Consumer rights

[Lanzarote81]

I recently got a bike for my birthday last week from halfords. Lucky I was wearing my helmet when I went for a cycle because it saved my life the doctors told me. As I tried to turn up onto the path from the road the handlebars turned but the tyre stayed caught on the edge of the small kerb resulting in me flying off and banging every part of my body. Ended up in A&E for 8 hrs with cuts and grazes all over me, even all on my face and a sprained knee. I have to attend physco and payed a nice medical bill. I'm left with a bike that is brand new with loose handlebars as the accident was down to poor assembly. Am I entitled to a refund. I have no desire to ride again and it's a shame as it was always one of my favourite hobbies. Can anyone give me advise.

 

[Apollonius]

I cannot comment on the rights and wrongs of this, but firstly I hope you are soon back on your bike and fit to ride again.

A couple of observations:
If your bike has a single centre expander-bolt friction fitting then it would be likely to end up twisted after an off.
You will often come off if you hit a kerb at an angle. Indeed, long things are a greater hazard than pot-holes.
You do not steer a bike by turning the handlebars - except at very low speeds.

I hope this helps.

 

[MontyVeda]

Only advice i can offer is that you learn the basics of bicycle maintenance so you can be sure your bike is in a fit state to ride...

oh and get back on the bike

 

[Cycleops]

First you will have to prove that your accident was caused by poor assembly. This claim will need to be supported by a qualified engineers report so you will need to find someone who can do this for you. Are you going to try to recover your medical costs plus time off work etc? You will probably need to engage a solicitor who has experience in this field. Can I ask how old you are?

 

[Steady]

A couple of observations:
If your bike has a single centre expander-bolt friction fitting then it would be likely to end up twisted after an off.
You will often come off if you hit a kerb at an angle. Indeed, long things are a greater hazard than pot-holes.
You do not steer a bike by turning the handlebars - except at very low speeds.

I hope this helps.

Learnt this as a kid with a slanted angled drop kerb, I think it took me years to get over my fear of drop kerbs and even now I eye them carefully!

If you go over the drop kerb anything but straight you're coming off.