The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of nine 2011 model year bicycles that have Advanced Group carbon forks. Approximately 14,200 bicycles manufactured in Taiwan by Advanced Group and distributed by Specialized Bicycle Components Inc., of California are subject to the recall. The CPSC reports that the bikes subject to the recall were sold nationwide from June 2010 through August 2011.
The following nine 2011 model year bicycles are subject to the recall: Sirrus Expert, Sirrus Comp, Sirrus Elite, Vita Expert, Vita Comp, Vita Elite, Vita Elite Step Thru, Tricross Sport, Tricross, and Tricross Comp. The bicycles have the brand name “Specialized” on the lower front frame tube and the model name is on the top tube.
The CPSC determined, “the brake component housed within the bicycle’s carbon fork can disengage from the fork and allow the brake assembly to contact the wheel spokes while rotating, posing a fall hazard.” Consumers are encouraged to stop riding these bikes immediately and return them to an authorized Specialized retailer for a free repair. Specialized has received two reports of the brake component disengaging from the carbon fork.
The CPSC is responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. CPSC reports that deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually.
A defective bicycle or bicycle-related product that leads to an injury may be the basis for a product liability claim under Illinois law. In Illinois, an injured person may pursue under the doctrine of "Strict Product Liability" when a) an unreasonably dangerous condition or defect existed in the product, b) the condition or defect at the time the product left the manufacturer's control, and the condition was the primary cause of the rider's injury.
If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Keating Law Offices offers free, no obligation reviews of product liability cases. All consultations are completely confidential. This blog post was written with the assistance of Joseph T. Vietri, a third-year law student at DePaul University’s College of Law.
