Overlawyered: Chronicling The High Cost Of Our Legal System

Take three steps back from the bell, avoiding any sudden movements

From Bill Childs on Twitter:

“WARNING: Cycling can be dangerous. Bicycle products should be installed and serviced by a professional mechanic. Never BicycleBellLabelmodify your bicycle or accessories. Read and follow all product instructions and warnings including information on the manufacturer’s website. Inspect your bicycle before every ride. Always wear a helmet and use lights at night. Failure to heed any of these warnings may result in serious injury or death.”

Which, as Bill says, seems a bit much for a warning on a bicycle bell.

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13 Comments

  • […] (H/T: Overlawyered) […]

  • I’m waiting for the day when the warning labels and safety/instruction booklet outsize and out mass the item they’re attached to.

  • This is bad. We all put bells on or serviced our bicycles growing up. What is wrong with people.

  • I recently went to a store and purchased an item which allowed me to get a small “lost leader” item for free. Here’s the warning label on it:

    To prevent serious injury: 1. Wear ANSI-approved safety goggles and heavy-duty work gloves during use. 2. People with pacemakers should consult their physician(s) before use. Electromagnetic magnetic fields in close proximity to heart pacemaker could cause pacemaker interference or pacemaker failure. 3. Position batteries in proper polarity and do not install batteries of different types, charge levels or capacities together. 4. Inspect before every use; do not use if parts loose or damaged. 5. Use as intended only. 6. The brass components of this product contain lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. (California Health and Safety Code 25249.5)

    The item is a 27 LED flashlight from Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/27-led-portable-worklightflashlight-69567.html

    I have no idea how anyone can even push the on/off switch with “heavy duty work gloves.” I tried using leather gloves and a pair of electrical work gloves. It can’t be done.

    It seems to me that if one follows the warning label, the little flashlight can never be used.

    • Gitarcarver, we have a contest that awards prizes for wacky warning labels like this. The winners are picked on John Stossel’s show on FOX each summer. To get information on how to enter, go here: http://www.centerforamericatv.org/page4/

      Good luck!

  • Do not taunt happy fun bell

  • Hey, a bell is a piece of safety equipment, so if there is an accident they could be sued for failing to warn about all the possible hazards associated with bicycles. Truly an overlawyered situation.

    • By Rxc

  • Hey, GC, don’t use it in California, or you’ll get cancer. But, from the warning, it looks like you’ll be OK everywhere else.

    • By Wfjag

  • They should put less effort into warning labels and more effort into inventing a comfortable bicycle seat.

    • They have invented a more comfortable bicycle seat. Look into recumbent bikes.

      On top of the more comfortable seat: Most people can generate significantly more force with their legs than what is needed to lift their own weight. However, with a standard bike you are limited to how much force you can apply to the pedals by your body weight as that is all you have to push against. With a recumbent bike you actually have leverage and can apply more force to the pedals.

      • By MattS

      • With standard pedals, that is correct Matt. Try clip in pedals instead. You’ll never go back.

  • @ Matt S–
    In my younger days, I could get extra force on a standard touring bike by pulling up on the handlebars at the same time I was pushing down on the pedals.
    My current sense of balance is no longer that good, but I also doubt how well I could keep my balance on the recumbent design.