Hoverboard Fire Hazards
Hoverboards were the hot selling item over the 2015 holiday season, with adults and children alike clamoring for the hands free motorized device. At the same time, hoverboards have caught the attention of safety inspectors as the result of increasingly common reports of hoverboard accidents and injuries. Personal injuries caused by hoverboards have made national news and, despite their popularity, sellers are backing away from sales of the scooters as they become banned from various locations. If you or someone you love has purchased a hoverboard or received one as a gift, here is the latest updates on the status of hove board bans, as well as the potential dangers associated with these machines.
Hoverboard Fire Risks
According to a January 2016 report on hoverboard injuries in the Claims Journal, concerns have grown over recent months regarding the safety of this latest technological craze. The balance boards have been shown to present an increased risk of fire danger, as fires associated with hover boards have been reported in 22 different states, including South Carolina. One of the latest cases of hoverboard related fires occurred in Mauldin, South Carolina, when CBS news reports that the batteries on a teen’s hoverboard exploded and flew approximately 20 feet across the room, setting a chair on fire and burning a portion of the carpet. According to the news story, there have been over 50 reported incidents related to hover boards and while battery charging issues have been shown to be responsible for the majority of fires, use of the boards can result in the following types of injuries:
- Burn injuries
- Muscle strains and sprains
- Bruised and broken bones
- Cuts, lacerations, and abrasions
In addition to the above, falls from the boards could result in potentially serious and disabling back and head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries.
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Hoverboard Bans
According to a December 2015 CNN report on hoverboards, the motorized scooters are now the subject of federal investigations and have been banned from many major airlines due to concerns over fire hazards, and online retailer Amazon has stopped sales on almost all models of the boards until investigations into fire and injury risks have been completed. Locally, Columbia newspaper the State reports that the University of South Carolina has instituted a ban on hoverboards in campus dorms due to fire concerns. The ban joins several others in effect across the country, and more college campuses throughout both the state and nation are also expected to follow suit. While hoverboards are still available for sale from retailer including Walmart and eBay, consumers are advised to use caution, particularly when it comes to charging the batteries used on the units.
Contact Us Today for Help
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as the result of a hoverboard, contact Anastopoulo Law Firm right away. Our experienced South Carolina personal injury attorneys provide effective, efficient legal representation to people who have been injured in product liability cases. We can advise you on how to hold responsible parties accountable so that you can get the compensation you deserve. Give us a call today!
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