Motorcycle accident attorneys at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm report that more than 50,000 Spyder motorcycles are being investigated by federal authorities after at least two motorcycles erupted in fire. The Office of Defects, of the NHTSA, first reported fire risk in 2011. All reported fires occurred while the motorcycles were in operation.
The 2011 incident happened on a hot July day in West Virginia, when the Spyder owner was going around 25 miles per hour. The man slowed down while approaching an intersection and felt head radiating from beneath his motorcycle. According to police reports, officers were called to the scene when flames started coming out of the engine. They removed the bike to the side of the road, and within seconds it was entirely engulfed in flames.
The near-explosion caused a nearby yard and several trees to catch fire as well; fortunately, the owner was not injured. The fire department determined that the fire was caused by problems with the bike’s fuel system. A local mechanic looked up the Spyder motorcycle online, finding that the company previously recalled that particular model.
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The NHTSA stated that the Spyder manufacturer issued three safety recalls due to various safety defects – however, the two fires reported seem to be unrelated to the defects in the previous recalls. The second reported fire occurred in 2013, in a Spyder RT SE5, in the Mojave Desert in California.
Our team of motorcycle lawyers has been working on cases involving defective motorcycle parts and gear for over 30 years. Too often, riders are not notified of serious recalls and safety defects like this and continue to ride inherently dangerous motorcycles, unaware of the risks. We also handle cases involving defective safety gear, such as helmets, visors or boots.
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Motorcycle riders are extremely vulnerable on roadways, which is only worsened when proper safety gear is not worn, or if the gear is defective in any way. Critical safety gear often means the difference between life and death, or between life-changing disabilities and minor injuries. It is more common than one would think for poorly-designed gear to break down or fall apart in accidents.
If this has happened to you or someone you love, contact an attorney as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and property damage, particularly if your injuries were caused by defective gear or equipment.
Minivans Recalled
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In related auto news, Volkswagen just recalled nearly 20,000 Routan minivans due to ignition defects. The defects are somewhat similar to the defects that sparked the General Motors scandal earlier this year, though the Volkswagen recall only affects Routon vehicles from year 2009. The ignition defects could cause the minivans to suddenly turn off in bumpy road conditions, disabling air bags among other issues.
Volkswagen will be repairing the minivans starting this month. The company sates that Routan owners should remove any additional weight from their key chains to reduce the risk of accidentally shutting off the ignition. Owners would be wise to follow these instructions as carefully as possible, as ignition shut-offs have caused about 13 deaths and dozens of accidents in GM vehicles.
The ignition issues were discovered after a 2011 recall of similar minivans made by Chrysler and Dodge, which encompassed about 900,000 vehicles. That recall involved Chrysler Town & Country minivans, Dodge Journey SUVs and Dodge Grand Caravans. Fortunately, no deaths or serious injuries have been linked to these defective vehicles.
Car recall lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm are currently investigating cases of injury and death from defective auto parts. If you have any questions regarding an accident you were involved in, contact our firm now for a free case review. We accept cases nationwide, and do not charge any fees unless we are successful in your case.
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