The Dangers of Hoverboards

Personal Injury and Accident Lawyer Representing Victims of Hoverboard Fires

Did you or someone you know suffer injuries in a fire caused by a hoverboard? Did you lose a loved one due to a hoverboard fire? Are you suffering permanent injuries as a result of a hoverboard fire?

If you or someone you know was injured in a fire ignited by the lithium ion batteries of a hoverboard, call our office now to see what we could do for you. Our personal injury firm has experience handling cases involving lithium ion battery fires and has the knowledge and resources to potentially pursue your case.

Reach out to our personal injury attorney now at (954) 833-1440 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

What Is a Hoverboard?

Hoverboards have become very popular over this past year. For those that are not familiar with them, they are two-wheeled, self-balancing scooters that move at about 10-12 miles per hour.

They are powered by lithium ion batteries which are the same batteries used to power:

• Dell lap tops
• Cell phones
• And other devices

Hoverboards and Flammable Lithium Batteries

Lithium ion batteries are rechargeable and highly flammable due to their contents. When the fire is caused by a design flaw in the battery, it involves the sheet of plastic responsible for separating the positive and negative sides of the battery.

In a defective battery, there could be small fragments of metal inside the battery that could puncture the very thin separator thus leading the battery to overheat, rupture, and cause a fire.

With the growing popularity of Hoverboards, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported at least 60 emergency department visits related to hoverboard fires. As a result, the CPSC had more than half a million hoverboards recalled.

The CPSC recall involves 10 different companies including some of the popular brands such as:

• Swagway
• And Razor

According to the CPSC, all of the hoverboards being recalled have big design flaws and were sold without a safety standard.

Hoverboard Recalls

The CPSC lists all of the hoverboards being recalled and states that a hoverboard should not be used unless it meets Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) electrical safety standards. Currently, there are no UL-certified hoverboards and only batteries are being certified.

In the United Kingdom, the government has already taken action against hoverboards. It is illegal to ride a hoverboard on public roads and more than 30,000 have been seized.

How Do You Put Out a Lithium Battery Fire?

In the event of a lithium battery fire, it should be put out with:

• Water
• Halon
• Or halon replacement

Halon is a clean agent that evaporates completely without residue. Once the fire is extinguished, the remaining lithium cells in the battery must be cooled to stop the thermal runway. This should be done by pouring water over the battery.

Do not use ice or cover the battery because this will actually trap heat and cause the thermal runway to continue. Also, just because the fire has been put out doesn’t mean you should try to pick up the device.

By doing that, you and anyone around could become seriously injured. It is important to contact a lawyer who has experience handling defective product and burn injury lawsuits such as our attorneys.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a fire caused by a hoverboard, call our personal injury law firm now toll-free at (954) 833-1440 for your free consultation. Don’t wait another day! Call Law Offices Cytryn & Velazquez, P.A. to see how we can assist you.