How Comparative Fault Can Impact Your Houston TX E-Bike Settlement | Expert Local Lawyers

As Houston has invested in infrastructure to make electric bikes a viable transportation option, more residents are opting for this convenient, low-emission way to travel. Despite the robust network of trails and bike lanes, the city still sees a significant number of e-bike accidents. These crashes can be complex, resulting in severe injuries and involving multiple responsible parties.

The Houston personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw have extensive experience with Texas’s comparative fault rule that allows accident victims to hold multiple parties liable for their injuries. If you were injured while operating an e-bike, our team of experts is available 24/7 to provide free case reviews in English or Spanish. Call us toll-free today at 1-800-862-1260.

The higher speeds of e-bikes make them more prone to serious crashes than other bicycles. The motors, batteries, and mechanical components on e-bikes may also malfunction, leaving drivers unable to safely maneuver the bike. Common causes of e-bike accidents include:

• Other motorists who are distracted or speeding
• Drivers who fail to see e-bikes in their blind spots
• Drivers opening their door in the path of an e-bike
• Pedestrians who walk in bike lanes or in front of bikes
• Road hazards like potholes, gravel, or uneven pavement
• E-bike battery malfunctions that cause explosions or fires
• Other e-bike malfunctions

When you hire a personal injury attorney after your e-bike accident, the first thing they will do is investigate the incident to identify the causes of the crash and the parties responsible. In some cases, there may be multiple causes and at-fault parties. That’s where comparative fault comes in.

Texas’s comparative fault rule allows accident victims and their lawyers to hold all responsible parties liable for injuries and related losses. For example, you might have experienced defective brakes on your e-bike at the same time a motorist cut in front of you at an intersection. In this situation, you could hold both the driver and the bike manufacturer liable, based on their percentage of fault for your accident.

You can even pursue damages from the responsible parties if you contributed to your accident. Say you run a stop sign at an intersection, and another driver was speeding through the intersection when they hit you. As long as your portion of fault is 50% or less, you can seek damages from the other at-fault party. However, your percentage of fault will be deducted from your settlement amount.

The investigation is just the first part of your personal injury claim. Once your attorney identifies the at-fault parties, they must prove that each party’s negligence led to your injuries. Negligence involves the following elements:

• The responsible party had a duty of care to act reasonably and not cause harm to others
• The party breached that duty through their actions or inactions
• The breach led to the victim’s bodily harm or harm to personal property
• The breach was the direct and actual cause of the victim’s harm
• The victim would not have been injured if not for the party’s breach

You must demonstrate negligence for every at-fault party for you to seek damages from them.

When you are seriously injured in an e-bike accident, the impact on your life and your financial health can be far-reaching. Fortunately, you can seek damages for all your potential losses, including:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement and disability
• Reduced quality of life

Your lawyer will calculate your damages based on your current expenses and losses you may incur in the future.

Personal injury claims after an e-bike accident can be complicated and involve multiple parties. The legal team at Carabin Shaw can help, as our client reviews demonstrate. Our expert attorneys offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, so you don’t pay anything until we win your case. We are available now at 1-800-862-1260.

For more information:

• https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&code=CP&chapter=CP.33&artSec=
• https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/negligence
• https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&code=CP&chapter=CP.41&artSec=