Cyclists could make product liability claims for faulty bicycles

We all enjoy making the most of the good weather and what better way to get a breath of fresh air than by venturing outside on a bicycle.

With so many people taking up cycling, not only as a hobby but as a form of transport, it is inevitable that a number of bicycle accidents will occur.

Many of these accidents will be caused by another road user but from time to time faulty bicycles can lead to serious injuries for the rider, who could then be eligible to make a product liability claim.

Successful product liability claim
In 2006 we heard the story of an 18-year-old who was successfully awarded injury compensation after being involved in a serious bicycle accident.

The teenager, aged 11 at the time of the accident, made a compensation claim for product liability after faulty brakes caused him to crash into a tree and suffer serious personal injuries.

The bicycle's manufacturer accepted liability for the fault and awarded the teenager a total of 12,500 injury compensation.

Bicycle accident statistics
According to the Bicycle Association of Great Britain (www.ba-gb.com), 4.5 million bicycles were sold in the UK during 2004. The Department of Transport (www.dft.gov.uk) reported that in the same year 16, 561 people were injured in cycling accidents.

With a large number of accidents being reported, it is vital that cyclists carry out some minor checks to their new bicycles in order to reduce the possible risk of being involved in a road accident. If they happen to spot a fault with the bike, they should contact the manufacturer immediately to avoid having to make a product liability claim.

What faults should you look out for?
Although it would be difficult to completely eliminate the risk of a bicycle accident, cyclists could carry out the following checks to reduce the risk of a serious accident occurring.

Tyres
On purchasing a bicycle, cyclists should ensure that their tyres have at least 3mm of tread and are free from any cracks or splits. A faulty tyre could force a rider to lose control of the bike and cause them to suffer a serious personal injury.

Wheels
A product liability claim could also be made if a cyclist has been injured by means of a faulty wheel. Wheels should be central to the fork and if give exceeds 3mm then cyclists should contact the manufacturer as soon as possible.

Rims should be checked for defects, such as dents, and spokes should be checked to make sure that they are neither loose nor missing.

Handlebars
To avoid making product liability claims for faulty handlebars, cyclists should turn the bars slowly and check that the stem is aligned with the wheel fork.

Saddle
Bicycle riders should take a hold of the saddle and try to move it, if it is able to move either up and down or side to side, the rider must contact the manufactures to avoid having to make a future product liability claim for injury compensation.

Lights
Lights should be checked to make sure that they are fitted correctly. If lights are loose, especially ones close to the front forks, they could potentially fall into a wheel and cause a serious bicycle accident.

Brakes
Brakes can be tested easily and cyclists should ensure that their bicycle cables have not frayed. Brakes should be attached securely to the handle bars and the brake unit should be attached either to the bike's frame or fork.

Chain
The chain should be lubricated correctly and shouldn't exceed 25mm play.

If you as a cyclist have noticed any faults with your bike, contact the manufactures as soon as possible or you could find yourself being forced to make a product liability compensation claim for a serious bicycle accident.

Making a product liability claim
Unfortunately, faulty goods can occasionally make their way onto the shop floor.

If you have been injured in an accident caused by a faulty bicycle, you may be able to make a product liability claim on a no win, no fee basis.

We are associated with a panel of expert personal injury solicitors and we can guarantee you that you will receive 100% of the compensation awarded to you.

Unlike many personal injury claim firms who will charge you a fee for winning your product liability claim, YouClaim really will let you keep every single penny of the damages.

To make a no win, no fee claim, speak to one of our friendly advisors who will guide you through the first step of making a product liability claim.