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When riding a motorcycle, the riders are particularly vulnerable, even more so when there are defects to any of the motorcycle parts. These parts are numerous and may be damaged and/or recalled. Should this happen, the motorcyclist may lose control, have an accident and sustain serious injuries to him/herself or others on the road. 

According to Roadrunner/Travel, here are some of the more common motorcycle part defects: 

• Defective Brakes — When brakes fail, consequences for motorcycle riders can be disastrous. A brake failure may result in an inability to slow or stop when needed, and that can lead to a collision.
• Defective Tires or Wheels — When wheels or tires do not work, as they should, that could result in loss of the rider’s ability to control the motorcycle. The motorcycle could wobble, swerve, or skid across lanes. A tire blowout could cause the motorcycle to crash.
• Defective Handlebar — The handlebar is the motorcycle’s steering mechanism. When the handlebar is defective, the rider may not be able to properly steer the motorcycle and may lose control and crash.
• Defective Fuel Line or Tank — Defective fuel lines or fuel tanks create a serious fire risk that could cause severe burns to the rider.
• Defective Engine — When engine parts malfunction, the motorcycle may suddenly stall and cause the rider to crash.

To learn more about defective motorcycles and motorcycle parts, go to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Safercar.gov website. You may also register complaints on the same website.

There have been lawsuits initiated because of motorcycle recalls. According to Roadrunner/Travel:

“In 2010, a manufacturer faced a class action lawsuit after reports from consumers claimed that defective piston rings made some motorcycles prone to on-the-road failure during use, putting riders at serious risk for a crash. In 2011, another motorcycle manufacturer also faced a class action lawsuit because some of their motorcycles had defective designs that caused their engines to overheat and cause clothing to catch fire. This defect inflicted burns to riders and their passengers.”

Motorcycle and motorcycle part manufacturers may be held responsible, as mentioned in the above case, if they should have known that the design could cause injury. A manufacturing defect, on the other hand, occurs when there is a deviation in the manufacturing process from the original design, or there is an error(s) in assembly. 

“There are special laws and protections that apply to motorcycle accident cases in Florida. These laws enable motorcycle accident injury victims to recover for damages as a result of a motorcycle accident. These include: 

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Long and short-term medical care expenses
• Lost wages 

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the experienced lawyers at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. to determine your rights,” said Fort Myers Motorcycle Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey. “We have handled virtually every type of motorcycle accident case, ranging from minor road rash injuries to catastrophic injury and death.”

Ft. Myers Motorcycle Accident Attorney,  Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.