Although defective bicycle parts are the most common cause of bike injuries, that doesn’t automatically exclude them.
When a cyclist, or anyone for that matter, suffers harm through no fault of their own, the at-fault party or parties should be accountable for related damages. So when a defective product injures someone, anyone responsible for supplying that product could be considered liable. That may include multiple parties such as the manufacturer, the distributor, and the retailer.
To determine the liability of a defective product, there are certain considerations, namely:
- Design: Was the injury a result of a design error in the product? Many design defects end up weakening the structural integrity of a product, making it more dangerous.
- Manufacturing: Sometimes, a defect in the manufacturing process leads to a product defect. Were it not for the manufacturing defect, the product would be safe.
What if the bike I was riding was someone else’s? If you borrowed someone else’s bike, you can still file a claim for an inherently defective part that is responsible for a crash that ended up injuring you.
What if the bike was manufactured by a foreign company? It doesn’t matter. If the company is selling its products and services in the United States, they must abide by our safety laws and face their accusers in U.S. courts.
