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"A defective part on a motorcycle can be particularly dangerous and may not be apparent until it is too late.  Devastating collisions may be caused by defective parts which may go unnoticed," says Fort Myers Motorcycle Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Product liability laws provide protection for consumers who are injured by defective products. Defective motorcycles and motorcycle parts can often be caused by such failures as negligence in the design process, failure in the manufacturing process because of poor training or raw materials, improper assembling, faulty packaging and storage.  The machines which produce the motorcycle parts may also create defects because of a lack of, or insufficient maintenance. 

Finding out about motorcycle recalls may be difficult, but it is not impossible.  The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) provides bulletins and posts recall information on its website.  To see whether your motorcycle has a recall select "Vehicle", its year, make and model.  This will then have the information needed to see whether any component of the motorcycle has been recalled. However, the NHTSA may not have all the latest information on manufacturer recalls. Manufacturers sometimes issue their own recalls, even if the NHTSA does not.  It is recommended that motorcycle owners also check with the manufacturer of their motorcycle.

Here are just a couple of the recalls listed on Motorcyclist On Line.com in May and June of this year:

June 12, 2014 - Suspension Recall (#104287) 2014 BMW R1200 RT recalled by BMW of North America.  The recall covers motorcycles manufactured November 27, 2013 to May 5, 2014.  The affected vehicles have a dynamic electronic suspension adjustment rear shock absorber (ESA).  The piston rod within the rear shock absorber can break without warning causing loss of stability. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the dynamic ESA shock absorber free of charge.  Recall to begin this month.  BMW tells owners not to ride their motorcycles until they have been fixed. 950 motorcycles affected.

May 1, 2014 - Engine and Engine Cooling problems (#103584) 2014 Victory Vegas Eight Ball and 2015 Victory Gunner motorcycles recalled by Polaris Industries Inc.  The 872 motorcycles were manufactured between January 22, 2014 and April 25, 2014.  The crankcase may have been machined incorrectly causing insufficient clearance between the crankshaft and crankcase, causing the engine to unexpectedly seize.  The engine seizure may cause the operator to loose control of the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Motorcycle defects are especially dangerous and may make the motorcycle difficult to control as can be seen from the two recalls noted above. Here are more examples of defects causing motorcycle recalls: 

Brake Failure: Brake pads may malfunction which can lead to the sudden loss of braking efficiency and an increase in the stopping distance.

Engine Failure: Police motorcycles had to be recalled by a motorcycle manufacturer because the additional police accessories caused the main fuses to blow, thus causing engines to stall. 

Fuel Tank Malfunctions: An ignition source near a fuel leak created a fire risk on almost 1,000 motorcycles recently because drying raw materials were causing leaks.

Handlebars: Handlebar clamps cracked on over 1,000 motorcycles.  This cracking allowed the handlebar to move from its set position.  Motorcycle riders could lose control and crash because of the unexpected movement.

Tires: Motorcycle accidents can be caused by defective tires.  These defective tires can have blowouts, cause skidding, crossing lanes, spinning, swerving, hydroplaning and loss of control.

"The causes of motorcycle accidents may be difficult to determine, and having specialized legal representation is important," says Attorney Spivey.

Fort Myers Motorcycle 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.