Slingshot cycles are low-slung, very fast three-wheeled motor cycles that have recently appeared on New Jersey roads. Manufactured by Polaris, these vehicles usually accommodate a driver and one passenger in open seats. They do not have standard safety features found on licensed motor vehicles, such as air bags and lockable side doors. A collision in a slingshot cycle can have calamitous impacts on the vehicle’s occupants, as recently demonstrated by a Slingshot crash in Trenton.
The incident
According to Trenton police they responded to a report of a slingshot cycle hitting two construction barriers on Passaic Street and plunging into the adjacent canal. Police recovered one teen-aged male who appeared to be deceased. Another teen-aged male was recovered from the canal and taken to a nearby hospital in grave condition. Police have not released any further information on the crash, except to say that their investigation is continuing.
Controversial vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has lodged multiple complaints about the Slingshot. The vehicle has been the subject of at least four recalls and at least one formal investigation by the federal government.
In most motor vehicle accident cases, the legal issues stem from the idea of driver’s error, but in some cases, there are other parties that can be held liable. Some cases involve the complicated legal area of product liability, in which manufacturers and others can be held liable after a consumer is injured by a dangerously defective product. This legal theory has been important in cases involving defective airbags and other safety features in motor vehicles.
Conclusion
Anyone who has been injured or lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident may benefit from consulting an experienced personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable attorney can evaluate the evidence, suggest various legal arguments that might support such a claim, and provide an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.