Despite being a small percentage of motorists, nearly 10 percent of Missouri traffic fatalities are motorcyclists, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. In many cases, motorcycle accidents are due to negligent driving behavior. However, some motorcycle crashes result from defective motorcycle parts.
If defective motorcycle parts cause accidents that result in injuries, manufacturers can be liable for the motorcycle riders’ losses. Motorcycle product defects can cause catastrophic injuries, and victims deserve a chance to recover their losses and hold manufacturers accountable. If you have been injured by defective motorcycle parts or in an accident caused by defective motorcycle parts, our product liability attorneys in St. Louis want to help you pursue maximum compensation from the responsible manufacturers.
Contact Sumner Law Group, LLC, today for a free consultation with a St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyer.
Reasons You Should Work with Our Product Liability Lawyers
The motorcycle accident lawyers at Sumner Law Group, LLC, have built a reputation as fierce advocates for the rights of the injured. For example, we have recovered millions in compensation for our clients, with case results including a $1.5 million settlement for a defective automobile manufacturing claim and a $14.2 million verdict in a motorcycle accident claim.
Our case results and testimonials speak for themselves. When winning means everything, you need a law firm that knows how to pursue responsible parties and deal with insurance companies. For example, John P. wrote, “I have dealt with plenty of attorneys and I will say this. Brent Sumner and his team at Sumner Law Group, LLC are by far the best. They are professional, attentive and will work the tails off to get you the absolute best outcome possible.”
Common Types of Defective Motorcycle Parts
Any motorcycle part can be defective, but defective components that directly relate to the bike’s handling, acceleration, stability, or traction are among the most likely to cause serious accidents. For example:
- Tires and wheels – Defective tires and wheels might cause the bike to skid or lose control even when the rider is safely operating the bike.
- Brakes – Brake failures prevent the driver from stopping quickly enough, which can cause severe accidents and injuries.
- Steering components – Motorcycles have several steering components, including handlebars, a steering head, and a motorcycle fork. Failure of any of these components can negatively affect handling.
- Fuel systems – Fuel systems might be unsafe and cause explosions and burns in an accident, particularly around the legs, torso, and waist.
- Dangerous design – Sometimes, a motorcycle might have an inherently unsafe design, even without manufacturing defects. For example, a motorcycle frame with sharp edges can cause serious lacerations if the frame buckles or bends.
- Helmets – If the design of a helmet provides insufficient protection to the wearer during a motorcycle accident, you may also be able to sue the helmet manufacturer for unsafe product design.
How Defective Motorcycle Parts Lead to Accidents
The most apparent way defective motorcycle parts cause accidents is when they break or stop functioning when the bike is operating. An example would be if the bike’s front fork fails, causing the rider to lose control of the motorcycle and crash. Defective brakes may prevent the rider from stopping the motorcycle fast enough to avoid a collision.
Defective motorcycle parts can also cause non-traffic-accident injuries. For example, a faulty exhaust that gets too hot might cause serious burns while the bike is at rest. Alternatively, a defective fuel tank may cause an explosion if you store the bike in specific conditions.
Motorcycles have several thousand parts, and a defect in one can cause a cascade of failures, leading to an accident. A motorcycle part failure lawsuit requires demonstrating that a defective product was the root cause or a significant contributing factor to the accident and the resulting injuries.
Legal Rights of Victims in Defective Motorcycle Part Cases
Motorcycle manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their products are safe and operate as they should. If one of their dangerous products hurts someone, the victim has a right to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for their injury-related losses.
Unlike many other personal injury claims, defective product claims in Missouri are based on strict liability. If the injured person can demonstrate that the product has a defect in its manufacturing or an inherently dangerous design, the manufacturer will be liable, even if they were not negligent in designing and creating the product.
The statute of limitations for defective motorcycle part claims is the same as for other personal injury claims in Missouri. The law allows an injured person five years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Compensation You Can Claim in Defective Motorcycle Part Lawsuits
The victim of a crash due to a defective motorcycle part can pursue compensation for any losses they suffered because of their injuries. Compensation for motorcycle defect injuries can include:
- Emergency medical expenses and other medical bills
- Prescription medication
- Continuing medical care (for example, rehab, medical equipment, and in-home care)
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Reduced enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
Motorcycle accidents are often serious and can have far-reaching financial consequences that you may not anticipate. Our personal injury attorneys can assess your total accident-related losses to ensure you pursue sufficient compensation to cover your losses and maintain financial stability.
How Our St. Louis Defective Motorcycle Part Lawyers Can Help
A product liability attorney from Sumner Law Group, LLC, can assess the facts of your accident and build a strong case demonstrating liability on the part of the responsible motorcycle part manufacturer. We are prepared to:
- Investigate the scene of the accident and gather eyewitness testimony
- Work with technical experts to reconstruct the accident
- Identify product defects that caused the accident
- Investigate past manufacturer conduct
- Negotiate with the responsible parties for a fair settlement
- Present your personal injury claim in a compelling way at trial
A successful motorcycle defects claim requires a deep understanding of personal injury law and how to present a robust case that identifies the liable party and demonstrates how they were responsible for the injuries. We are ready to use our five decades of collective legal experience to effectively pursue financial compensation in your motorcycle accident claim.
Contact Sumner Law Group, LLC, today for a free case consultation with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in St. Louis.
