TREK RECALLS NEARLY 1 MILLION BIKES
May 3, 2018
Trek is recalling almost one million bicycles in the USA and Canada following a serious accident that left one victim paralyzed. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that a quick-release lever on the bikes’ front wheel hub is to blame, as the part rubs against the front disc brake, causing the bike to come to an unexpected halt and flip the rider over the handlebars, or cause the front wheel to separate. Both cases will most likely result in a serious crash.
The Trek bike recall includes all 2000 to 2015 models equipped with front disc brakes and a silver or black quick-release lever on the front wheel. The lever, according to injury reports, can open beyond the normal 180 degrees, contacting the front disc rotor. Models with front quick-release levers that do not open a full 180 degrees are not part of the recall. Trek cautions riders who have affected bikes to contact an authorized Trek retailer, who can install a new quick-release lever free of charge.
Thus far, at least three injury reports have been attributed to the faulty parts, with riders sustaining serious bodily harm, including facial injuries, a fractured wrist and complete paralysis of four limbs.
If you live in the Phoenix area and have one of the recently recalled Trek bikes, Wattel & York product liability lawyers urge you to stop riding immediately to prevent unnecessary risk of harm. Residents who have already suffered bicycle accident injuries caused by the quick-release lever may be entitled entitled to legal compensation.
SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR TREK BIKES
According to the Trek Safety Recall Notice, authorized retailers are offering free inspections to those who are unsure if their bikes have quick release levers that can open further than 180 degrees. In addition to replacing the part, Trek is providing a $20 coupon to use toward select products.
Unfortunately, 900,000 Trek bikes with this type of lever have already been sold in the United States and are now included in the recall. Sold from September 1999 until present, these bicycles pose a serious risk of injury and even death to consumers.
Under the doctrine of strict liability, manufacturers may be responsible for damages and economic losses caused by a defective or malfunctioning product, without the claimant having to prove negligence.
In order to make this claim and take legal action, injured bikers must prove:
- The product has an “unreasonably dangerous” defect that caused injury
- The product caused personal injury while being used as intended
- The product was not altered from the condition in which it was sold
A Trek spokesperson told Outside Online they were not aware of the problem until 2014, when the first crash report came in. Sadly, that rider is now a quadriplegic. Trek also maintains that the lever is not “defective,” as the hazard is only present when the lever is in an open position, possibly caused by improper tightening or impact from an object.
PRODUCT LIABILITY LAWYERS CAN PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS
At Wattel & York, our attorneys are well-versed in product liability law and can help you recover fair compensation in the event a recalled item has caused harm.
Our Phoenix personal injury lawyers have won legal compensation for victims injured by faulty household appliances, pharmaceuticals, exercise equipment, medical devices and other items that were inherently unsafe. To learn more about your options for legal recourse following the Trek bike recall, we invite you to call our offices for a free case review. Call 1-877-225-5562.
Resources:
USA Today, Nearly 1 million bikes recalled after rider paralyzed http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/04/21/trek-bicycle-recall/26149227/
CNNMoney, Trek recalls 1 million bikes, rider paralyzed http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/22/news/trek-bike-recall/
Outside, Why Trek Recalled Almost 1 Million Bikes https://www.outsideonline.com/1971526/why-trek-recalled-almost-1-million-bikes/
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