What happens if your child causes an accident while riding an e-bike? LELAND, NC (WWAY) — As electric bicycles become more popular, many parents are asking an important question: What happens if your child causes an accident while riding one? “Typically parents are not going to be held responsible for the actions of their child, but in some circumstances they can,” Pettijohn said. “Where the parents might be held responsible is if they know their child’s doing wheelies, riding through residential areas, exceeding the posted speed limit, those sorts of things,” Pettijohn explained. “Someone’s responsible in every situation, whether or not it’s the parent or the child is really going to just be fact dependent on what the parent’s allowed the child to do,” Pettijohn added.