The Start of Hoverboard Injuries?

Friday, February 19, 2016

The Start of Hoverboard Injuries?

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Hoverboards are no longer something from movies – they are real and have even been purchased. One of the biggest tech gifts for Christmas 2015 were hoverboards. Unfortunately, these futuristic gadgets are not without their risk for injury.

From suddenly bursting into flames to dangerous accidents, hoverboards have already proved to be extremely dangerous. Already there are two lawsuits started for hoverboards, according to a Fox news report. These devices have been reported for causing fires in a home and another caught fire just while charging its battery.

Are Hoverboards Really that Dangerous?

Hoverboards have now been reported in 12 separate incidents by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission for their lithium batteries catching fire and destroying homes or individual bedrooms. These fires have started under various circumstances too – making it harder for manufacturers to pinpoint what is going on. For some, hoverboards exploded into flames while charging and others have had their hoverboards ignite just while riding them. In another case, sitting near a kiosk forced the hoverboard to catch fire. And, the fires are not just limited to the United States. They have also been reported throughout the United Kingdom as well as Hong Kong.

Because there’s no single reason as to why these devices are exploding, it is making them even more dangerous. No one can protect themselves against injury and there’s no particular brand to blame – in fact, multiple manufacturers have been named in cases involving fires.

One thing manufacturers are trying to claim is that users of the hoverboards must use the charging device that came with it, but there have still been reported fires regardless of the charger used. Also, the charging device itself is not like any other; therefore, a manufacturer requesting that people use the proper charger is useless.

Lack of Safety Standards

The biggest issue is that hoverboards have a significant lack of safety standards in place. Lithium batteries are volatile, but not dangerous when used properly. But, there is a serious lack of regulations when it comes to electronics. Hoverboards are brand new to the industry, so private and government safety organizations have yet to establish how they should be designed, sold and used to avoid injury. Until these regulations become permanent fixtures, there are likely to be more fires and injuries associated with hoverboards.

Hoverboard Injuries and Fires Fall Under Product Liability

If you or a loved one was injured by a defective hoverboard or a fire caused by an exploding hoverboard, you may have a lawsuit against the manufacturer for their negligence, as well as against the company that sold the gadget. Contact the attorneys at Malman Law today to assess your potential product liability case. Call us at 888-751-2297 to schedule a free consultation or fill out an online contact form with your questions.