Shimano Inc mountain or all-terrain bicycles and accessories

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. Seen by a doctor or nurse

   Made May 15, 2020 · , sent to the company Jun 2, 2020 · , published by CPSC Jun 16, 2020

   The product, in the report: Shimano M520 Clipless SPD MTB Pedals These cost-effective SPD pedals will keep you in the thick of the action. Featuring a sealed cartridge bearing spindle to prevent water and mud ingress so you can spin smoothly for longer, Shimano’s M520 Clipless SPD MTB Pedals also include an open design to shred mud whilst you shred the trail. These SPD pedals are ideally suited to the versatile MTB rider who likes to keep an eye on weight. Weighing in at 380g for the pair, they come with a performance edge. Package include: - Shimano PD-M520 clipless pedals of your choice - Shimano SM-SH51 cleats

   I, [REDACTED], purchased a pair of Shimano “clipless pedal” (Model PD–M 520), [REDACTED]Mountain Bike Shoes, and “cleats” (Model SM SH51) that were installed on my mountain bike on 06/29/2019. The retailer who sold the clipless pedal system is Orange Cycle whose address location is [REDACTED]. A team member of Orange Cycle consulted me about the option to buy the clip-less pedal system, but there was no mention of any danger or learning curve that was necessary.

   The team member for Orange Cycle installed the clipless pedal system on my [REDACTED] Mountain Bike, Serial Number: [REDACTED]. The Shimano “clipless pedal” is designed to be used with a shoe that has a cleat which fits into the pedal. I purchased the compatible bicycle shoes manufactured by [REDACTED] and the cleats were attached to the shoe by the bike mechanic. Shimano, advertised, distributed and sold the pedals and cleats (“clip-less pedal system”) through a string of distributors.

   I was under the impression the clip-less pedal system was installed on my mountain bike in a proper manner. I was not aware of any product defects or any recalls regarding any of Shimano’s products. The bike mechanic for Orange Cycle did not have me ride the bike to check to see if the bolt located on the pedal was too tight. According to a representative of [REDACTED] bike shops have a bike mount that is used to have customers practice safely detaching from the clipless pedals during the purchase process. This technique is used to ensure safety while training to ride on the bike with the clipless pedals. The mechanic can adjust the bolt to either tighten or loosen the mechanism used to remove your foot from the bike’s new clip-less pedal system.

   I sincerely regret to inform you that after putting on the mountain bike shoes for the first time which were attached to the clipless pedals, I sustained an injury to my lumbar area and left leg after falling off my mountain bike hitting a concrete floor. An X-ray was taken and found that I suffered a fractured tailbone. I have been suffering from low back pain, pain in my hips, and radiculopathy in the lower extremities. As a result of these injuries I have had to seek medical care at the [REDACTED]. I have not been able to work and have been suffering from a lot of pain. As part of my treatment I have been receiving physical therapy at [REDACTED] Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Center including acupuncture at [REDACTED] to relieve pain in my back and left leg and now right leg. I have not been able to recover and have continued my physical therapy treatment at [REDACTED] Medicine and Rehab Center which began on May 01, 2020.

   The team member for Orange Cycle, failed to properly inform me on how to disengage from the clipless pedals. Furthermore, there was no safety warning labels inside of the product container for the clipless pedals system because the retailer never gave me the box back or any manual that I would have expected on the date of purchase. I searched the Shimano website on October 15, 2019 and noticed there were no product safety labels or instructions on how to safely disengage from a set of clipless pedals. Nor was any mention of a learning curve that was needed to safely detach from the clip-less pedals.

