Tesla once again finds themselves at the center of another accident. Tesla cars boast their autopilot function is supposed to make driving easier and prevent accidents. However, Tesla drivers have the highest accident rate alongside BMW and Ram drivers.  

Tesla vehicles and e-bikes are two of the rising causes of accidents in SoCal. A boy riding an e-bike on Del Mar Heights Road was hit by a Tesla Model Y car as the boy tried turning left from the bike lane. The boy was taken to a hospital where he had surgery for his life-threatening injuries: a broken clavicle and multiple head injuries.  

When a cyclist is hit by a car, there is no doubt that they will have serious injuries. If you find yourself injured while you’re on your bike or scooter, contact a Los Angeles personal injury law firm.  

Vaziri Law, LLLP, has over 200 years of combined experience advocating for clients. We’ve helped our clients recover over $1 billion in compensation for personal injury cases. Call us today for your free consultation!  

What Happened?  

In May 2025, a young boy was riding his e-bike on the road. In the middle of attempting to make a left hand turn from the bike lane, the boy collided with the passenger side of a Tesla Model Y. During the collision, the boy flew onto the windshield which knocked off his helmet. As a result, the child suffered multiple head injuries and a broken clavicle. The child was placed in a medically induced coma and recently awoke. The doctors report that he was able to recognize his family. However, it is unknown if the brain damage from the accident will affect the boy’s recovery.  

What about the Driver? 

The driver was a 64-year-old man who was driving his Tesla. The police report that the man was sober at the time of the collision. However, no other information about the driver is available at this time.  

What Makes Bike Accidents Fatal?  

Bike accidents can be fatal simply because a car weighs more. A bike is also not as protective as a car. There’s nothing besides a helmet, arm guards, and knee guards protecting cyclists from the sheer force of a car. Pair this with potentially high speeds on the road, and you have the perfect recipe for fatality. However, there are also other factors that can cause an accident. 

Lack of Bike Lanes 

Many roads don’t have proper bike lanes. Most of the time, the bike lane is considered the part of the road where cars park. If there are cars parked on the road, then bikes ride on the road alongside vehicles or they swerve on and off the sidewalks, risking an accident with a pedestrian.  

In the child’s case, there was a bike lane. However, the bike lane is usually on the right side of the road. This makes a left turn extremely difficult and dangerous if other drivers on the road aren’t paying attention to cyclists.  

Multi-Lane Roads 

Mult-lane roads can make it difficult for cyclists to make proper turns. As bicycle lanes are usually on the far right of the road, it makes getting to the left side of the road a dangerous task, especially if there are cars going at almost double or triple the speed of a bike. 

Poor Street Lighting 

Poor lighting can make seeing a bicycle difficult even if the cyclist is wearing the proper reflective safety gear. Night cyclists should take the proper precautions to stay visible on the road to help lower their chances of being struck by a car. Even if you’re driving in a well-lit area, it’s best to keep yourself visible on the road.  

Are E-Bike Accidents Common? 

E-bike and e-scooter accidents have become commonplace across the United States, With the rise of rental scooters, a lot of people who use them are careless and leave these rental vehicles thrown across streets and roads, leading to accidents.  

Riders also engage in risky behaviors such as riding without helmets and riding while under the influence.  

What are the Types of E-Bikes?  

There are three types of e-bikes.  

Class 1– These bikes are low speed and pedal assisted electric bikes. These bikes only move if you’re pedaling.  

Class 2 – These bikes have a motor that may be used to move the bike, but will stop once you reach 20 mph.  

Class 3 – These bikes are the most similar to motorbikes as they are only allowed to be ridden on city roads. They reach top speeds of 27 mph, therefore rendering them a viable threat on sidewalks and other pedestrian areas.  

What Makes E-Bikes Dangerous?  

E-bikes can be dangerous on pedestrian roads. With top speeds of 27 mph, e-bikes can cause devastating accidents if they collide with pedestrians. This, paired with cycling under the influence and/or without proper safety equipment, can create the perfect storm for a fatal accident for the cyclist and/or a pedestrian. 

