So many spot on comments above regarding clips vs flats. Bottom line it was a learning curve to stay clear of the spinning pins!
After 3 months on this forum your wife's unfortunate accident was the first I've come across due to the small pins on the pedals.
I used clipless on my acoustic bike for over 50 years. I never felt comfortable with them as they were too hard to release in an emergency situation. But for supplying power to your bike on the upstroke there is nothing better as your leg and riding shoe are part of the pedal. But with an ebike I no longer need that upstroke power as the motor supplies that for me.
My Giant came with flat pedals that have less aggressive type pins than the new ones I have now,, but they both still nick up my legs as it's a learning curve as another poster said. We need to stay clear of the moving pedals especially while walking beside the bike or unloading it from a car rack. Most of my leg nicks over my past 3 months and 3 different ebikes were not caused while riding. Great comment by the poster who said you need to learn keep your weight on the pedal. It's way too easy to slide off when the motor is doing the heavy lifting for you.
The first ebike I bought was a Trek Verve which was more of a commuter style and the pedals had like wavy metal front and back edges which held you shoe in great, but they still nicked up my legs.
I had to invest in a 100 count box of band aids in my first month
.
As a hobby I collect and sharpen higher end folding knives with a Wicked Edge sharpenng system. Early in the learning curve I cut myself plenty. Now I can't remember the last time I knicked myself because just like playing a piano., you eventually train your muscles so your motions become automatic.
Go to a bike decent shop and they will have a number of less aggressive flat pedals. Or browse Amazon. Look for the style with the rubber type protrusions. She can always go back to the pins in the future if she chooses too.
I was looking forward to the cooler weather, just so I could wear long biking pants again
. I bought two pair of fleece lined thermal, padded biking pants off Amazon to extend my biking season. They are of a great quality for the price (see pic) and no more nicks!
Like I said I was getting more nicks off the bike than on! Like carrying my bike up and down the stairs from my basement, walking beside it or loading on and off the car's bike rack or scratching up your mates bike while on the rack. Check out these "quality" Granite pedal covers (pictured) with a velcro closure that were also off Amazon for like $20 ($10 a pedal is cheaper than band aids over the long run
). And they are the perfect protection when you are off your bike. I got them in the large size and they also protect my expensive DMR Vault pedals from scratches during transport.
Risk assessment is based on imagining what might go wrong, then trying to prevent the scenario or minimizing the potential injury.
