Defective Motorcycle Parts Accidents

When the Bike Fails, and It’s Not Your Fault—We Help You Get Justice

If you’re here, you probably didn’t crash because of someone else’s car. You crashed because something went wrong with your own bike. A brake failure. A blown tire. A stuck throttle. Maybe a part gave out when you needed it most—or maybe your loved one never made it home because a bike they trusted failed them.

It’s terrifying. And it’s infuriating. You did everything right, and still, something broke down.

At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we represent riders across California who’ve been hurt—or lost someone they love—because of defective motorcycle parts. These are complex cases. They often involve major manufacturers, global supply chains, and deep-pocketed defense teams.

But we don’t back down. If a part was defective, and that defect caused your crash, we’ll fight to prove it—and hold the right people accountable.

When It’s Not the Rider, and Not the Road—It Might Be the Bike

Most motorcycle crashes are caused by distracted drivers, road hazards, or poor visibility. But sometimes, the cause is buried inside the bike itself. A tiny crack in the frame. A bad weld. A software glitch. A cheap part that never should’ve been installed.

Defective part cases often come down to one thing: somebody cut a corner. A design flaw. A manufacturing error. A failure to warn riders about known risks.

And when those shortcuts cause a crash, it’s not just a mechanical failure—it’s a betrayal.

We’ve Seen Motorcycle Crashes Caused By:

  • Brake failure (ABS, disc, or hydraulic system malfunctions)

  • Tire blowouts due to defective rubber compounds or sidewall issues

  • Throttle sticking or acceleration glitches

  • Clutch or transmission failure

  • Fuel system leaks or faulty gas tanks

  • Steering head or front fork defects

  • Frame fractures or metal fatigue

  • Electrical system fires or battery explosions

  • Kickstand or gear shift defects

  • Aftermarket parts or repairs not up to code

  • Failure to warn about known risks (e.g., safety recalls never issued)

Whether it was a brand-new motorcycle, a recent repair, or an aftermarket upgrade gone wrong—we know how to trace these failures back to the source.

Who’s Liable for a Defective Motorcycle Part?

Product liability law in California allows you to hold anyone in the chain of distribution responsible for a dangerous or defective part—including:

  • Motorcycle manufacturers (Honda, Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Kawasaki, BMW, etc.)

  • Parts manufacturers and suppliers (brake system, tire, or throttle assembly companies)

  • Retailers and distributors

  • Repair shops or mechanics who installed or failed to identify the defective part

  • Aftermarket parts companies selling substandard or incompatible gear

These are often strict liability cases, meaning you don’t have to prove they were negligent—only that the part was defective and caused harm.

That said, proving a defect caused a crash takes real investigation. And that’s where we come in.

How We Investigate Defective Part Motorcycle Accidents

These aren’t simple cases. The manufacturer’s legal team will say the crash was your fault—or the fault of the road, another driver, or improper maintenance. Our job is to prove otherwise.

Here’s how we do it:

  • Preserve the bike – The motorcycle and any broken parts are critical evidence. We help make sure nothing gets “lost” or tampered with.

  • Bring in engineering experts – We work with mechanical engineers, crash reconstruction specialists, and metallurgists to analyze what failed—and why.

  • Check recall databases – If your bike (or the part) was under a safety recall, we’ll find it. And if the manufacturer failed to warn you? Even worse for them.

  • Dig into design specs – We analyze whether the part was poorly designed, badly manufactured, or lacking proper warnings.

  • Follow the supply chain – Some parts are outsourced overseas. We trace liability back to every company involved.

Our goal is simple: find out what happened, prove who’s responsible, and make them pay for what they’ve done.

Injuries We See in Defective Motorcycle Part Cases

Because these crashes happen unexpectedly—often with no time to brake, steer, or lay the bike down—the injuries tend to be catastrophic. We’ve seen:

Some riders are thrown off at highway speed. Others slide under another vehicle. Still others are hit because their bike lost control in traffic.

These aren’t just injuries. They’re life-changing events. And you deserve justice.

What If You Lost Someone You Love Because of a Defective Part?

First, we’re so sorry.

We’ve worked with families who were told it was “just a tragic accident.” But they knew something didn’t feel right. The rider was experienced. The weather was good. The bike was new—or had just been serviced. And then the crash happened.

If you suspect a mechanical failure caused your loved one’s crash, we’ll help you get answers.

In fatal defective part cases, we pursue wrongful death claims and survival actions against the companies involved. You may be entitled to recover:

  • Funeral and burial expenses

  • Medical bills from before death

  • Loss of income and future financial support

  • Loss of love, companionship, and guidance

  • Pain and suffering endured before death

  • Punitive damages in extreme cases

We’ll take care of the legal side so your family can grieve, process, and begin to heal.

What Compensation Can You Recover in a Defective Part Motorcycle Case?

Under California law, riders hurt by defective parts may be entitled to full compensation for their physical, emotional, and financial losses.

We’ll work to recover:

Economic Damages

  • Hospital bills, surgeries, and rehab

  • Future medical care and life care planning

  • Lost income and earning capacity

  • Motorcycle replacement or repair

  • Transportation and accessibility costs

Non-Economic Damages

  • Pain and suffering

  • Emotional trauma, PTSD, anxiety

  • Permanent disability or disfigurement

  • Loss of enjoyment of life

  • Loss of independence and lifestyle changes

If a defective part caused a fatal crash, we’ll help the family recover wrongful death damages as well.

What If the Bike Was Recalled?

A recall doesn’t make a company immune—it makes them more responsible.

If your bike—or a key component—was subject to a safety recall and you weren’t properly notified, that can be powerful evidence in your favor. If they issued a recall but didn’t fix the defect properly? Same.

We’ll check NHTSA’s database and pull the full recall history for your bike and all related parts. We’ve seen cases involving recalls for:

  • Front fork instability

  • ABS brake malfunctions

  • Faulty fuel systems

  • Wheel and rim cracking

  • Wiring harness fire risks

  • Airbag-equipped jacket failures (yes, those exist now too)

The companies may try to hide behind paperwork. We won’t let them.

What Makes These Cases So Hard—and Why We Don’t Back Down

Defective product cases are different from other motorcycle crash claims. You’re not just dealing with one distracted driver—you’re up against a corporation with a team of lawyers, engineers, and insurers.

But here’s what they don’t expect: a law firm built for riders, with trial experience, technical knowledge, and a whole lot of fight.

At McCarthy Motorcycle Law:

  • We know how to ride. We get it. We don’t back down.

  • We’ve handled catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases against big manufacturers

  • We know how to speak to juries about motorcycles, defects, and what went wrong

  • We work with top-notch experts in crash reconstruction, engineering, and medical damages

  • We treat every client like a human being, not a case number

You won’t be left wondering what’s happening with your case. You’ll have a lawyer who texts you back. A team that listens. And a strategy that wins.

Ready to Talk?

If you’ve been hurt—or lost someone—in a crash caused by a defective motorcycle part, don’t wait.

These cases depend on preserving the evidence. The motorcycle, the part, the service records—all of it matters. The sooner we start, the better.

👉 Start Your Free Case Evaluation
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We’ll listen. We’ll investigate. And if we can help—we’ll fight like hell to make things right.