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Consumers Warned to Immediately Stop Using Onewheel Electric Skateboards

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
onewheel skateboardThe Arnold Law firm has taken legal action against Future Motion, Inc. on behalf of several consumers who sustained damages and/or physical injuries allegedly caused by defects present in Onewheel vehicles. According to the CPSC, these devices have caused at least four deaths and numerous serious injuries, after the product failed to balance the rider or suddenly stopped while in motion, throwing riders off. Recently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning urging the public to stop using Future Motion, Inc.’s Onewheel self-balancing skateboards. However, despite the CPSC’s consumer warning, Future Motion, Inc. “has refused to agree to an acceptable recall of the product.”  It has been reported that the CPSC intends to continue pursuing a recall for consumers. If you suffered an injury or lost a loved one due to this defective product, call our knowledgeable defective product lawyers in Sacramento today.

Why Did the CPSC Issue a Consumer Warning for the Onewheel?

The CPSC says it evaluated the Onewheel products and found a significant risk of riders being thrown off the board, which has the potential to cause serious injuries or death. A number of injuries to Onewheel users occurred after the Onewheel suddenly stopped. There have also been cases reported where the boards fail to balance the rider. There have been at least four reported deaths between 2019 and 2021, in addition to multiple reports of serious injuries. The CPSC is urging consumers to not purchase, use, resell, or donate the Onewheel devices. If you have been injured while riding a Onewheel or if you have experienced issues with your Onewheel that would be of concern to the CPSC (rider ejection, balance system failure, abrupt shutdown of the device), be sure to report the incident to the CPSC.

What is the Manufacturer Doing to Correct the Issue?

Future Motion, which manufactures the Onewheel, released a statement in November insisting their products are safe “when operated following common-sense safe riding practices.” The company insists all board and recreational sports carry an inherent risk of injury, and that Onewheel is no different. In their prepared statement, Future Motion encourages riders to carefully educate themselves on how to use the board safely and ride within their abilities. They also insist riders wear a helmet and other safety gear while operating the Onewheel.

Has Onewheel Been Recalled?

Future Motion is refusing to issue a voluntary recall because they continue to insist their product is safe. However, in August 2022, Future Motion did cooperate with the CPSC and issued a recall for the footpads in the Onewheel GT Electric Skateboard. The recall was due to the failure of the footpad to disengage, after the rider dismounted. This was causing the board to unexpectedly continue to operate, posing a hazard to bystanders. The remedy to the footpad issue was to have the part replaced. About 20,500 units were recalled.

Injuries Caused by the Alleged Defects

Because the alleged defect causes the riders to “nosedive,” when the Onewheel stops suddenly, the types of injuries that result can be extremely serious. According to the CPSC, the reported deaths were all a result of head trauma. According to the CPSC, in addition to the four reported deaths, there have been multiple reports of serious injuries, such as:
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
  • Concussion
  • Paralysis
  • Upper-body fractures
  • Lower-body fractures
  • Ligament damage
Facial lacerations and other injuries are also possible.

Has a Lawsuit Been Filed?

The Arnold Law Firm, on behalf of several clients, has filed multiple lawsuits against Future Motion, the manufacturer of the Onewheel in both state and federal courts in California. The lawsuits allege that Onewheels suffer from multiple design defects, including an insufficient warning system that fails to alert the rider before the board nosedives, and underpowered electric motor and battery systems.

Call the Arnold Law Firm Today

The Arnold Law Firm is closely monitoring the Onewheel situation. If you lost a loved one or were injured while riding a Oneweheel, call us today. Our experienced attorneys are prepared to help you pursue the compensation you need. We do not charge you anything up front. We only get paid if you do.

Call 916-777-7777 to schedule a free consultation.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.