E-bike accidents surge as doctors warn of rising injury risks in 2023

E-bike accidents requiring medical treatment surged in 2023, reaching figures one and a half times higher than the previous year. Doctors have now issued warnings about the growing risks linked to these popular electric bicycles. Key factors include rider fatigue, medication use, and the failure to wear helmets—all contributing to severe injuries. Between 2017 and 2023, 103 injured e-bike riders received treatment at hospitals. Over a third of these cases resulted in hospitalisation, highlighting the seriousness of the incidents. The weight of e-bikes—around 20 kilograms—makes them harder to control during a fall, increasing the likelihood of injury.

Michael Zyskowski, lead senior physician, described the situation as a 'devastating chain reaction' caused by e-bike accidents. He pointed to motor assistance as a potential cause for riders underestimating their physical exhaustion. Fatigue, combined with blood-thinning medication and the absence of helmets, was identified as a major risk factor. Data from Germany shows a sharp rise in e-bike accidents needing medical care, jumping from around 20,000 to over 40,000 cases per year between 2021 and 2025. This increase outpaces conventional bicycle accidents, which rose from 60,000 to 70,000 in the same period. Similar trends have been observed in countries like the Netherlands and Denmark, where e-bike usage is high. Doctors strongly advised all e-bike users to wear helmets, noting that most severe head injuries could have been prevented with proper protection.

The rise in e-bike accidents has led to stricter safety recommendations. With more than a third of injured riders requiring hospital stays, the risks are clear. Wearing helmets and recognising physical limits remain critical steps to reducing severe injuries among e-bike users.