Update 9/8/06
There was a passionate rejection to my post "An attorney consultation may be advisable, and helpful to the riding community." Knowing your legal rights and responsibilities is always a good idea. Legal consultation does not automatically produce "litigation", or "class action product liability lawsuits". It may result in sharing of financial responsibilty for actual damages. In this particular thread it appears that the new rear tire was grossly overinflated, possibly contributing to this serious injury. Legal consultation may illuminate who should pay for the actual damages to the rider.
Most attorneys offer a 'free 1/2 hour initial consultation'. There really is nothing to lose, and at the least, it will be illuminating. It may be the rider is 100% responsible for this accident. I don't know. Neither do the various posters outraged with the idea of legal consultation.
No I am not an attorney, just a fellow rider and health care provider.
Let's see. I (the manufacturer and dealer) sell a product that is known to unsafe, that causes injury or death. I know how to make the product safer but don't.
An analogy: I buy new brakes for my car. The dealer/service manager tells me to "go easy" for the first 100 miles or so until the brakes wear in; I leave, come to a stop sign, engage my non-functional brakes, and the car fails to stop. Death and injury result. This is unacceptable.
Simple preparation of the motorcycle tires would have prevented this accident and countless others. There are easy techniques for the dealer to remove the mold release compound from the new tires before the customer gets on the highway.
A study (magazine article would do) examining the friction coefficients and braking and swerving distances for new versus seasoned tires would be interesting. I would prefer this type of article over "will the new Hayabusa really have 200+ hp????" and similar articles.
Wrist fractures are complex for several reasons. One concern is the precarious blood supply to the bones, with the possibility of necrosis. Be sure to get the best possible care possible, and comply with the medical program, including rehab. from hand specialists.
http://www.emedicine.com/RADIO/topic747.htm
What a shame. An attorney consultation may be advisable, and helpful to the riding community.
Good luck.
