You may lose control of your motorcycle even when another driver never hits you. A tire can fail or your brakes can stop working as you try to slow down. After a serious crash, you may face injuries and damage to your bike without knowing what caused the wreck.
A defective part could support an injury claim if the defect caused or contributed to your injuries. Texas product liability law covers claims involving injuries allegedly caused by defective products, including motorcycle components.
Finding out why the part failed
A broken part does not always mean it had an existing flaw before the crash. The crash itself might have damaged it. Normal wear or poor upkeep can also explain why a motorcycle component stopped working.
Examining your bike may help establish when and why the part failed. An inspection can identify damage or signs of a problem that existed before the crash. For example, marks on a brake component could provide clues about when it stopped working. That information may help establish whether the failure happened before you lost control or resulted from the impact.
Preserving your motorcycle as evidence
Your damaged motorcycle could provide evidence that becomes harder to assess after someone repairs or disposes of it. Changes to the bike can make it more difficult to determine what condition the suspected part was in after the wreck.
You may want to keep the motorcycle and failed part in the same condition while you investigate the cause. Photos can record visible damage, but an inspection of the actual component provides more information about its condition. Service records might also show when you bought the part and what work you had done on it.
Documenting the effects of the crash
If the evidence points to a defective part, you may want to seek compensation for the harm tied to the motorcycle wreck. Medical records can document your injuries, while bills and work records can show your financial losses. Keeping this information with the records about your motorcycle could help you prepare for the legal process should you pursue an injury claim.
