Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Handling Defects
A few months ago a man who was test driving a 2011 Harley Tri-Glide trike went off the road after hitting a median and was severely injured when the bike fell on top of him.
Gregory Zenere is suing Harley because he feels that they failed to properly design, manufacture and fully test the Tri-Glide trike. In his lawsuit, he has indicated that when he attempted to steer the bike to the right on a curve the steering mechanism locked up and the bike kept going straight because the steering wheel couldn't be turned at that point. That is when he hit the median, and the bike flipped over onto him.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by a handling defect, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. You should contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who can give you legal advice and help you to determine who is liable for your injuries. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing Georgia motorcycle accident victims for over 39 years.
When you experience a problem with a motorcycle's steering alignment, steering head or handlebars, you are dealing with what is referred to as a handling defect. These handling defects can cause the loss of control. They are often the result of defective parts, lack of maintenance or parts worn out from overuse.
Regular servicing of a bike is one way to avoid any handling defect problems. The steering, handlebars, steering alignment, and steering head should all be checked and maintained with regularity before you experience any problems. You can hire a professional mechanic to help you or learn how to do this yourself. The important thing is to have it done.
The steering equipment on a motorcycle is full of parts that need greasing so if these parts are allowed to dry out and the lubrication disappears, then these parts can seize up and stop working. It is important to find a trustworthy mechanic that you can use.
New bikes can have problems too. You would expect that a bike that has just come off of the assembly line is fit and ready to go. This is not always the case. A part on the bike could have been improperly manufactured, or the bike may have been assembled incorrectly. If you are seriously injured because a motorcycle that you were riding failed to steer correctly, and you believe this was caused by someone else's negligence then you may have legal recourse.
If a defective motorcycle injured you, you may have grounds for a product liability claim or lawsuit. You may be able to make a claim against or sue the manufacturer of the motorcycle, the parts supplier and manufacturer and/or the dealership where you purchased the motorcycle. The Altanta motorcycle accident attorneys of Montlick and Associates are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.