Lime Bike Accidents

As people embrace the need for carbon-neutral travel, bike sharing or rental schemes are taking off in cities around the world. In London, Lime has the largest fleet of e-bikes in the city. According to the company’s own messaging, 97% of Londoners are never more than two minutes from a Lime bike.

Yet, as Lime’s and other providers e-bike service has grown, so have the problems associated with it.

Rental companies have a legal duty to keep their bikes in good and safe condition, but with no need for dock or locking, bikes can end up vandalised or abandoned in dangerous locations. Novice ebike riders may also be unclear on the rules of the road.

Consequently, a number of accidents have been reported involving e-rental bikes, some of them very serious.

Our expert team are specialists in cycling accident claims, including injuries caused by rental e- bikes. We’ll work with you to make a claim and help you get the best care and compensation possible.

What are the common causes of rental e-bike accidents?

Lime bike accidents have a lot in common with cycling accidents.

Causes of accidents include being knocked off your bike by a car, collisions with pedestrians or other cyclists on shared paths, and car dooring.

Lime riders are also vulnerable to poor road conditions, such as potholes and icy weather.

However, there are also unique factors that contribute to Lime bike accidents. The biggest factor is the inexperience of many riders. With Lime and other e- bikes being so easily accessible, there are many people who have never ridden an e-bike before and may not be familiar with how to operate one safely.

Another contributing factor is the lack of proper maintenance and upkeep of Lime bikes by rental companies. While customers are expected to check their Lime bike for damage before riding it, defects may not be immediately visible or the rider may not have the knowledge to recognise them.

Riders risk serious injury if, for example, an e-bike travelling at 15 mph malfunctions and the rider loses control while riding in traffic. Both the rider and other road users may be injured in such a scenario. If a defective e- bike caused or contributed to the accident, all injured parties may be able to claim compensation.

What type of injuries might result from an rental e-bike accident?

Injuries from Lime bike accidents can range from minor to severe. Common injuries include:

• Lacerations and road rash
• Soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains and bruising
• Fractured bones, especially in the hands, wrists, arms and legs
• Head and brain injuries, especially if the rider is not wearing a helmet
• Spinal injuries which can be life-changing

It’s important to seek medical attention immediately after a e- bike accident to create a record of your injuries.

Your solicitor may also arrange for an independent medical expert to assess your injuries and prognosis for recovery. The amount of compensation you receive is calculated based on the type of injury, how long it will take you to recover, and the impact it will have on your life.

Who is liable for Lime bike accidents?

In general, there are four parties who may be liable for a Lime bike accident.

It is possible for more than one party to be at fault if they have both contributed to the accident in some way.

Motorists and other road users

Drivers have a duty to look out for all cyclists, including Lime bike riders and give them enough space on the road.

When accidents leave Lime bike riders injured, the driver of the other vehicle may be held responsible if their actions or negligence contributed to the accident.

Even if you’ve been injured in a hit and run and can’t identify the driver, you could still claim.

Lime Bike

Lime’s user agreement absolves the company of any claims, losses, liabilities, damages or injuries that occur while a rider is using a Lime bike.

However, despite this disclaimer, Lime owes a duty of care to its customers to ensure the bikes it rents out are safe to use.

If the bike is defective or not properly maintained, the company could be held liable for any resulting accidents or injuries.

Local Authorities

Local authorities are responsible for maintaining and repairing roads, paths and cycle lanes. If an e- bike accident occurs due to hazardous road conditions, such as potholes or debris in the bike lane, then the local authority may be held responsible.

These claims depend on factual evidence about the state of the road and whether the local authority responded to reports of potential hazards in a timely manner. They have a better chance of success when you work with an experienced solicitor.

Rider’s liability

In some cases, the rider may be partially at fault due to their own actions or negligence. This may happen where the rider:

• Disobeys instructions or safety recommendations from the e-bike rental company, such as engaging Training Mode for early riders
• Fails to wear a helmet (which is not a legal requirement but is highly recommended by Lime)
• Rides under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Used their phone while riding
• Does not obey traffic laws such as skipping a red light
• Rides recklessly such as going faster than is safe for the road and weather conditions

In these cases, the amount of compensation awarded may be reduced to reflect the rider’s level of liability.

However, even in situations where the rider is partially at fault, they may still be entitled to some compensation if another party was also responsible for the accident.

Recent client Lime bike stories

Recent examples of cases where we have acted—for clients nationwide—include:

• Recovery of personal injury damages after the seat of the Lime bike collapsed, causing the rider to fall off. The still-spinning pedal hit the rider causing a compound fracture to his ankle.
• A successful claim against Lime bike when the bike became impossible to ride on a road with a steep incline. Our client got off to inspect the bike and all seemed well but, on re-mounting, the Lime bike shot forward and the front wheel lifted off the ground, forcing the claimant off their bike.
• We acted for one client where a flat tyre prompted the client to stop and attempt to replace the Lime bike. As they turned to stop the bike, they fell off, suffering moderate injuries.
• Our client was riding a Lime bike when the seat collapsed, causing him to fall off. He suffered a fractured skull and injuries to his hands. This case is ongoing and in the process of obtaining medical evidence, but we are confident the claim will result in a significant damages award.

Steps to take after a rental e-bike accident

1. Seek medical attention: Your health and safety should always be your top priority. Even if you feel fine, it’s a good idea to get checked by a professional as some injuries may not show symptoms right away.
2. Document the scene: Take photos of the accident scene, including any damages to the bike, road conditions, other vehicles involved and any visible injuries. Get contact information from any witnesses who saw what happened, and get the driver’s insurance details if another road user was involved.
3. Report the accident: Report the incident to the rental company, the local authority and the police and keep copies of those reports. Lime bike’s terms and conditions say that you must file a report with the local police department within 24 hours if the claim involves personal injury or property damage.
4. Obtain legal advice: We’re one of the few law firms in the country that has a dedicated cycling accident team. We will help gather evidence for your claim and ensure the proper reports are filed to support your claim for compensation.

What compensation can I claim?

There is no set amount you could claim for a Lime bike accident.

When we know the details of your accident, we will calculate how much money you might be able to get as compensation. This could cover things like:

• Pain and suffering caused by your injury
• Any wages you’ve lost because you couldn’t work
• The cost of your medical care and recovery
• Changes you need to make to your home or car because of your injury
• Extra expenses like travel or special equipment you’ve had to buy

How to make a bike accident claim with Osbornes Law

The arrival of thousands of rental e- bikes on the streets of London has left many individuals injured and in need of legal support. Our personal injury solicitors have helped clients in hundreds of cycling accidents and ebike claims. We have the expert knowledge to value your claim and secure the compensation you deserve. We are the legal partners to the London Cycling Campaign and have been providing specialist help to their members since 2014.

We handle most Lime bike claims on a no-win, no-fee basis. This means you can make your claim without any financial risk and our goal is to secure the maximum compensation possible for you.

We offer free, no-obligation consultations where we can review your case and give you honest advice on your chances of success. If you’re happy for us to take your case, we’ll gather evidence in support of your claim and have your injuries examined by independent medical experts. We’ll then ask the person responsible to accept fault for your injuries and ask their insurer to agree to pay compensation.

We settle most Lime bike accident claims out of court. If we need to go to court to get you compensation, we’ll support you throughout the process and make sure you always know what’s happening with your claim.

To speak with one of our solicitors, contact us by:

• Filling in our online enquiry form; or
• Calling us on 020 7485 8811