MOBILE, Ala. – On Sunday afternoon, William L. Cooper, Jr. lost his life in Mobile, Alabama, after his Harley-Davidson motorcycle experienced rear tire failure.
Mr. Cooper was riding his 2011 Harley-Davidson motorcycle on I-10 when his rear tire failed and caused his motorcycle to overturn multiple times. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
No further details are currently available.
Thoughts on crashes caused by tire failures
When we think of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, we think of America, tradition, and freedom. But for those who have been seriously injured or had a family member killed while riding, betrayal and failure come to mind. This is because tires should not fail.
Each year, over 400 lives are lost to tire-related accidents (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). This high number includes motorcyclists who experienced tire failure while riding.
While we can’t speculate and conclude without knowing all the facts about Mr. Cooper’s tragic accident, we know there are many times when tires fail for reasons completely outside the control of the driver.
For instance, we know that Harley-Davidson recently issued a voluntary recall of more than 65,000 motorcycles after discovering a potential safety issue that increases the risk of accidents. This recall concerns a fastener responsible for securing the rear shock absorber that is prone to breakage and can damage the rear tire or result in loss of tire pressure, which causes a likelihood of losing control of the motorcycle. Did this or something similar happen here?
There also could have been an issue with the tire itself. We have handled hundreds of cases involving accidents caused by tires that were defective when they left the manufacturer. These tires should never have made it onto our roads, but because of oversight or carelessness by the manufacturer, the tires make their way onto innocent motorists’ vehicles only to fail and cause devastating accidents. Manufacturers must be held accountable for these accidents.
Mr. Cooper experienced a rear tire failure and lost his life. His accident needs to be investigated by trained professionals who can determine exactly why the tire failed and who is responsible. If this tire failed because a repair shop or manufacturer failed to do their job correctly, they need to be held accountable for their actions. A man lost his life, and an innocent family will be left picking up the pieces.
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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation, with extensive experience in complex auto/tire defect and commercial vehicle cases.
Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice. Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources or is the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.
