On April 2, 2020, VP Components issued a recall for their VP Harrier and Giant Pinnier Dh bicycle pedals. According to the recall, number 20-104, the pedal body can separate from the pedal spindle, resulting in the loss of balance; this represents a fall and injury risk to riders. Approximately 5,400 units of the pedals (2,700 pairs) have been affected by the recall.
The recall specifically involves the VP Components Harrier and Giant Pinner DH bicycle pedals, which were sold separately from bicycles. A spindle extends through the pedal’s body; one end of the spindle is attached to the end of the bicycle’s crank arm, while the other end of the spindle is secured to the pedal body (with a fastener). The pedals were available in red, silver, and black – Harrier or Giant are printed on the pedals.
The defective bicycle pedals were sold at bicycle stores nationwide; they were also available online. The pedals were sold from May 2017 through December 2017 for prices ranging from $113 to $116 each.
According to the recall, there have been at least 79 reports of broken spindles; there has bee at least one report of a rider suffering an injury after a fall (related to the spindle separated from the pedal’s body). The company is recommending that all affected consumers immediately stop using the defective bicycle pedals and contact the bicycle shop or online retailer where the purchase was made to arrange for free replacement pedals.
Should you follow these recommendations? You should only follow the recommendations established on a product recall when the defective product did not result in any sort of harm. In other words, if you or a member of your family suffered harm associated with the defective product, you should never consider following any suggestions made in recalls – with the exception of stopping the use of the defective product.
What should you do? Rather than contacting the company or arranging for a free replacement, you should seek legal assistance immediately – as you might have grounds to pursue a product liability claim. If you would like to learn more about the right to sue for the harm caused by a defective product, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm at your earliest convenience. You can trust the experts at Normandie Law Firm to provide you with the legal assistance that you need.
Normandie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm with many years of experience handling all sorts of claim, including product liability claims. Our lawyers have many years of experience handling product liability claims, representing the rights of consumers harmed by defective products. Our defective product attorneys have many years of experience guiding affected consumers throughout the legal process, ensuring that consumers hold negligent companies accountable for their actions. If you would like to learn more about your right to sue after being harmed by a defective product, do not hesitate to contact our lawyers at your earliest convenience.
The Danger Associated with the Defective Product
As explained above, the pedal body can separate from the spindle and cause a loss of balance, which can result in falls and injuries. Bicycle accidents are among the most dangerous accidents that anyone could suffer. Many people mistakenly think of bicycle accidents as minor. Although many of us have experienced minor falls associated with bicycles, bicycle accidents can be significant and have devastating results. Depending on a number of factors, including the speed being traveled, and the terrain being traveled on, for example, victims could suffer many injuries.
Some of the injuries associated with bicycle accidents include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Hip/pelvic injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Ligament damage
- Muscle damage
- Nerve damage
- Sprains and strains
- Scrapes and bruises
- Lacerations
Regardless of the specific injuries that you or a member of your family suffered, you might have grounds to take legal action. If you would like to learn more about your right to sue after suffering any sort of harm associated with a defective product, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance immediately.
Product Liability and the Right to Sue
Do you have the right to sue for the harm that you suffered due to a defective product? Depending on the details surrounding the incident and the harm suffered, you might have grounds to take legal action – based on the concept of product liability. Based on product liability, all companies owe their consumers a duty of care. Companies have the duty to ensure that all their products are completely safe for consumers to use. This means that companies have the duty to test and inspect their products; this allows companies to identify and address the hazards present in the products. When companies fail to identify and address the hazards present in their products, they are breaching their duty of care; in addition, they are also putting their consumers at risk of suffering harm. When a breached duty of care directly causes an incident which leads to harm, the company could be liable.
If all the elements of product liability are present, you might have grounds to pursue a claim. You could hold the liable company accountable for all the harm that you suffered. If you would like to learn more about your right to pursue a claim based on the concept of product liability, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our experts at your earliest convenience. Our product liability lawyers are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to hold the liable company accountable for the harm suffered.
