While the holiday season might be over, the danger from hoverboards still looms large. Perhaps you’ve seen the dozens of YouTube videos showing adventurous riders like Mike Tyson wiping out on their newfound “toy”. And, though we are now four months past the Christmas during which hoverboards became one of the most popular gifts, reports of personal injuries and hoverboard-related fires still abound.
Indeed, as a result of the recent hoverboard craze, doctors and hospitals saw a huge increase in the number of patient visits related to injuries sustained while using a hoverboard. Falls from hoverboards have led to very serious injuries, including concussions, internal injury, fractures and hand sprains and brakes from folks who tried to break their falls.
And personal injury accidents aren’t the only concern. Currently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (U.S. CPSC) is still in the process of investigating numerous reports of accidents. They have not yet discovered one root cause, as the circumstances around each incident seem to be different. Some hoverboards catch fire while charging, others while in use, and still others while doing neither of those things. This has made it difficult to discern what the cause is. In addition, the incidents don’t seem to be limited to one kind of hoverboard or even one brand.
The U.S. CPSC recommends you take all of the following precautions to help avoid injury or risk of fire:
- Do not charge hoverboard overnight or when you aren’t able to observe the board.
- Charge and store in an open, dry area away from flammable materials.
- Do not charge directly after riding. Allow the hoverboard to cool for an hour after use before charging it.
- Look for the mark of a certified national testing laboratory. This is no guarantee of safety, but hoverboards without this might indicate a manufacturer whose primary concern is not safety.
- Do not ride near traffic.
- Wear safety gear like you would for a skateboard: helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards.
If you are injured in a hoverboard related incident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Call to speak with one of our experienced Personal Injury Attorneys today.
