Brenzlig: Kleiner Sturz mit dem E-Bike: Muss ich dann den Akku prüfen?

In a minor bicycle accident, the individual was unhurt and the bike appeared undamaged, so they continued riding. However, months later, the vehicle caught fire in a carport next to a building owned by the rider. The fire caused significant damage to the neighboring building. A court ruled that the individual was not obligated to have the bike inspected for potential damage following the fall.

This applies when both the battery and wheel appear unaffected and the bike remains drivable. If, in the end, a fire does occur, the owner is not generally responsible. This decision comes from the Oberlandesgericht (OLG) in Oldenburg (case number: 9 U 8/26), referenced by the German Lawyers' Association's Working Group on Transport Law (DAV).

In a specific winter case, a man was riding his e-bike on an icy sidewalk and fell off. Neither the bike nor the battery showed any signs of damage. The bike was ridden for two months after the incident without issues. However, the e-bike later caught fire in a carport adjacent to the owner's rented house, causing substantial damage to the building.

The building's insurance company demanded compensation from the homeowner's liability insurance, which belonged to the man's mother. She argued that the homeowner should have had the battery inspected for damage after the fall, as warned by safety notices and media. The case went to court, and the courts unanimously found against the homeowner's claim.

The Landgericht Oldenburg dismissed the argument, ruling that the homeowner faced no liability. Simplified, the court explained that while a battery in an e-bike could theoretically pose a fire risk, such fires were extremely rare according to manufacturers. Therefore, no premature, costly inspection was required after a minor fall or slight stumble without visible damage.

Neither manufacturer advice nor legal requirements mandated regular maintenance or checks following minor disturbances. The court concluded that no violation of the traffic safety duty had occurred, as there were no signs of problems in the bike's operation two months after the incident.