What Should You Do?
If you or a member of your family suffered harm associated with a defective product, there are a number of things that you could do to prepare to hold the liable company accountable for the harm suffered. What should you after suffering harm due to a defective product?
Consider the following recommendations:
- Take photos of any harm suffered
- Take photos of the defective product
- Seek medical attention
- Keep the defective product in a safe place (do not tamper with it in any way)
- Contact the company to report the product defect, the incident, and the harm suffered
- Do not agree to return the defective product
- Do not agree to a free repair
- Do not agree to a free replacement
- Do not agree to a refund (or store credit)
- Gather all medical records associated with the harm suffered
- Speak to any witnesses present at the time of your accident
- Gather records of the purchase of the defective product
- Gather records of property damage (if the incident resulted of property damage)
- Seek legal assistance with a product liability lawyer as soon as possible
By following the steps listed above, you are preparing to pursue a product liability claim. If you would like to learn more about the steps listed above, do not hesitate to contact the experts t our firm at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to guide you every step of the way.
You Could Recover Monetary Compensation for the Harm Suffered
Depending on the details surrounding your claim, you might have grounds to recover monetary compensation for the harm that you suffered. Could you really be eligible to recover compensation after being harmed by a defective product? The type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive will always depend on the details surrounding your claim.
You could recover some of the following types of compensation:
- Medical bills
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral/burial expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
If you would like to learn more about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive if your claim reaches a successful outcome, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our firm at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to aggressively fight for your right to recover the highest amount of compensation available for your claim. If you would like to learn more about the type and amount of compensation that you could recover, contact our firm at your earliest convenience.
The Statute of Limitations
Without a doubt, you might have grounds to pursue a product liability lawsuit if the harm that you suffered was a direct result of a defect present in a product. Although you might have grounds to sue, it is important that you know that all claims are time-sensitive and must be filed promptly. All personal injury claims, including product liability claims, are subject to a statute of limitations, which determines the specific length of time that claimants have to pursue their claims. If claims are not filed within the time allowed by the statute of limitations, claimants will lose the right to sue.
What is the deadline that applies to your product liability claim? In California, product liability claims are normally subject to a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that affected parties only have two years to pursue their claims. If they do not file their claims on time, they will lose their right to sue. It is also important to note that, under some circumstances, exceptions could apply. For instance, in cases that involve children, the statute of limitations is tolled until the victim reaches a legal adult age. Likewise, in cases in which the victim is in a coma or becomes mentally incompetent, the statute of limitations is tolled until the victim regains mental competency. To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the applicable statute of limitations and any exceptions that might apply, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our firm at your earliest convenience.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
Are you interested in learning more about your rights to pursue a lawsuit after being harmed by a defective product? If so, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of claims – always representing the best interests of our clients. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and guide you throughout the legal process. If you are ready to speak with our attorneys, contact us today.
The experts at Normandie Law Firm are dedicated to providing you – and all other victims – with the guidance necessary to successfully pursue claims against the parties or entities liable for the harm suffered. At our firm, we understand that the fear of expensive legal services often prevents victims from seeking legal assistance; therefore, we offer free legal services. Our free legal services include free consultations and free second opinions. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our lawyers will be available to answer your questions, address your concerns, and provide you with all the information that you need to either start and continue your product liability case against the liable company. If you are ready to benefit from our free legal services, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our firm as soon as possible. Our product liability lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to take legal action against the company that contributed to the harm suffered.
Our firm also offers a Zero-Fee guarantee. Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients are not required to cover any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our firm is also strictly based on contingency; this means that our clients will not be required to pay anything until after the claim reaches a successful claim outcome. If you do not win, you will not be required to pay any legal expenses whatsoever.
If you are ready to discuss your claim with the defective product attorneys at our law firm, do not hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to hold the company accountable for their negligent actions.
