On behalf of Shea & Shea – A Professional Law Corporation posted in Dangerous Products on Thursday, January 7, 2016.
The nation’s emergency rooms, clinics, and urgent care centers have been inundated with people who have sustained injury from one of the holiday season’s hottest gifts: the hoverboard. While promo videos make using the device look easy, handling the board is much more difficult than it looks. In fact, online videos have caught thousands of painful falls from the device on camera.
Falls from a hoverboard can, and have, caused serious injury, including bone fractures, head injuries, and neck injuries that require urgent medical care. Ankle and knee injuries have been reported as other common injuries. As if this wasn’t already frightening enough, there have even been some reports that the boards have randomly burst into flames, either while charging or during use, and airlines have banned taking hoverboards onto planes for the potential fire hazard. The culprit may be the cheap lithium ion batteries.
According to a doctor in Philadelphia, the small wheels on hoverboards do not work well on uneven surfaces. Even a half inch unevenness on the ground is enough to stop the hoverboard, but the rider will still keep moving forward. Because the device is popular among kids and teens, parents should be concerned about the safety of the device, although people of all ages have been injured while using the device.
Hoverboard laws are now being enacted in several states throughout the country to address regulations for the device. In California, a new law enacted on January 1 mandates that riders must be at least 16 years old to ride a hoverboard in public and must wear a helmet while doing so. In addition, riders can only ride on streets where the speed limit is less than 35 mph. Those who violate these rules, or who operate a hoverboard under the influence, will be forced to pay a $250 fine. The California Metrolink service has also banned bringing hoverboards aboard trains. So far, the law does not address riding hoverboards on sidewalks, which will be left up to the discretion of individual cities and counties.
If you have been injured while using a hoverboard, speak to a San Jose injury lawyer today. Lawsuits are currently pending alleging defects with the product, so contact Shea & Shea – A Professional Law Corporation to see if you have a viable case. Receive your free consultation when you call (408) 883-3863.