Hoverboards Lead to Serious Injury and Fires

(Newswire.net — March 22, 2016) West Palm Beach, FLORIDA — Healthcare officials from Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and representatives from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have taken action to warn the public about the serious dangers associated with the use of hoverboards. 

Hoverboards – motorized scooters which require the rider to self-balance – were one of the hottest Christmas gifts in 2015. It is only recently, however, that the public is starting to realize the significant danger they can pose.

Reported physical injuries have included fractures, concussions, internal organ damage, scrapes and abrasions.  Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami reported twice the number of fractures normally seen during the recent Christmas holidays. Between Dec 15, 2015 and January 09, 2016, the Emergency Room saw 54 injuries related to hoverboard use. Of these cases, 42 involved fractures, with some of the children requiring surgery.

There have also been reports of the devices catching fire either while in use or while charging. The CPSC received 52 reports of hoverboard fires between Dec 01, 2015 and Feb 17, 2016 that resulted in over $2 million dollars’ worth of property damage. The cause of the fires has been linked back to the use of cheap lithium ion batteries. Airlines have banned hoverboards due to fire hazard.

Independent testing conducted by CPSC has led to the conclusion that all hoverboards currently on the market are unsafe. As a result, CPSC has notified retailers, manufacturers and importers of new safety standards for the product and failure to comply could result in seizure or civil and/or criminal penalties. They have also strongly urged voluntary removal of the devices by manufacturers and retailers until they can be certified as safe. 

To date there have been two hoverboard-related lawsuits and personal injury lawyers are expecting many more to come.  

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or you have questions, please call us at 561-655-1990 or chat with us at www.ForYourRights.com. We are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

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