On May 24, 2018, IKEA issued a recall that affects their SLADDA bicycles. According to recall number 18-168, almost 5,000 units were affected—most of which were sold in the United States. Both models SLADDA 26” (303.267.28) and SLADDA 28” (603.267.36) were affected by the recall. These two models were sold at IKEA in-store and online from August 2016 to January 2018 for up to $500. According to the recall, the bicycle belt can suddenly break, creating a fall hazard. Although no injuries have been reported, the recall urges all consumers who purchased the defective bicycle to stop using the bicycles and return the bicycles in-store for full refunds.
Do you believe that you were affected by IKEA’s defective bicycle? Did you suffer an injury after you fell off from the bicycle? Did a member of your family fall off the bicycle? Falling off from bicycles is often attributed to the rider failing to ride the bike properly; however, as exemplified by the recall, a defective bicycle could cause a fall and cause injuries.
You might not have considered IKEA’s liability in your bicycle accident; however, you might have grounds to sue. You must seek legal assistance as soon as possible to learn about the possibility of filing a lawsuit against IKEA for releasing a defective product. You must contact Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible.
Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm dedicated to protecting consumers against companies that negligently make defective products available for purchase. Our experienced attorneys have many years of experience handling claims against many companies for defective products. If you were injured by a defective bicycle, you can trust the experienced attorneys at Normandie Law Firm to fight for your right to compensation.
What is the Risk?
According to the recall, the bicycle belt can break. The bicycle belt breaking creates a risk of falling. What types of injuries are common for bike falls? Most minor bike accidents only result in a few scrapes and bruises; however, bike injuries could be serious. Bicyclists could suffer sprains, strains, fractures, and head injuries, for example. If the bicycle belt suddenly breaks while the bicyclist is riding at high speeds, the risk of severe injuries increases. If the bicycle belt suddenly breaks while the bicyclist is riding near traffic, a fall could leave bicyclist vulnerable to being injured by vehicles. No matter where the bicycle belt suddenly breaks, bicyclists could suffer injuries as a result of the defect.
Liability for the Defective Bicycle
When you suffer a bike fall, who do you usually blame? Most people blame themselves. Many bike falls are often caused by the bicyclist losing control of the bicycle, failing to avoid obstacles, or failing to brake appropriately, for example. However, bike accidents can also happen as a result of a malfunctioning bicycle. So, who is liable for the defective SLADDA bicycles? To establish liability, negligence must first be determined. Negligence consists of four elements: duty, breach of duty, cause, and harm. IKEA, like all other companies, have a duty of care to their consumers. They must ensure that all their products are safe for consumer purchase. If their bicycles are defective, they have breached their duty of care to their consumers. If the defective bicycle causes a consumer to fall and, subsequently, causes the consumer’s injuries, IKEA could be found negligent and liable for the victim’s injuries. If so, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit against IKEA.
Filing a Claim
If you were harmed by a defective product, you might have the right to file a claim. If you are interested in filing a defective product lawsuit against IKEA, at least one of the following must be present:
- A defect in the bicycle’s design
- A defect in the bicycle’s manufacturing
- A defect in the bicycle’s labeling
If any of the above exist, you could file a claim. However, you could lose your right to sue. The recall issued by IKEA urges consumers who purchased the defective bicycles to return the bicycles for a full refund. However, if you or a member of your family suffered injuries as a result of the defective bicycle, returning the bike for a full refund could prevent you from filing a claim.
If you were injured by IKEA’s defective SLADDA bicycles, you must follow the following steps:
- You must take pictures. You should photograph your injuries, as well as the bicycle’s defective belt.
- You must seek medical attention as soon as possible.
- You must not return the bicycle to IKEA for a refund.
- You must not attempt to fix the bicycle’s defective belt.
- You must keep records of all receipts or documents relating to the defective bicycle as well as your injuries.
If you follow the steps listed above, you could preserve your right to sue. You must also seek legal assistance as soon as possible and ensure that you file your claim within the appropriate statute of limitations. You must file your claim with a sense of urgency to ensure that you file within the deadline to sue, and you remain eligible to recover compensation. In general, victims affected by defective products are subject to a two-year statute of limitations.
For more information about filing your claim, you must seek legal assistance with the experienced product liability attorneys at Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible. Our experienced lawyers are ready to help you fight for your rights against IKEA after being injured by a defective bicycle.
The Compensation Available for Your Claim
If you file a claim after being harmed by IKEA’s defective SLADDA bicycles, you might be eligible to recover compensation. Although each claim is different, many victims are eligible to recover the following forms of compensation:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Death benefits
Whatever the compensation you are eligible to receive, you can be certain that our experienced attorneys will always fight for your right to recover the maximum amount of compensation for your claim. Our aggressive attorneys have many years of experience negotiating for the rightful amount of compensation that victims of defective products deserve. You can be certain that our lawyers will not rest until you are justly compensated for your bike fall injuries.
Normandie Law Firm—Recall Attorneys
If you suffered an injury after falling from a defective IKEA bicycle, you must contact our law firm and request to speak with our experienced attorneys as soon as possible. Our attorneys are here for you—we are ready to represent you and fight for your rights to be compensated.
If you are interested in filing a claim against IKEA, you might be interested in how our law firm could help you. Our law firm offers free consultations and free second opinions to all victims affected by defective products—including IKEA’s defective SLADDA bicycles. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our experienced lawyers are available to answer all your questions and all your concerns. Our experienced IKEA recall lawyers will thoroughly evaluate your claim and ensure that you have all the information you need to reach a successful claim outcome. Even if you have previously been affected by misinformation provided by incompetent attorneys, you can trust that our knowledgeable lawyers will dedicate themselves to clarifying all doubts and confusion created by the incompetent lawyers which you mistakenly trusted to handle your claim. Whether you are in need of a free consultation or free second opinion, you must contact our law firm and request to speak with our lawyers at your earliest convenience.
Our firm’s commitment to all parties affected by defective products is visible through our Zero-Fee guarantee. Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients never have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees. Our law firm is also strictly based on contingency. What does this mean for you and your claim? Since our firm is strictly based on contingency, our clients will never have to pay any fees until after our attorneys win their claims. If your claim is not won, you will not be required to pay legal fees—that is a guarantee. Contact us today.
