Billy's friend offered to modify wheelchair, increased speed, self-defense devices, and additional comfort?

Question

is this legal? is it safe? my friend is very smart genius who can modify my wheelchair to do powerful incredible things and he is very rich too, but should i let him tamper with it?

Answer 1

Yes to all except to the increase of speed......

Answer 2

h**l yea, even if the wheelchair broke you can't get injured much more anyway

Answer 3

well if you want to find out answers for that check out http://www.wheelchairsopen.com

Answer 4

First off all, increased speed may be a bit dodgy, since wheel chairs are the most stable tings around (if you are sitting in them they may be top heavy. A few mph faster would be fine, but if he is talking faster than that, I think that would be dangerous. Also stop him if he thinks about putting an engine on it as it would give off fumes.

Secondly, self-defense devices may be all right, or they may be totally illegal. It depends what he is talking about. If it is something to make your wheel chair safer like a roll bar then that would be fine. If we are talking something which could potential injure someone (which is what my understanding of a self defense device would be) then that would be illegal.

Additional comfort would be fine. There would be nothing wrong with that at all.

I would ask around too to see what the laws are in your area as if you modify a wheel chair too much, then it could potentially be classed as a vehicle (you may think this is nonsense, but bureaucratics have probably spent many meetings discussing what the differences are).

Answer 5

Sure... as long as he is willing to take the liability for any failures, injuries, accidents caused by the modifications, etc.

And he knows how to make the changes that are in-line with your abilities and needs (ie- speeds- if you are moving faster than your reflexes, you will get badly injured because you will not be in full control of the chair.How about if your 'more comfortable' seating causes skin breakdown?)

And he is willing to make repairs for the rest of the life of the chair because few dealers will touch modified chairs.

And he has a LOT of insurance and good lawyers. Most self-defense systems are legal nightmares- what if an innocent person is hurt?

I'm a chair technician, and as much fun as pimping chairs can be, it needs some careful consideration in direct proportion to your capabilities.

Answer 6

I could go for more comfort in my chair, more speed, I wouldn't want that, as the roads/sidewalks in my area SUCK. That and it means I need to crank the wheels harder. Over it.  Self defense can be dodgy, if you 2 are thinking james bond stuff then I'd check the laws in your area first.  

Answer 7

I don't see any legal issues here, since it is not against any law to modify your own chair.

There could be a LOT of safety issues, especially with the speed increase.  The higher the speed potential, the lower I'd want the seat.  And, if the seat was too low, I'd be concerned with visibility, both with what I could see and with people and vehicles seeing me. (I know a lot of disabled people who use their power chairs on city sidwalks and streets, who mount a reflective flag and pole, like the ones bicyclists often have on their bikes.)

What does his being rich have to do with anything?