   Shimano had a legal duty to warn its customers of the inherent danger from using clipless pedals. By not providing adequate training, warning labels, and or not properly installing the clipless pedals lead to an injury of my left leg as a result of hitting a concrete floor located in [REDACTED] on 06/30/2019. The proximate cause of my injuries and damages are the result of improper techniques used by Orange Cycle and Shimano’s failure to disclose the dangers of riding a bike for the first time with clipless pedals. Those damages include medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

   STATEMENT OF FACTS On Sunday, June 30, 2019 at approximately 5:03 PM. I went for a bike ride and latched on my clipless pedals for the first time and lost my balance landing on my left leg because I did not know nor was instructed on how to properly disengage my shoes from the clipless pedals. Both my shoes were latched on to the clipless pedals. As I got back up from falling, I did not notice anything at the time until I got home and started to feel pain symptoms in my lumbar spine and lower legs. I continued to struggle with pain and contacted my primary care physician about my low back pain and that I was “limping as I strike my left foot on the floor causing me to walk with an abnormal walking pattern. There is also pain in my buttocks.” I continued to suffer from pain that included the left hip and leg pain that radiated down the legs on August 18, 2019. On September 18, 2019, an X-ray of the sacrum and the coccyx area revealed a fracture that had healed, which was only seen in lateral projection.

   INJURIES AND TREATMENT I was informed I suffered a tailbone fracture. I continue to feel pain in the lumbar spine that radiates to my hamstrings, quadriceps, and the lower extremities. I am required to take pain medication that include [REDACTED], [REDACTED] ointment, [REDACTED] cream, [REDACTED] gel, and [REDACTED]. I have been receiving medical care at the [REDACTED] Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Center since March 2019 and have continued to receive acupuncture at [REDACTED] since August of 2019. The types of medical treatment are meant to assist me with chronic back pain that radiates to the lower extremities including cervical pain.

   OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES Driving distance to and from treatment is as follows: • [REDACTED] Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Center (March 2019 - December 2019) o Total of [REDACTED] miles per visit for a total of [REDACTED] visits. • [REDACTED] - Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (August 2019 - Present) o Total of [REDACTED] miles per visit for a total of [REDACTED] visits • [REDACTED] - March 2019 to present o Total of [REDACTED] miles per visit for a total of [REDACTED] visits • [REDACTED] Outpatient Clinic (November 2019) o Total of [REDACTED] miles for [REDACTED] visit. • [REDACTED] Sports Medicine and Rehab (May 2020-Present) o Total of [REDACTED] milers per visit for a total of [REDACTED] visits

   LOST WAGES I have been unemployed and have been receiving medical care and the bike accident has compounded the problem as I have needed additional therapy that now include acupuncture and aquatic therapy. At the date of loss my rate of pay was $25.00 per hour. The amount of my lost wages directly attributable to my injuries, treatment, and recovery have not been fully determined. However, an estimate of $51,400 of lost wages have been accounted for since July 01, 2019, to May 14, 2020.

   PAIN AND SUFFERING The events surrounding my injuries and subsequent treatment and recovery have been physically and psychologically devastating. I never asked for any of this to happen. Your insured’s negligence in failing to place sufficient warnings regarding possible injuries from the use of clip-less pedals that were too tightly installed and had no training manual or brochure changed my life. Before my injuries I lived a full life, free of pain and discomfort. Since my injuries I’ve experienced serious pain and discomfort, anxiety, guilt and depression. All these are directly attributable to Shimano and retailer Orlando Cycle’s negligence.

   Without income during the treatment and recovery period I was forced to borrow money from friends and family. This was entirely embarrassing to me. I am requesting your assistance with a settlement offer of $500,000. I will attach a notice of medical expenses and pain and suffering from this incident within the next 14 days, your response is greatly appreciated in this matter. Sincerely,

   [REDACTED]

   cc: Consumer Product Safety Commission Reference # [REDACTED] Florida Office of the Attorney General

   Model

   PD-M520

   Bought from

   ORANGE CYCLE

   Bought

   Jun 29, 2019

   Where

   Orlando, Florida: Street or Highway

   Who was involved

   Age 43, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   made or sold by Shimano Inc

   Reports CPSC links to it

   20200528-9A271-1983832

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources