Did a Defect Cause a Bicycle Accident?
When people think of bicycle accidents, they usually imagine a cyclist getting run over by a driver. But some people are seriously injured even when not hit by a motor vehicle. Instead, a defect on the bike caused them to crash, sending them to the hospital. The good news is that manufacturers are often liable when their defective products injure people. Contact Pita Weber Del Prado to find out more about your ability to sue.
How Defects Cause Injuries
Cyclists expect a bicycle to work properly when they hop on. Unfortunately, some bicycles are defective, usually because of a design flaw or because the bike was not assembled properly. Whatever the reason, the bicycle quickly goes out of control.
Suppose your child hops on a bicycle and heads out for an afternoon ride. When the brakes fail, there is no way to stop, and your child crashes into a ditch, suffering facial scars and whiplash. In this situation, your child rode carefully, so the accident is caused by the bicycle defect.
This is a classic product liability claim. Defective products injure thousands of people in Florida each year, and victims usually request compensation from the manufacturer and possibly other defendants. When a bicycle fails, riders can suffer concussions, abrasions, broken bones, and lacerations.
Recently, several manufacturers recalled bicycles or bicycle components:
- In December 2025, Pedego recalled its Fat Tire Trike, an adult tricycle, because of 16 reports of the frame breaking. One rider ended up cutting their leg on the broken frame, but there is also a risk of falling off the bike.
- Pacific Cycle recalled its Schwinn Ovation Bicycle Child Carrier. This carrier attaches to the rear of a bicycle rack. Unfortunately, the manufacturer received reports that the buckles on the carrier broke and a child fell out.
- Also in 2025, Trek recalled thousands of electric bicycles because of the chainring coming loose. Riders could end up falling if this happened.
- Outdoor Master recalled more than 24,000 youth helmets for failing federal safety standards. There is a risk of serious injury or death when a child uses the helmet.
A key part of this type of claim is proving the defect. Otherwise, the manufacturer could claim you didn’t ride carefully and are 100% to blame for your own accident. Remember not to throw away the defective bicycle or helmet. Share it with your attorney so we can inspect for a manufacturing or materials defect. Then we can submit a claim for compensation.
Speak with a Miami Product Liability Lawyer
Riding a bicycle is a rite of passage for many children, but we count on products being manufactured and assembled properly. Manufacturers should be held accountable when they sell dangerous products on the market, whether the product was recalled or not. Contact Pita Weber Del Prado to speak with a Miami product liability lawyer about any accident you or a loved one suffered. We can negotiate a settlement with a manufacturer and discuss how much compensation to request.
Sources:
cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Pedego-Electric-Bikes-Recalls-Fat-Tire-Trikes-Due-to-Fall-and-Laceration-Hazards
cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Pacific-Cycle-Recalls-Schwinn-Ovation-Bicycle-Child-Carriers-Due-to-Fall-Hazard
