Scooters are becoming increasingly popular in the United States because of the increasing gas prices. Although slower than motorcycles, they consume less fuel which makes them a favorable option for many people. Scooter manufacturers design, construct and manufacture all mechanical parts and components with extreme care and precision to ensure that they are free from defects. Despite that, there can be defects in scooter parts. A consumer may not recognize those defects when they purchase a scooter. A defect in a scooter can lead to serious accidents resulting in injuries and even death of the rider.
In this post, we’ll highlight scooter defects that can cause accidents.
Table Of Contents
Faulty Brakes
Over time, brakes of a scooter may stop working properly. However, if you purchase a new scooter and the brakes start malfunctioning after a month, it means that the scooter manufacturer or parts manufacturer provided inadequate brakes. If faulty brakes result in an accident and you suffer an injury, you can file a personal injury claim against the scooter manufacturer or parts manufacturer.
Defective Tires
When you purchase a scooter, you should thoroughly examine it to ensure that all parts are working fine. If tires of your scooter are defective, they may blowout while you are riding it. This can lead to an accident. Tires will degrade over time and you’ll have to eventually replace them. However, if tires of a recently purchased scooter burst, it could mean that the scooter manufacturer used poor quality tires. If an accident occurs because of defective tires, the scooter manufacturer might be held liable for the damages.
Fuel System
Scooter’s fuel system should be free from all defects. If there is a fault in the fuel system, gas can leak and potentially cause a fire. If fuel system of your scooter gets extremely hot, there may be an issue in the system.
Frame
The scooter manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the scooter’s frame is free from all defects. Defects in the frame may lead to accumulation of rust and affect other integral components of the scooter. Frame defects are less likely to result in an accident if other parts haven’t been damaged because of it.
Handle Bars
If handlebars are defective, you won’t be able to steer your scooter on the road. Defective handlebars may cause the scooter to lean on one side or the other. If that happens, you’ll likely crash into another vehicle. Typically, the scooter’s manufacturer is blamed for defective handlebars.
Headlights
Scooter headlights are essential for making another driver’s aware of your presence on the road at night. Defective headlights can cause a devastating accident and the other driver will likely blame you for the accident.
Handling Accidents Caused by a Scooter Defect
The defects highlighted above can all lead to a scooter accident. If you crash into another vehicle because your scooter parts were defective, the other party will blame you for the accident. If that’s the case, you’ll have to prove that the accident occurred not because of your negligence, but due to a scooter defect. You’ll be required to show that it was the negligence of the scooter manufacturer or the parts manufacturer that led to an accident.
If you suffer an injury in a scooter accident resulting from a defect, you should file a personal injury claim. By filing a personal injury claim, you can receive compensation for property damage (damage to the scooter), medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. It is important to note that a personal injury claim must be filed within a specific period. Otherwise, you’ll lose your right to compensation.
If your loved one dies as a result of an accident that occurred because of a defective part, you can file a wrongful death claim against the scooter manufacturer or the parts manufacturer. Wrongful death claim allows you to receive compensation for future wages, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, medical expenses and funeral expenses. Like personal injury claims, a wrongful death claim must also be filed within a specific time limit.
In the filing of both personal injury claims and wrongful death claims, you’ll be required to prove that the accident occurred because of the defective part. In order to prove this, you should hire an experienced attorney. An attorney can collect all the evidence required for a personal injury or wrongful death claim. The evidence that might be required includes medical records, witness testimony, photographs of the accident. If the court finds that negligence in manufacturing scooter parts or putting them together caused an accident, compensation will be provided to you.
If you can’t prove that a defective scooter part caused the accident, you’ll lose the claim and won’t be given any compensation. Therefore, it is best to hire an experienced attorney to fight your case.
Conclusion
Scooter accidents caused by defective parts are complex in nature. It can be difficult to determine which part led to the accident and who should be held responsible for the accident. Scooter manufacturer or parts manufacturer may be responsible for the defective parts. If you are involved in an accident caused by a defective scooter part, make sure to keep the wrecked scooter in a safe facility. The authorities will analyze the scooter to determine the defect that led to an accident. Furthermore, hire an attorney to collect evidence and fight your case at the court. The scooter manufacturing company or parts manufacturer will have their own lawyers defending them. Thus, you won’t be able to win the case if you don’t have an experienced attorney on your side.
