E-Scooter and E-Bike Crashes: Liability, Insurance & Battery Fires (2025)

Why this matters in 2025

Micromobility is exploding in cities and suburbs alike—great for quick trips, not so great when a ride goes wrong. Injury data show a steady rise in emergency department visits linked to micromobility devices, and headline-making battery fires have pushed regulators and cities to tighten safety rules. If you were hurt in an incident involving an e-scooter or e-bike, understanding how e-scooter and e-bike crashes are evaluated—fault, coverage, and evidence—can be the difference between a denied claim and a fair settlement. For more case guides, visit our blog.

Common crash scenarios (and what liability might look like)

• Car vs. rider: A driver doors a bike lane, turns across a scooter, or rear-ends a cyclist. Liability often follows standard traffic rules—right of way, signaling, speed, distraction.
• Rental scooter/e-bike malfunction: Brake failure, stem or fork fracture, sudden power cut, or throttle surge may point to a product defect or negligent maintenance by a fleet operator.
• Road hazards: Loose grates, potholes, or debris can implicate a property owner or municipality if they neglected repair/warning duties (timing and notice are key).
• Battery/fire incidents: Charging or thermal runaway injuries may involve the bike/scooter maker, battery pack supplier, charger manufacturer, or aftermarket parts seller.

Who can be held responsible?

Depending on the facts, a claim might target one—or several—of the following:

• Motorists who violate traffic laws or fail to yield to vulnerable road users.
• Rental platforms/fleet operators for negligent maintenance, inadequate warnings, or defective equipment in their fleets.
• Manufacturers and distributors under product liability theories (design defect, manufacturing defect, failure to warn).
• Property owners or municipalities when unreasonable hazards caused or worsened the crash.

Liability basics for electric scooters track general negligence and product liability rules; specific defenses and insurance questions vary by state. When in doubt, get counsel early.

Insurance: what actually pays?

Coverage often depends on whether the device is rented or privately owned, and on state law:

• Auto liability policies of at-fault drivers typically cover injuries to riders.
• Home/renters policies may exclude motorized vehicles, but some cover e-bikes below certain power/speed thresholds; read the fine print.
• Rental platform coverage (if offered) can be limited and highly conditional—terms matter.
• UM/UIM (uninsured/underinsured motorist) can help if a hit-and-run driver or underinsured motorist is to blame.

Because exclusions and definitions are technical, your lawyer will map every potential policy and tender claims in parallel while protecting deadlines.

Battery fire risks: what’s changing

Lithium-ion batteries can fail catastrophically when damaged, improperly charged, or built with low-quality components. Several U.S. cities now require safety certification for devices and batteries sold within their limits, and federal safety agencies urge manufacturers and retailers to comply with recognized standards. In practice, that means verifying certification when you buy or rent, using the original charger, and avoiding aftermarket packs or “conversion” kits that bypass protections.

Safety standards you’ll hear about

• UL 2272 (personal e-mobility like hoverboards): electrical system safety.
• UL 2849 (e-bikes): system-level electrical safety covering battery, drive train, charger, and wiring.

Certified systems are not foolproof, but they reduce risk. Some local laws—particularly in large cities—now require UL-certified devices to be sold or rented. If your injury involved a non-certified device, that detail can matter in a product liability claim.

Proving fault in e-scooter and e-bike crashes

Winning on liability comes down to clean facts and preserved evidence. Build your file with:

• Scene photos/video: vehicles, positions, skid marks, roadway conditions, signals, lighting, and weather.
• Device details: serial number, model, firmware version, and rental ID (if applicable), plus any visible damage or missing parts.
• App logs & GPS: trip timestamps and route breadcrumbs from rental apps, fitness trackers, or phone location services.
• Dashcam/CCTV: nearby businesses or transit cameras (ask quickly—many overwrite in days).
• Medical records: prompt evaluation, imaging, and consistent symptom documentation; keep all bills and work restrictions.
• Battery/fire evidence: charger make/model, where and how charging occurred, surge protectors, and any prior repair/aftermarket modifications.

What damages can you recover?

Compensation may include medical costs (past/future), lost wages or diminished earning capacity, mobility aids and rehab, property damage, and non-economic losses such as pain, suffering, and emotional distress. In battery fire cases, scarring and burn care often drive damages; in impact crashes, head/orthopedic injuries and post-concussive symptoms are common.

Action plan after a crash (or battery incident)

1. Call 911 and get a police/incident report number; identify witnesses and exchange information.
2. Photograph everything, including the device, charger, surroundings, and any warning labels or QR codes.
3. Preserve the device and charger—do not repair or discard; store safely and avoid charging a damaged battery.
4. Seek medical care immediately and follow through on treatment plans; describe symptoms consistently.
5. Request CCTV quickly from nearby businesses and transit; many systems auto-delete within days.
6. Talk to a lawyer early to coordinate evidence preservation, put insurers on notice, and avoid recorded statements that can be used against you.

Rental vs. privately owned devices

Rental cases may raise negligent maintenance or failure-to-warn issues and often hinge on whether the platform performed required inspections. Privately owned device claims more often involve aftermarket parts, improper chargers, or DIY conversions that defeated safety systems. Both scenarios can support product claims when a design or manufacturing defect is involved.

Helmet laws and local rules

Helmet requirements, speed caps, sidewalk bans, and parking rules differ by city and state. Violations may affect fault allocation (comparative negligence), but they don’t automatically bar recovery. Ask your attorney how local rules interact with your facts and whether they’ll matter in negotiations or at trial.

FAQ: quick answers

Do I have a claim if I hit a pothole? Possibly—if the hazard was unreasonably dangerous and the entity responsible had notice and time to fix it.

What if the other driver fled? Your UM/UIM coverage can help; act quickly to document the hit-and-run and preserve footage.

What if the battery caught fire while charging? Keep the device and charger; a product expert can evaluate whether a defect or misuse caused the failure.

Related reading on our site

• Accident-Attorney.net Blog (latest guides)
• How to document injuries and expenses after a crash
• When multiple insurance policies might cover your case

Bottom line

e-scooter and e-bike crashes demand fast evidence preservation, smart liability theory, and careful insurance mapping. Battery incidents add a product-safety layer that can expand the parties and the value of the claim. If you were injured, speak with counsel early to protect your rights and position your case for a fair result.