A home fire triggered by a hoverboard that was charging killed 3-year-old Ashanti Hughes. The tragic incident occurred in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania when a hoverboard caught fire while it was plugged into an electric socket on the first floor of the Hughes’ 3 story home. Family members heard “sizzling and crackling” sounds before the hoverboard exploded moments later.
Ashanti died from her injuries after she was taken to a hospital. Her father as well as a male teenager were also treated and have since be released. Meanwhile, two other girls are still in critical condition. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has already investigated sixty hoverboard fire cases in the last 18 months. The death of Ashanti Hughes is the first reported fatal fire related to defective hoverboards.
Hoverboard Injuries in the News
Scooters were on everyone’s Christmas list in 2015 but exploding hoverboards soon made headlines. These products use lithium-ion batteries which can explode if defective or damaged. The CPSC had issued warnings back in 2016 about the dangers of hoverboards and urged the public not to buy hoverboards made by certain manufacturers. Chic’s CEO Ying Jiawei, admitted that Chinese factories have been cutting corners by putting cheap batteries on their boards. Chic is one of the pioneering companies to sell hoverboards in the Asian market. Swagway, a hoverboard seller, recently recalled 500,000 of their products due to being fire hazards. Airlines also ban hoverboards because of the risk they pose. This has even been talking about on national news stations. Almost a year ago San Diego attorney Alex Ozols was discussing hoverboard injuries on fox news. To see the full link click here.
Collecting Compensation for Hoverboard Injuries
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a defective hoverboard, it’s important that you understand your legal rights. You can file a product liability lawsuit against its manufacturer and demand compensation for your medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation, permanent injuries and emotional distress. For families who lost a loved one because of a defective hoverboard, you can seek compensation for funeral costs, medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering brought about by the death/injury of a family member. Let an experienced product defect lawyer protect you and your rights and help you in getting a fair compensation for your losses, damages and injuries.