Motorcycles are complex machines, and no matter the brand or sticker price, things can go wrong. Companies sometimes manufacture motorcycles with defective parts subject to a recall. When someone is injured in a motorcycle accident caused by a faulty part, they might be able to retain an experienced attorney who can bring a lawsuit for damages.
When you learn your bike has been recalled, an attorney experienced in motorcycle defects and recalls in Temple can provide information about what to do next. A skilled attorney can explain the law regarding product liability and recalls and help you evaluate possible legal options for recovery.
As with any vehicle, a motorcycle has many different components that can be the subject of a design or manufacturing defect that causes safety issues for the rider. These parts are all over the vehicle and can include:
Federal law requires manufacturers to notify customers about defects when they discover them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigates motorcycle defects, and, along with manufacturers, the NHTSA can initiate recalls of defective products impacting riders in Temple.
When someone is notified that they have a bike with a defective part, they can generally solve the problem by taking the bike to the dealer to fix or replace the part. But things are far more problematic in cases where someone gets injured because of that faulty part and only later learns that it was or should have been recalled. In these kinds of cases, the injured person might be able to bring a product liability lawsuit to get compensation for their injuries.
Manufacturers have a duty to customers to make and sell safe products. When they breach that duty, a person can sue them for product liability for making an inherently defective product, putting a product into commerce with a manufacturing defect, or failing to warn consumers about safety issues involved with the product. When someone in Temple is injured because of a defective motorcycle part that has been the subject of a recall, they might be able to bring a product liability lawsuit under one of these three theories of liability.
Importantly, the plaintiff in a product liability lawsuit does not need to show the defendant was negligent or careless. Product liability cases involve strict liability, and defendants are liable for damages when they breach their duty, whether or not they were negligent.
Motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries and even death. A product liability lawsuit is designed to make the injured person as whole as possible, and the damages they can recover can include compensation for physical pain and suffering, medical bills, rehabilitation costs, disfigurement, and lost income and job opportunities.
A Temple lawyer experienced in recalls and defective motorcycles can evaluate whether someone has a potentially successful product liability lawsuit. The attorney can also assess the appropriate defendant or defendants in the case, which might include the motorcycle manufacturer, manufacturer of the defective part, or even the dealer.
Product liability lawsuits can be hard-fought battles, with an injured person going up against powerful corporations that try to avoid losing by attempting to shift blame in various ways. An individual needs to secure the help of lawyers with the experience, resources, and toughness to fight these battles to the end.
When you have been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by a defective part, you want to explore all your legal avenues for compensation. An attorney experienced with motorcycle defects and recalls in Temple can be essential to your recovery.
You might be entitled to damages to compensate you for everything you have been through. Call today for a consultation.