Bike has pulled all of its approximately 1,000 electric bicycles from the streets of New York City. Citi Bike reported that users experienced a “stronger than expected braking force on the front wheel.” As a result of these malfunctions, The New York Times has reported, riders have been ejected from their Citi Bike electric bicycles, launched over the handlebars, and thrown to the ground.
Motivate, a subsidiary of Lyft, which owns and operates Citi Bike, took similar precautions with its other bike-sharing services—Capital Bikeshare in Washington and Ford GoBike in San Francisco. Approximately 3,000 electric bicycles have been removed from the streets of these three cities.
Citi Bike posted a statement on its site regarding the recall, which can be found here: Citi Bike Service Update: Pedal-Assist Bikes. Similar messages were later posted on the Ford GoBike (San Francisco) and Capital Bikeshare (DC) websites.
As reports of severe injuries sustained by riders due to malfunctioning electric bicycles continue to emerge, we expect to see numerous lawsuits filed across the country against Motivate, Lyft, and perhaps other companies, for the negligent design and manufacture of defective Citi Bike bicycles, defective Ford GoBike bicycles, and defective Capital Bikeshare bicycles.
As this recall demonstrates, electric bicycles are more dangerous than they look! Multiple accidents have been reported already, just months after their introduction.
While electric bikes are often viewed as a safe, convenient and brisk means of travel, as many riders are learning the hard way, convenience can come with a price. When it comes to electric bikes, that price can come in the form of accidents, injuries, and even deaths.
Widespread reports indicate the incidence of electric bike accidents across the county is rapidly increasing, with the arrival of electric bikes in almost every state, including New York.
As the use of electric bicycles is spreading, we’re already seeing injury accidents on our streets. The potential for serious injury is high in an electric bicycle accident, particularly due to the lack of bodily protection. Accidents causes can range from a bicycle malfunction, a pedestrian being hit by a rider, a rider being hit by another rider or vehicle, a pothole, and much more. If an accident is caused by the negligence of the other party, a personal injury claim can arise in your favor and you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries.
LEVER & ECKER, PLLC fights hard to obtain monetary compensation for our clients in New York and throughout the country. Our accident attorneys have won millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients.
If you or a loved one have been in an electric bicycle accident and sustained serious injury, take action! Contact one of LEVER & ECKER, PLLC’S experienced personal injury attorneys at (914) 288-9191. We will tell you if you have a case. Do not sit on your rights, and do not delay.
We offer free consultations. We charge zero upfront fees and provide a FREE case evaluation. You only pay if we win, so you have nothing to lose by speaking with us. Our only goal is to protect your right to full and fair compensation for your damages. For a free consultation, call (914) 288-9191, or contact us online. We answer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
