Defective Scooters and Mopeds
Just driving and riding in a car is dangerous enough with all of the road hazards, high volume of vehicles, and distracted drivers, but when you are riding on a moped or scooter, with very little protection, the danger is even greater. If you are the owner of a bike, motorcycle, moped or scooter, you know that there is very little protecting you from the hard surface of the road and other vehicles. Wearing a helmet and protective clothing certainly helps, but even taking these precautions cannot fully save you from serious injury. With all of those challenges already before you, driving a defective scooter or moped will only make a dangerous situation even worse.
Numbers don't lie
In a recent six-year period, the following statistics were released:
- 36% of scooter accidents were caused by the scooter driver
- The environment (road condition) accounts for about 35% of all scooter and moped accidents
- Broken bones occur in one-quarter of all scooter-related accidents
- About 20% of scooter accidents are the result of defective scooters
- 66% of all scooter accident injury victims are under the age of 15
Due to the lack of protection, the injuries suffered by a bicyclist, motorcyclist, scooter rider, or moped rider is typically very serious. When a car hits someone on a moped or scooter, the collision can result in a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or loss of limb.
Some of the most common defects found in mopeds and scooters are:
- Defective handlebars
- Defective brakes
- Defect in the fuel line
Who is liable?
Defective products may have flaws in the design or the manufacture of the product. Products liability lawsuits can be brought against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who fail to follow safety regulations regarding product engineering, design, manufacturing, and instructions for use.
Often times, moped and scooter and drivers are blamed for their accident because people claim they did not operate the vehicle correctly. While that may be the case in some accidents, it is not always the case. The fact is that many manufacturers are held liable for failing to engineer safety into their products and failing to protect people who might use the product in an unreasonable way. Even if you were not following exact instructions or were driving carefully, you may still have a legitimate case if you were injured while using a defective moped or scooter.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to a defective scooter, please contact an experienced products liability/defective product attorney in your area today.
