E-bikes are growing in popularity, in part because they are seen as a less-expensive alternative to automobiles. A recent recall of defective e-bikes should be on the radar of any e-bike rider in the Hamden area.
Thousands of Ancheer e-bikes recalled due to burn hazard
Approximately 22,000 Ancheer e-bikes sold on Amazon and other online retailers have been recalled due to exploding batteries. The lithium-ion batteries can catch fire and cause burn injuries to riders.
So far there have been six reported incidents of injuries occurring due to the defective bikes. The e-bikes were sold between January 2016 and June 2022. Purchasers are being offered a replacement battery at no cost.
Who is responsible for product defects?
This recall of e-bikes exemplifies how a person could be injured due to no fault of their own by a defective product. If you are injured due to a defective product, it is important to know who you can be held responsible for your injuries.
Designers, manufacturers, sellers and anyone else in the chain of distribution can potentially be held responsible for product defects.
A product by law must be safe when used in the ordinary way by consumers. A defect serves as proof that this duty to consumers was breached. This is referred to as strict liability.
Depending on the circumstances, a defendant’s liability could be called into question, for example, if the plaintiff was using the product in an unexpected and unreasonable way or if the product’s usefulness was greater than the inherent dangers it poses.
Still, it is essential that anyone involved in the chain of distribution of a defective product be held accountable. Consumers in Connecticut deserve to feel safe when using a product as intended. If they are injured by a defective product, they may be able to pursue a products liability lawsuit.