Thousands of product recalls are issued in the United States each year, and a significant portion of those recalls involve motor vehicle and motorcycle parts. Unfortunately, these recalls do not always come quickly enough to prevent people from suffering serious accidents. Defective motorcycle parts can cause severe injuries to unsuspecting riders.
The fact that a recall was issued for your motorcycle before your wreck doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t seek compensation for your injuries. There is no substitute for legal counsel when attempting to take legal action over motorcycle defects and recalls in Allentown. Consult a knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers—we know how to fight for and win cases on behalf of people in your situation.
Motorcycle Manufacturers Issuing Product Recalls
Depending on when and how a defect in a motorcycle component is discovered, a manufacturing company may voluntarily start a recall or be forced to issue one by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Either way, manufacturers are required to do specific things once the recall process officially begins. Failing to do any of them might leave the company open to legal liability for defect-related injuries.
First, manufacturers must notify the general public about the recall by issuing a public report including the following information:
- Details about the specific defect or violation of federal safety standards that led to the recall being issued
- Information about how the defect was discovered
- What specific brands/models of their product(s) are affected by the recall
- The schedule for the recall
- How the defect will be fixed
Then, the manufacturer must make an effort to directly notify everyone who purchased or owns a product impacted by the recall. There are various ways they can do this; for motorcycle recalls, the process usually involves the manufacturer looking at its own internal sales records and motorcycle registration details kept by the Pennsylvania government.
Finally, federal law requires manufacturers who issue recall notices to fix the defect at no charge to the product’s owner, either by repairing the affected product or replacing it altogether. Your Allentown lawyer can further explain a motorcycle manufacturer’s duties when issuing recalls for defective products.
Filing Suit After a Defective Motorcycle Injury in Allentown
Importantly, issuing a recall notice for a defective motorcycle component and following all the rules mentioned above does not make the motorcycle’s manufacturer immune from civil liability for injuries caused by that defect. If you were hurt by a defective motorcycle before you were officially notified of a recall, you still likely have grounds to take legal action against the manufacturer with help from a local attorney.
However, these product liability cases are unique from typical personal injury claims and can be challenging to navigate without legal representation. When pursuing a lawsuit over a motorcycle defect or recall in Allentown, you need seasoned legal counsel.
Call an Allentown Attorney to Discuss Motorcycle Defects and Recalls
Defective motorcycles cause many injuries across Pennsylvania each year. When a company puts a dangerous bike on the market, it may be liable for injuries caused by the defective product even if it already issued a recall notice.
Guidance from our qualified attorneys can make a huge difference in the outcome of claims for motorcycle defects and recalls in Allentown. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to learn how we can put our decades of experience to work for you and your case.
