Own a Rad Power e-bike? A defect can cause the front wheel to disengage from the frame while in motion, increasing the risk of crash at high speeds. Fill out the form to find out your rights »
WHAT’S THE ISSUE?
Hagens Berman filed a nationwide class-action lawsuit against Rad Power Bikes, widely considered the largest U.S. e-bike manufacturer, alleging the company continues to market and sell e-bikes equipped with a dangerous combination of disc brakes and quick release skewers. This defective design can cause the front wheel to detach while the e-bike is in motion. An industry-wide consensus holds that this combination is unsafe. This defect is present in all Rad Power bikes and impacts over 500,000 e-bikes.
AFFECTED RAD POWER BIKE MODELS
- Rad Power RadCity
- Rad Power RadRover
- Rad Power RadRunner
- Rad Power RadExpand
- Rad Power RadWagon
- Rad Power RadMission
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M AFFECTED?
If you own a Rad Power e-bike equipped with disc brakes and quick release skewers, you may be impacted by this defect and at risk of serious injury while operating your e-bike. All Rad Power e-bikes are designed with this defect.
FRONT WHEEL DETACHMENT DEFECT EXPLAINED
All Rad Power e-bikes are equipped with disc brakes and quick release skewers (or quick release levers). Disc brakes sit at the center of each bike wheel and stop the bike by squeezing a brake pad against a rotor mounted around the hub. Disc brakes are generally considered to be more powerful brakes than traditional rim brakes. Quick release skewers, or a quick release mechanism on the front tire, allow cyclists to remove the wheel of the bicycle without using a tool. Rad Power e-bikes are far heavier than manual road bikes and unlikely to be transported in a manner that requires wheel removal, yet Rad Power Bikes manufactures and sells all of its e-bikes with quick release skewers.
The combination of Rad e-bikes’ heavy weight with disc brakes and quick release skewers can cause the front wheel to disengage from the bike frame while operating, resulting in increased instability or wobbling and even complete dismantling of the bike. This defective design causes cyclists to fly over handlebars or otherwise crash while biking at high speeds.
WHAT RAD POWER BIKES KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECT
In 2015, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled more than 2.5 million U.S. bicycles equipped with both front disc brakes and quick release levers. Despite knowing about this longstanding industry-wide consensus that disc brakes in combination with quick release skewers are dangerous, Rad Power Bikes continues to design, manufacture and sell e-bikes with this defective design. Rad Power Bikes has netted a staggering $329 million in investment since its inception.
THE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES
Many riders have experienced the front wheel of their bike flying off while moving at high speeds due to this defect. In one instance, a cyclist was riding his RadRunner e-bike to the grocery store when he braked to avoid a turning car. Upon braking, he was thrown over the handlebars, and the front wheel of his bike flew through the air. He landed on his back, breaking five ribs and his clavicle. He then spent two nights in the hospital trauma ward and six weeks in rehabilitation and physical therapy to recover from his severe injuries.
A recent study found that e-bike riders are 1.6 times more likely than ordinary cyclists to end up in the emergency room, and the CPSC found a steady 70% rise in injuries on e-scooters, e-bikes and hoverboards from 2017 to 2020. The commission also reported 71 fatalities across the country over that period. Hagens Berman believes that e-bike manufacturers must be held accountable to ensure the safety of their customers, and that this burgeoning industry cannot be allowed to rake in profits at the expense of people’s lives.
WHAT RAD E-BIKE OWNERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FRONT WHEEL DETACHMENT DEFECT
Many e-bike owners have experienced the consequences of Rad’s defective disc brake and quick release skewers design:
- “The front skewer snapped on my brand new Rad Expand 5 causing the front wheel to come off making me crash when I was riding down hill today! Before registering for this forum I read that a few others have had this experience! I[]m home hurting after rolling three times, but thankful that I didn[]t break any bones! I will be contacting RAD Power bikes in the morning!”
- “This happened to me recently. I was riding downhill on a paved street and a dip in the road caused the front fork to lift right off the wheel. I'm still in recovery after suffering broken bones in my right foot and a lacerated heel.”
- “If you Google ’rad power bikes front wheel fell off’ there are WAY too many results for this kind of thing.”
YOUR RIGHTS OWNING A RAD POWER BIKE
Attorneys believe Rad Power Bikes has violated consumer protection laws by continuing to implement a defective design widely known within the industry to be dangerous. We believe it is unacceptable for Rad Power Bikes to neglect the safety of its own customers, and to allow serious safety risks associated with the design of its e-bikes to go unaddressed. Hagens Berman’s team of consumer attorneys are also passionate cyclists, sponsoring multiple cycling teams. Our attorneys are personally inspired to fight for the rights of those hoping to ride safely on two wheels.
HOW CAN A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT HELP?
Through a class-action lawsuit, individual consumers can collectively bring claims against companies that would otherwise have the upper hand, like Rad Power Bikes. A class-action lawsuit seeks to level the playing field, bringing strength to collective action to change corrupt practices and negligent responses to customers. Though these measures do not bring immediate relief, they are a time-tested method of holding companies accountable for wrongdoing, including companies’ failure to sell reliable and safe products to their customers.
TOP CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW FIRM
Hagens Berman is one of the nation’s leading consumer protection law firms has played a leading role in achieving some of the largest consumer settlements in U.S. history. The firm also made the largest recovery in litigation history — $260 billion — on behalf of consumers against tobacco companies. Your claim will be handled by attorneys experienced in consumer law.
NO COST TO YOU
There is no cost or fee whatsoever involved in joining this action. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the legal team for the class. In no case will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum.
