Doctors Warn of Increase in E-Bike Accidents Among Children
Kids have been riding bicycles around their neighborhoods for decades without too many issues, but electronic bicycles are raising concerns among doctors and traffic safety advocates.
Tennessee is seeing a growing number of children suffering serious injuries while riding electric bikes.
An e-bike looks much like a traditional bicycle, but it includes an electric motor, a rechargeable battery, and a controller that work together to help propel the bike. Because e-bikes can travel significantly faster than traditional bicycles, they bring about safety concerns.
Many of the serious injuries reported by hospitals involve riders who are inexperienced with the higher speeds and acceleration that e-bikes can achieve. This is particularly true when it comes to children.
Physicians at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt have treated nearly 30 children for e-bike-related injuries in the past 90 days alone, which is an average of one injured child every three days. Medical professionals report that many of these injuries are far more severe than the scrapes and bruises typically associated with traditional bicycle accidents. They are seeing more severe injuries, including broken bones, internal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
According to hospital officials, the average injured rider is about 12 years old. In one particularly serious case, a child suffered a traumatic brain injury that required emergency surgery to relieve pressure on the brain. Doctors say helmet use remains a major concern, noting that many injured children were not wearing protective headgear at the time of their crashes.
In response to the increase in injuries, AAA has launched its “E-Ride Ready” safety campaign to help parents better understand the risks associated with e-bikes and e-scooters. The campaign provides guidance on selecting appropriate helmets, understanding different classes of e-bikes, and teaching children the rules of the road. AAA emphasizes that e-bikes should be treated as motorized vehicles rather than toys due to their speed and potential for serious crashes.
Safety advocates are also encouraging parents to establish clear riding rules, including where children may ride, how to navigate intersections safely, and the importance of using hand signals and obeying traffic laws. Officials say many close calls and collisions occur when young riders weave through neighborhoods, ignore traffic controls, or fail to anticipate other vehicles and pedestrians.
The concerns in Tennessee mirror a broader national trend. Hospitals across the country have reported sharp increases in pediatric e-bike injuries, prompting doctors to urge families to prioritize safety training, helmet use, and supervision before allowing children to ride.
Contact Us Today
E-bikes are popular among children but they are not safe. They need to be ridden properly and riders need to follow all applicable laws.
Children on bikes are not evenly matched against adults driving passenger vehicles. Children are vulnerable to serious injuries and fatalities. A Mt. Juliet child injury lawyer from The Law Offices of Christopher Eads, PLLC can provide families with the help they need during this time. We can pursue the full compensation a seriously injured child needs. Schedule a consultation by filling out the online form or calling (615) 622-6060.
Source:
wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/tennessee-doctors-aaa-warn-of-child-e-bike-injuries/
