Federal Government Warns of Hoverboard Safety Risks, While Pennsylvania Regulates Use of Hoverboards

The federal government has officially put manufacturers of hoverboards on notice for design issues that pose safety risks for consumers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a federal agency in charge of issuing product recalls and product safety alerts, recently stated that consumers have a right to know about the potential safety risks, including slip & fall accidents and unintended fires, posed by hoverboards.

During the holidays, many happy people in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the U.S. received hoverboards as gifts. However, the popular devices did not provide unbridled joy to all recipients. That’s because some hoverboards present a major fire risk due to the lithium-ion batteries used in the devices. During battery charging periods, the batteries can become dangerous and, in some instances, spontaneously explode.

In addition to the risk of fires, there is also an increased risk of trip and fall accidents resulting in serious personal injuries for users of hoverboards, as well as pedestrians who have the misfortune of being struck by a person on a hoverboard. In issuing a statement warning consumers about the dangers of hoverboards, CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye observed that a number of users of hoverboards have sustained significant injuries, including fractures, broken bones and traumatic head injuries.

Although neither New Jersey nor Pennsylvania has officially outlawed hoverboards, some colleges in NJ have taken the extraordinary step of banning use of the devices on campuses. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania lawmakers recently passed a bill that regulates hoverboards and sets limits on where the hoverboards, electric skateboards and motorized scooters can be ridden. Moreover, the PA law also stipulates that only people over the age of 16 can ride hoverboards in public.

For additional information about hoverboard safety dangers, view the CPSC.com article, “Statement from the U.S. CPSC Chairman Elliot F. Kaye on the Safety of Hoverboards.”

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in an accident, whether it’s a car crash, a slip & fall or any other type of accident, you need to talk to a qualified personal injury attorney. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Garber Law, P.C. understand the pain you are going through and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation about your case.