Future Motion, in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling all models of its e-skateboards after four known deaths were linked to the Onewheel electric skateboard. The company has issued a voluntary recall of 300,000 boards after initially resisting CPSC’s push for the same.
According to the CPSC, “Future Motion has received dozens of reports of incidents involving the electric skateboards, including four reported deaths between 2019 and 2021 and injuries such as traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper-body fractures, lower-body fractures and ligament damage.” The reported deaths were a result of head trauma.
Onewheel skateboards have a single, fat-tire wheel that self-balances as electric power propels the rider forward. Per Future Motion’s recall notice, “The skateboards can stop balancing the rider if the boards’ limits are exceeded, posing a crash hazard that can result in serious injury or death.” Future Motion reports it is adding a new safety feature to remedy the issue. More specifically, it is adding a “haptic buzz” alert function that “riders can hear and feel” when they may be in danger of crashing. The safety update will soon be available for the Onewheel GT model. The update for the Pint X, Pint, and XR will be available within six weeks. The original Onewheel and the Onewheel+ are not eligible for the update.
When someone is injured or dies as a result of an accident, financial recovery may be available. Such recovery is particularly important when permanent, life-changing injuries are incurred. It is important to contact someone who understands the intricacies of the injured party’s right to recover.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling 713-222-7211 or toll free at 1-800-870-9584. Abraham Watkins offers a free consultation to anyone wishing to pursue a claim for such injuries or fatalities.