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Defective Tires -- Possible Recall ahead
Harley Davidson, Honda and Goodyear Dunlop should investigate a number
of
motorcycle crashes involving sudden deflation of Goodyear Dunlop D402
and
other tires, attorney Billy Edwards said today. The tires, installed as
original equipment or sold as replacement tires on touring and cruiser
motorcycles, may need to be recalled, he added.
Five more instances of sudden deflation of the Dunlop D402 tire have
been
reported to the safety website, http://www.UnsafeMotorCycles.com
involved
Harley Davidson Ultra Classic touring motorcycles and occurred in the
last
13 months, he said. The latest incident occurred in Marino Valley, CA,
he
said. Others have been reported in Massachusetts, Texas and Georgia, he
said.
"We believe this is the tip of the iceberg. The defect in these tires
appears to be worsening as the tires age, leading to more instances of
sudden deflation and serious injury," Edwards said.
These reports join at least two lawsuits filed recently involving
allegations of Goodyear Dunlop tire deflations, one in Butte, MT, the
other
in Atlanta, GA.
According to the allegations described in a lawsuit in the Butte, MT
crash,
a defect in the bead seat area of the tire allowed excessive leakage of
air
leading to a "sudden and catastrophic deflation" of the tire. Stephen
Gageby, Butte, MT, was killed, and his wife was seriously injured in the
resulting crash, the suit says.
The Georgia suit was filed in U.S. District Court, Middle District of
Georgia, Athens Division,(Case no. 3:09-cv-74 ), and involved the death
of a
passenger Patricia Morris. Among other things, the suit alleges Harley
Davidson knew it was "false and misleading" to represent that its 2007
FLHTCU and its tires were safe for carrying up to two riders weighing
more
than 250 pounds each, plus their cargo and motorcycle accessories.
The Montana suit (Cause No. DV-08- 480) was filed Nov. 10, 2008, in the
Second Judicial District Court, Butte Silver-Bow County. Attorneys
representing the Gageby estate are Michael McKeon, with the law firm of
McKeon and Anderson, PC, Butte, MT, and Billy Edwards, with the Edwards
Law
Firm, Corpus Christi, TX.
Both HD and Goodyear Dunlop have denied they have received any
complaints or
reports from consumers about defect issues with these tires.
Harley Davidson, Honda and Goodyear Dunlop should investigate a number
of
motorcycle crashes involving sudden deflation of Goodyear Dunlop D402
and
other tires, attorney Billy Edwards said today. The tires, installed as
original equipment or sold as replacement tires on touring and cruiser
motorcycles, may need to be recalled, he added.
Five more instances of sudden deflation of the Dunlop D402 tire have
been
reported to the safety website, http://www.UnsafeMotorCycles.com
involved
Harley Davidson Ultra Classic touring motorcycles and occurred in the
last
13 months, he said. The latest incident occurred in Marino Valley, CA,
he
said. Others have been reported in Massachusetts, Texas and Georgia, he
said.
"We believe this is the tip of the iceberg. The defect in these tires
appears to be worsening as the tires age, leading to more instances of
sudden deflation and serious injury," Edwards said.
These reports join at least two lawsuits filed recently involving
allegations of Goodyear Dunlop tire deflations, one in Butte, MT, the
other
in Atlanta, GA.
According to the allegations described in a lawsuit in the Butte, MT
crash,
a defect in the bead seat area of the tire allowed excessive leakage of
air
leading to a "sudden and catastrophic deflation" of the tire. Stephen
Gageby, Butte, MT, was killed, and his wife was seriously injured in the
resulting crash, the suit says.
The Georgia suit was filed in U.S. District Court, Middle District of
Georgia, Athens Division,(Case no. 3:09-cv-74 ), and involved the death
of a
passenger Patricia Morris. Among other things, the suit alleges Harley
Davidson knew it was "false and misleading" to represent that its 2007
FLHTCU and its tires were safe for carrying up to two riders weighing
more
than 250 pounds each, plus their cargo and motorcycle accessories.
The Montana suit (Cause No. DV-08- 480) was filed Nov. 10, 2008, in the
Second Judicial District Court, Butte Silver-Bow County. Attorneys
representing the Gageby estate are Michael McKeon, with the law firm of
McKeon and Anderson, PC, Butte, MT, and Billy Edwards, with the Edwards
Law
Firm, Corpus Christi, TX.
Both HD and Goodyear Dunlop have denied they have received any
complaints or
reports from consumers about defect issues with these tires.
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