Do you or your children own a Onewheel skateboard? While this new technology guarantees a lot of summer fun, it may come at a high price. Over the past year, three wrongful death suits have been filed against the manufacturing company, Future Motion, Inc.
When you pay anywhere from $950 to $1,800 for a hoverboard-like skateboard, you might expect a higher degree of safety measures. Unfortunately, in some cases, the motor abruptly shuts off. Instead of a stable stop, as you might experience with a four-wheel skateboard, Onewheel boards stop and force a “nosedive,” due to the way riders balance around the one large wheel in the middle of the board. This can cause anything from broken arms to traumatic head injuries.
If you own a Onewheel skateboard, read on—and take all the necessary safety precautions to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Onewheel Wrongful Death Suits
So far, there have been three wrongful death Onewheel suits: one filed in May 2020, and two filed in June 2021. In all three cases, the victims’ Onewheel board stopped abruptly and sent the riders crashing to the ground. All three suffered severe head injuries, broken bones, lacerations and bruises.
The problem seems to be with the Onewheel’s “pushback” feature, which is designed to let riders know they’re “approaching the limitations of the device.” Instead of gently stopping or slowing, however, potential product defects caused the boards to stop suddenly and send the riders to the ground.
In these suits, the plaintiffs allege that there were design defects, a failure to warn about the dangers of the device and failing to recall or repair the Onewheel boards. These are negligence and products liability claims. If the plaintiffs succeed on these causes of action, it could open the door to show that this is an ongoing problem—making it easier for other victims to prevail.
What to Do if You’ve Been Injured Riding a Onewheel Board
If you’ve been injured while riding a Onewheel skateboard, seek medical attention immediately. The three plaintiffs mentioned above eventually succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Even if you feel fine, you may have suffered internal injuries that won’t present until later. When you’re on the road to recovery, call a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Whether or not you’ve been injured, let these stories serve as a reminder to always wear the appropriate safety gear—especially when you’re riding near traffic.
Talk to an Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer About Your Case
If your Onewheel skateboard or a similar device has caused you injury, you deserve compensation. You shouldn’t have to bear the costs of medical bills, lost wages and related issues alone. I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call me today at 877.944.4373 for a consultation, and we’ll hold the manufacturers responsible.
