Are Clipless Pedals Safe?

If you are at all involved in cycling, or even have made a cursory visit to a bicycle shop, you’ve likely noticed that clipless pedals are the new normal in cycling. While clipless pedals have reached mass adoption, little attention is being paid to the significant risks involved with using clipless pedals. The bottom line is that while clipless pedals may be more efficient for cycling, clipless pedals are dangerous—the claim that they are not any more dangerous than flats is an outright lie. Worse yet, clipless pedals can be defectively designed or manufactured such that the increase the risk of accidents and injuries. New riders are told that clipless pedals are “just different” from flats and that they are “more efficient”. What is left out of the discussion is that clipless pedals are harder to use, complicated to install, and more likely to cause serious injury to cyclists—especially cyclists who are new to using clipless pedals. Most bike pedal injuries and lawsuits involve clipless pedals.

Why Are Clipless Pedals Dangerous?

Most people understand intuitively that clipless pedals can make cycling more dangerous because your feet are physically attached to the bicycle, limiting your ability to escape from the bicycle in a sudden emergency. Clipless pedals are a misnomer in that they clip-in to a corresponding set of cleats attached to a person’s shoes. Most clipless pedals are designed to only detach when they are twisted to the side, rather than pulling up and away from the pedal. The purpose of this design is to allow a cyclist to have a continuous push and pull pedaling stroke, ensuring that no energy is wasted and that they can focus on maintaining a smooth stroke without thinking of foot positioning. While there is no question that clipless pedals are the superior choice for racing and exercise, safety is not the point. A number of studies have shown that clipless pedals can cause a significant increase in the risk of injury, especially hip injuries. Clipless pedal injuries are particularly common for novice cyclists who are learning how to use them. The most infamous accident many people have heard stories about involves a new cyclist slowing to a stop at a stoplight—only to panic as they try to detach from their clipless pedals causing them to simply fall over. While this type of accident is extremely common, it usually only results in a couple scratches, a bruised ego, and some embarrassment depending on the amount of bystanders who see the flop. The real danger of clipless pedal involves unexpected crashes and clipless pedal defects.

Whenever something becomes more complicated more points of failure are introduced. Defective clipless pedals are not an uncommon phenomenon.  and when you are using clipless pedals the pedal itself can fail, the cleats can fail, the shoes can fail, and the whole design may be inherently unsafe.

Do I Have a Clipless Pedal Defect Lawsuit?

When people are injured in a cycling accident they often fail to realize that their injuries were caused or exacerbated by clipless pedals. The cycling industry wants to ignore the major risks involved in designing and manufacturing clipless pedals. One of the major defects that can occur in some clipless pedals is that the mechanism gets stuck, such that it takes an unusual amount of force to unattach from the pedals. These defects can involve the pedals themselves or the cleats. Sometimes the issue is caused by the manufacturing so that the pedal or cleat is misized or warped. Occasionally, the defect is even more obvious—the whole dang pedal breaks off the bike. While clipless pedals defects can take many forms it can be difficult to determine the precise cause of your injuries as a lay person. If you have been involved in cycling accident resulting in injuries that you believe may be related to your pedals, or even the defective nature of the bicycle itself, give us a call for a free consultation. We are always happy to help people figure out what happened and determine whether you may have a case.

SOS Injury Lawyers: Your Clipless Pedal Defect Attorneys in Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona, and Around the Country

If you have suffered injuries from a clipless pedals, the manufacturer and related companies may be held liable for your injuries. Whether you’re in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, or anywhere else in the country, our clipless pedal defect lawyers are prepared to file a lawsuit for victims hurt by defective clipless pedals and their loved ones (in case of wrongful death lawsuits) to recover medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and other damages available at law.

Other law firms may claim that they handle products defect cases but when you consider that they handle lawsuits involving car accidents, medical malpractice, slip and falls, premises liability, dog bites, and other personal injury claims, it’s hard for these firms to focus the time, resources, and energy that are needed to maximize the value of a products defect case.

Here at SOS Injury Lawyers, products defect law is what we do. We help you navigate the complex world of products liability, help you track down the necessary experts, provide you with around-the-clock access to experienced lawyers with over 100 trials under their belts, and help you cover the expenses of what is otherwise an expensive process. The best part? You don’t pay a dime unless we win. Whether you’re in Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona or anywhere else in the country, SOS Injury Lawyers are here to help you win your products defect case.

Call us now at (702) 720-3030 for a completely free consultation and see how we can be of service to you. We’ll provide you with a free review of your case and will inform you about your legal options and the best way to pursue a potential claim. If you believe a set of clipless pedals or bicycle may be defective, and that defect caused injury or death to you or your loved ones, call us now for a free case evaluation.