In September, it was officially announced that the Harley Davidson Motor Company was recalling approximately 65,000 bikes in the U.S. due to a defective part that could cause riders to lose control of their motorcycles and crash as a result. This official announcement only occurred after significant investigations into safety-related complaints and internal evaluations of the concern at hand had been conducted.
Americans are busy people. The idea of adding “scroll recall-related news” to one’s list of monthly to-dos sounds understandably annoying. And yet, scrolling the news in this way could ultimately save your life or the life of someone you love.
The Harley Davidson Recall
The Harley Davidson recall was initiated this autumn when it was discovered that a fastener that helps to secure the rear shock absorber on affected models (all manufactured between 2018 and 2023) could break and ultimately affect the tire pressure in the rear of the bike. The fix for the issue is a new fastener, provided to affected riders free of charge. Official notifications were sent to riders via postal mail days after the recall was announced online.
Why Should This Recall Matter To You?
Your bike may or may not have been named as a vehicle affected by the recall. If it was named and you have not yet taken it in for its free fix, do not ride it again until you’ve made that effort. Not only could riding your bike that needs to be fixed lead to a crash, knowing that it needed to be fixed and failing to make that effort could make you – not the manufacturer of the defective part – liable for the crash.
These are the two main reasons why you should pay attention to this and all other motorcycle recall notices. First, by taking action whenever necessary, you can remain safer on the road. Second, if you don’t get a fix, you could find yourself responsible for others’ costs in the event of a crash in addition to your own.
Exercising Your Rights In The Event Of A Crash
As an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer – including those who practice at Des Moines Injury Law – can confirm, motorcycle companies and those that manufacture motorcycle parts are often liable in the event that their practices lead to a rider’s harm. As a result, companies generally do what they can to minimize liability by initiating recalls when defective parts place riders in danger. By initiating recalls, they hope to alert as many affected riders as possible to the risks they’re facing so that they can get their bikes fixed and remain as safe as possible while on the road.
With that said, companies may still be held liable in the event of product-related harm, even if they initiate recalls. As a result, it’s important for riders who have been hurt as a result of collisions to have an attorney thoroughly investigate their circumstances and advise them of their options related to compensation and other forms of legal recourse. Ultimately, when it comes to exercising one’s rights under the law, knowledge – and proactive effort – is power.
