06-08-2011, 04:54 PM
Woman trapped under Harley during class
Lawyer: Other riders in danger
Updated: Saturday, 04 Jun 2011, 5:14 PM MDT
Published : Friday, 03 Jun 2011, 10:29 PM MDT
Reporter: Alex Tomlin
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/health/woma...ring-class
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - She took the course to learn how to ride a Harley safely; instead she was severely injured and now worries the class and its instructors are going to kill someone.
The woman was in this class for beginning motorcycle riders taught by Thunderbirds Harley-Davidson on Alameda Boulevard NE in Albuquerque.
âThey had to literally cut her clothes off in order to get her loose,â her attorney, Jesse Quackenbush, said.
He said that the company knew his 4-foot 11-inch client was too small for the bike they put her on.
âOne of the technicians at the store literally told the training instructor don't put her on any bike under this roof because she is simply too small," Quackenbush said. The woman had already had a spill the day before, he added.
This time she lost control hitting a pole. A metal chain hanging from the pole wrapped around her and the bike, pinning her under the 360-pound Harley.
âShe lies on the ground for like four minutes while this thing is burning through her leg,â Quackenbush said.
The woman did sign a waiver saying she knew the risks, but Quackenbush said, âThe waiver is not worth the paper that it is written on.â
Quackenbush said trainers violated the rules by having the chain on the course.
Now, the woman is suing Thunderbirds and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in federal court for the accident.
The bike his client crashed on is the smallest model Harley makes. Quackenbush said Harley only wants people training on Harleys so they will buy Harleys.
âThe simple truth is that Harley-Davidson would not sell as many motorcycles if they put their students on Yamahas,â said Quackenbush.
Which he said are smaller and easier to handle for beginners.
No one from Thunderbirds dealership or from Harley's corporate offices in Wisconsin got back to us to comment on the lawsuit.
Lawyer: Other riders in danger
Updated: Saturday, 04 Jun 2011, 5:14 PM MDT
Published : Friday, 03 Jun 2011, 10:29 PM MDT
Reporter: Alex Tomlin
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/health/woma...ring-class
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - She took the course to learn how to ride a Harley safely; instead she was severely injured and now worries the class and its instructors are going to kill someone.
The woman was in this class for beginning motorcycle riders taught by Thunderbirds Harley-Davidson on Alameda Boulevard NE in Albuquerque.
âThey had to literally cut her clothes off in order to get her loose,â her attorney, Jesse Quackenbush, said.
He said that the company knew his 4-foot 11-inch client was too small for the bike they put her on.
âOne of the technicians at the store literally told the training instructor don't put her on any bike under this roof because she is simply too small," Quackenbush said. The woman had already had a spill the day before, he added.
This time she lost control hitting a pole. A metal chain hanging from the pole wrapped around her and the bike, pinning her under the 360-pound Harley.
âShe lies on the ground for like four minutes while this thing is burning through her leg,â Quackenbush said.
The woman did sign a waiver saying she knew the risks, but Quackenbush said, âThe waiver is not worth the paper that it is written on.â
Quackenbush said trainers violated the rules by having the chain on the course.
Now, the woman is suing Thunderbirds and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in federal court for the accident.
The bike his client crashed on is the smallest model Harley makes. Quackenbush said Harley only wants people training on Harleys so they will buy Harleys.
âThe simple truth is that Harley-Davidson would not sell as many motorcycles if they put their students on Yamahas,â said Quackenbush.
Which he said are smaller and easier to handle for beginners.
No one from Thunderbirds dealership or from Harley's corporate offices in Wisconsin got back to us to comment on the lawsuit.
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