Motorcycle Expert Opines on Fatal Brake Defect

ByJoseph O'Neill

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Updated onOctober 30, 2017

Motorcycle Expert Opines on Fatal Brake Defect

This case involves a man who was killed while learning how to ride a motorcycle in the parking lot of a large shopping center. At the time of the incident in question, the decedent was learning how to ride a motorcycle on a late-model bike that he had borrowed from a friend, who was present at the time of the accident. The man had been riding the motorcycle at a high rate of speed in the parking lot when his brakes apparently failed, causing him to crash into an exterior wall of a grocery store. The man was immediately taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead several hours later. The model of bike that the man was riding had undergone a recall for defective brakes one year prior to the accident, however the manufacturer maintained that brake failure was not the cause of the accident. It was reported that components of the motorcycle did not undergo any shock and vibration testing which could have identified any design issues.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Please briefly describe your work with motorcycle braking systems.

Expert Witness Response E-037755

inline imageI am well acquainted with motorcycle braking systems, and while I have not performed a forensic evaluation of the brakes in a crashed motorcycle, I feel confident that I could perform and document such an inspection. I am an accredited reconstructionist and have been an avid motorcyclist for the last 20+ years. I have been a motorcycle safety instructor for my state's motorcycle safety program and have published a paper on motorcycle braking in the Accident Reconstruction Journal. I have also completed approximately 80 hours of training specific to advanced motorcycle collision reconstruction. I have testified as an expert in multiple criminal motorcycle collision cases.

About the author

Joseph O'Neill

Joseph O'Neill

Joe has extensive experience in online journalism and technical writing across a range of legal topics, including personal injury, meidcal malpractice, mass torts, consumer litigation, commercial litigation, and more. Joe spent close to six years working at Expert Institute, finishing up his role here as Director of Marketing. He has considerable knowledge across an array of legal topics pertaining to expert witnesses. Currently, Joe servces as Owner and Demand Generation Consultant at LightSail Consulting.

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