The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) officials confirmed a charging LayZ Board Hoverboard ignited and killed two young girls during the Pennsylvania house fire in March of 2016. More than 3,000 LayZ Boards have been imported from Shenzhen, China to the United States according to the CPSC.
The CPSC warned, “Due to the fire hazard posed to consumers of all ages by these hoverboards, CPSC is urging the public to stop charging and stop using their LayZ Board,” the CPSC said, “Consumers who choose to dispose of their hoverboards should take them to a local recycling center for safe handling of the lithium-ion battery.”
The LayZ Board is a two-wheeled, battery-powered, self-balancing scooter that has a pivoting platform intended for the rider’s feet and does not have a handlebar. The LayZ Board and products like it have become very popular among the youth in the United States.
The warning comes more than one year after the CPSC issued a recall of more than 500,000 lithium-ion battery charged hoverboard units due to safety concerns. The CPSC has investigated more than 60 hoverboard fires since late 2015. The recall affected 10 retailers. Government officials previously urged the public to check hoverboards for a “UL 2272” certification before purchase. The certification identifies hoverboard brands that meet federal fire safety standards.
If you or someone you know has been injured by a hoverboard, contact an experienced attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211.