Defective Bike Lawyers
Any type of vehicle can be dangerous under the right circumstances, but a bicycle affords the rider practically no protection whatsoever from the hard surface of the pavement, other vehicles, road hazards, and trees. Injuries received in bike accidents are often catastrophic such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and loss of limbs. When bikes have some kind of defect in their design or manufacture, the danger factor greatly increases. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed because of a defective bicycle, you may have a valid personal injury claim on your hands.
An estimated 750 people are killed, and more than 500,000 are injured annually in bicycle accidents all over the United States. Bicycle riders aged 5-14 make up about 30% of biker deaths each year. In some of these cases, a defective bicycle was to blame. Some of the most common bike defects attorneys see are:
- Faulty brakes
- Tire defects
- Faulty handle bars
Why defective?
Bicycles can be defective for many reasons:
- Negligent designed
- Poorly built
- Maintained in an unsafe manner
When a bike manufacturer allows a defective bicycle to be sold and ridden by a user who is then injured or killed in an accident, the manufacturer is most likely held liable for the injuries and/or death. The following are the more common types of bike defects:
- Suspension forks that separate from the frame or break apart
- Hand brakes that snap off or fail to work when squeezed
- Pedals or cranks that crack or fall off
- Faulty frame welding
- Chains that break
Sometimes, defective bicycles are recalled by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), bike manufacturers or government safety inspectors. The purpose of a recall is to remove a dangerous product from consumers before injuries or deaths occur. But, unfortunately, defects are sometimes not detected until lives are lost. If your loved one was injured by a bicycle that was later recalled because of a defect, you may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries.
Please contact an experienced defective products attorney in your area today to find out if you have a valid legal claim following your loss.
