Bicycle Product Defects May Cause Georgia Bicycle Accidents

With the millions of bicyclists on our roads today, accidents do happen. There are actually about 580,000 visits to emergency rooms by injured cyclists each year. Approximately 750 of the bicycle accident victims who make trips to the emergency room are killed annually.

While many of these emergency room visits are caused by bike accidents involving motor vehicles, some of them are caused by defective bicycles. Defects in the design or manufacturing of a bicycle can lead to serious bike accidents because they are so unexpected. When a failure in the integrity of a bicycle frame occurs or a part malfunctions it can cause a rider to go down, seriously injuring him.

Over the years, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has cracked down on safety features and the inclusion of detailed, clear instructions for bicycle assembly and maintenance. This has helped bicycle manufacturers to cover themselves when it comes to their product and its viability. There are still recalls going on today, however, and consumers have to be aware of these bicycle and bicycle part recalls. For a listing of these visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/prod.aspx and select the category "Bicycles and Accessories".

Bicycle manufacturers can recall bicycles due to faulty parts or designs, but sometimes the recalls may not come soon enough before someone is injured or even killed. If you or someone you are close to is seriously injured or even killed due to a defect in a bicycle, then we encourage you to call our office today to consult with our Georgia bicycle accident attorneys. We can discuss your case and determine whether you are eligible for compensation.

In 2009 the CPSC recalled more than a dozen bicycles, parts, and accessories. Defective bicycle parts that have been subject to recall on particular brands and models of bicycles include the following:

• Frames that crack at the welding joints
• Chains that break
• Cranks or pedals that fall off
• Suspension forks that break
• Faulty brakes
• Defective Tires
• Bike seat posts that break

Defects are not limited to parts but can include design defects, manufacturing defects and failure to warn defects (there are inadequate instructions or warnings of potential hazards so the dangers are not revealed to the consumer).

The Accident Aftermath

It is important that you handle the aftermath of a bicycle accident correctly because it could affect whether or not you are able to obtain the compensation that you may deserve. The first thing you need to do is to go see a doctor or medical professional to have your injuries assessed and addressed. This insures a prompt diagnosis of your injuries will be preserved in your medical records that can be used as evidence of causation as well as to help prove damages. It is also important to contact an experienced Georgia bicycling accident law firm. Experienced bicycle accident attorneys may be able to help instruct you on how to preserve all the necessary evidence you will need in your case.

Anyone injured in a Georgia bicycle accident should be careful about listening to the advice of someone who is not an experienced bike accident lawyer in Georgia. Others might tell you to bring your bike in to have it repaired or to discard it. Do not do this! Your bicycle is critical to your case and must be inspected thoroughly to determine fault in the accident.

The sooner you speak with an attorney the better, because there are tight time limits for filing a product liability lawsuit and you do not want to be left out in the cold with your case. You will want to consider bringing a claim against the manufacturer, bike builder, bike retailer or whoever may be responsible within the applicable legal time deadlines. If you or someone close to you has been injured due to a defective bicycle part, you or your loved one may be entitled to financial compensation. Damages you may recover may include payment of your medical bills, lost wages, compensation for your pain and suffering and other damages.

Our experienced Georgia bicycle accident attorneys 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 we 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.