Don’t Be So Quick to Modify Your New Bike. Some of The Most Common Aftermarket Parts and Modifications Don’t Meet Safety Standards
As long time Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyers, the attorneys at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers understand that a big part of your love for biking is about your freedom and independence. You don’t want to be told what you have to do or are not allowed to do – you want to make your own decisions. But even when you act as master of your own destiny, there are certain things that you need to be aware of in order to make sure that you are making an informed decision about your safety and the safety of those with whom you ride. One of the things that is important for you to know is about aftermarket parts that you may want to buy to customize your bike. It’s important that you do your research and understand all of the issues involved, as when you modify your bike, some of the aftermarket parts you may be buying may not meet safety standards.
When you want to make your bike truly your own, it’s easy to get caught up in the process and buy parts based on the way they look or what they do for performance. But just because something is available for sale does not mean that it has gone through the same rigorous level of safety testing that your original bike went through. In fact, some of them have not gone through any kind of testing at all, and may not be covered by any federal regulations. The upshot is that once these pieces are added to your bike, they may turn a safe vehicle into one that is an invitation to disaster.
Though you may believe that motorcycles are overregulated, the truth is that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have only limited resources to devote to the motorcycle industry. Most of their focus is on passenger vehicles and trucks. Motorcyclists may like the freedom that gives them, but the end result is that modifications made to bikes are increasing toxic emissions that are being released into the air, and may be pushing the chance of dying in a crash even higher. There has not been a federal study looking into the causes of motorcycle crashes since 1981, but when that one was conducted it found that bikes that had been modified were far more likely to have been involved in crashes, and there is no reason to believe that has changed. And for those who have been in crashes that have been blamed on aftermarket parts, there may be difficulty in seeking compensation, as many of the parts manufacturers have been forced into bankruptcy by increasing legal claims.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident that you believe was caused by an unsafe aftermarket part, you need an aggressive Connecticut motorcycle accident attorney who knows the law and will fight for your rights. Contact the attorneys at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers today to set up a free consultation.
