Hoverboards And Accidents: Do You Have A Case?
It seems hoverboards have been deemed as the most inappropriate Christmas gift in 2015. It has been reported as a fire hazard and linked with a high risk of the individual riding them to fall off the unit. Mastering the skill of riding a hoverboard is difficult. Many videos are posted on the Internet showing people falling off the board. Here is some of the reported information of this trendy addition.
Dangers
Serious injuries are possible when a person falls, including broken bones or head injuries. The battery is lithium-ion that catches fire from plugs that have malfunctioned. The fires have been documented as the units catching fire when charging, being ridden, and other times as well. Not only is it dangerous to the riders, but it can also cause fires in the home, resulting in substantial damages to the property.
Safety Laws
A previous law in California banned gas-powered boards from being ridden on the streets. However, Governor Brown legalized the use of electrical/motorized boards, including hoverboards. It restricted the use of them for individuals over 16 years old. This updated ruling gave specific restrictions for the usage of the skateboards as shown below.
- Helmets must be worn by riders on any public sidewalk, trail, or bike paths.
- Unless riding in a bike lane, the boards can be ridden only on streets with 35 mph speed limits or lower.
- The board must not be ridden more than 15 mph in any public location.
- Specific safety equipment must be equipped on the hoverboards.
It will be a criminal offense to ride the board if the individual is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
It is noted, counties and cities are permitted to add more restrictions to the above rulings.
Do You Have a Suit?
You may have a suit if the product is deemed defective and the user/rider was harmed while using the hoverboard. This would be taken by a liability action lawsuit. The defects can include product defects, manufacturing defects, or design defects.
If the board was used in the way it was designed for, the product would be unsafe if an injury occurred that would make it a design defect. An advertising/marketing defect would be grounds for a suit if sufficient warnings and instructions were not provided with the board.
It would be best to discuss the case with an attorney, like one from Stapleton Law Offices, to see what compensation can be awarded in your specific incident.
This is an example of how trendy items may not have been effectively tested before the product was sold to individuals. The hoverboard is a great way to maneuver about, but the safety issues may not be worth the brand new toy.