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Rad Power Bikes denies claims made in latest lawsuit
Rad Power Bikes issued a statement defending its quality control and denying the claims made in a class-action lawsuit filed last week that faulted the fork and quick-release design as the cause of a front wheel disengaging from the e-bike.
While they initially declined to make a public statement regarding the suit filed by law firm FeganScott on behalf of Gary E. Mason, Rad Power Bikes subsequently issued the following statement:
“As an industry innovator and leader in e-bikes, Rad Power Bikes holds the safety of our riders as our top priority. We design our e-bikes and accessories to exceed safety and quality standards required by U.S. e-bike regulations. Because of this, we are confident in the safety and quality of all of our e-bikes and components when used and maintained properly. This includes the disc brakes and quick-release mechanism, which have been standard in the industry for years and used on millions of bikes and e-bikes.
“Rad Power Bikes, therefore, denies the allegations in this complaint, and the company looks forward to the opportunity to defend itself and its products in this case.”
Mason, of Bethesda, Maryland, purchased Rad Power Bikes’s RadRunner model in March of 2021. On May 31, 2022, Mason was riding the RadRunner to the grocery store when he braked to avoid a turning car. He was thrown over the handlebar and “saw the front wheel flying through the air.”
Mason suffered five broken ribs and a broken clavicle after landing on his back. He spent two nights in the trauma ward at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Bethesda, and another six weeks in rehabilitation and physical therapy.
The class-action lawsuit seeks a jury trial and “repair, replacement, and/or refund; extended warranty; injunctive relief resolving — and appropriate curative notice regarding — the existence and cause of the defective e-bikes; reimbursement of all expenses associated with the repair or replacement of the e-bikes and damage caused by the Rad e-bikes; and reimbursement of attorney fees and expenses.”
E-bike retailer’s insurance canceled
Scott Chambers says he had never made a claim with Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association in the five years they had insured his shop, Zippy’s Bikes. While his rates had risen, he was surprised by the notice he received from them, dated Sept. 13.
It said, “Unfortunately the program that we have your insurance in will no longer be writing Bicycles Shops at renewal. The non-renewal has nothing to do with your business specifically, the company will just no longer be writing the class of business.”
Chambers told Bicycle Retailer and Industry News that the notice came “completely out of the blue. Unexpected.”
Zippy’s Bikes sells both e-bikes and traditional bikes. Their lines include Trek, Electra, Sun and Biria, among others.
Chambers believes his coverage was canceled due to the fact that he sells and services e-bikes.
“That would be our guess because of the fires and issues with unapproved UL and cheap Chinese lithium-ion products in New York City, and possibly the Rad Power lawsuits,” said Chambers. He says he’s never had any claims with any of his carriers in 13 years.