What are the Most Common E-Bike Accident Injuries? 

Common injuries from head-on collisions can be very serious and life-altering. The most common ones include:  

• Head Injuries  

These injuries include traumatic brain injury, concussions, skull fractures, or a hematoma to name a few.  

• Spinal Cord Injuries 

A spinal cord injury can lead to paralysis and other bodily problems like bladder function and chronic back pain. 

• Broken Bones 

If you’re on a bike and get hit by a car, you’ll probably go flying across the road. Being hit by a 4,000-pound vehicle going at about 30mph will fracture a few bones if you’re lucky. If not, then it can be expected to break an arm, a leg, and maybe a couple of ribs.  

• Road Rash 

Road rash is what happens when your skin skids across pavement or a rough surface. Most of the time, road rash is a surface-level injury and will heal on its own. In more severe cases, skin grafts would be required to make a full recovery.  

• Internal Bleeding 

In an accident, you can experience internal bleeding if you experience blunt force trauma, but there is no exit wound.  

• Facial Injuries 

Getting hit by a vehicle while you’re on a bike can lead to various facial injuries such as broken teeth, bruising, broken bones, and road rash.  

What Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for Me? 

If you were harmed in an e-bike accident, it is the job of the insurance company and your attorney to determine negligence and liability. This is the foundation for all personal injury cases.  

Submitting photos, videos, dashcam footage, police reports, witness testimony, medical records, and/or receipts of lost wages can help your case. By submitting all the evidence you collected at the scene, your personal injury law firm in Los Angeles can make the best case for you.  However, this does not mean that you will not be found partially liable yourself. 

Comparative Negligence  

One key thing to remember is that California practices comparative negligence. This means that every single party involved in the accident may hold some fault. Using the evidence collected by all parties, the court determines fault in percentages.  

For example, in a three-way car accident, one car could hold 60% of fault while another holds 10% and another holds 30%. When these numbers are presented in a personal injury case, that means that each person can sue for the percentage of fault they didn’t have. If the person who holds 10% of fault would like to sue, they could receive 90% of the full award amount because they only hold 10% of fault.  

FAQ 

How Common Are Left Turn Accidents?  

Very common! Left turns can be nerve-wracking, especially when they aren’t protected. At an unprotected intersection, the success of a left turn depends on a driver’s judgment and ability to gauge oncoming traffic. If a driver is turning left and another driver is barreling down the road without stopping, a T-bone accident could occur. This can also happen if the turning driver misjudges how fast an oncoming driver with the right of way is driving.  

What’s Being Done About E-Bikes? 

E-bikes have caused a lot of harm to communities due to riders driving recklessly and leaving them thrown along roads and sidewalks. In fact, it’s gotten to the point where the city of Los Angeles is banning e-bikes on outdoor trails. This is the city’s way of keeping e-bikes in bicycle lanes to keep the general public safe.  

Do I Need a License for an E-Bike? 

If your e-bike is below the 28mph and 750W baseline, then you do not need a license. If your e-bike exceeds that, you will need to obtain a license, registration, and insurance for the vehicle. However, to ride a class 3 e-bike you must be over 16. All bike riders should wear a helmet, regardless of the class of e-bike they ride. 

How Do E-Scooters Differ From E-Bikes? 

E-scooters are similar to class 3 e-bikes as they cannot be ridden on sidewalks and require riders to wear a helmet. The main difference between the two is that an e-scooter’s top speed is 15 mph compared to a class 3 e-bike’s 27 mph. 

I Thought Tesla Cars Had Computers to Avoid Crashes. What Happened? 

Most new cars have built-in computers that make drivers aware of their surroundings. In theory, they are supposed to help lower the chances of an accident happening. However, with Tesla cars having the highest rates of accidents, often due to malfunctions and defects, it’s difficult to make a case for the driver or the computer without strong evidence supporting their claim.  

E-Bike Accident Lawyers in Los Angeles Are Ready to Help 

If you find yourself in an accident with a Tesla or an e-bike, then contacting a personal injury law firm in Los Angeles like Vaziri Law, LLP, can help you get the compensation you deserve.