Segways Pose Serious Safety Risk to Consumers

These days, a number of futuristic toys and machines are hitting the market, including hoverboards, drones, and the infamous Segway. This last device is a two-wheeled scooter that allows the rider to stand up while riding and steer the machine, which includes a self-balancing mechanism. Although many people have enjoyed riding Segways, and the devices have become popular at many tourist attractions, they are incredibly dangerous and can lead to serious injuries or even death.

In 2010, for example, a British entrepreneur died after the Segway he was riding drove off a cliff on his estate in Britain. The entrepreneur had purchased the company less than a year before the tragic accident. At the time of the accident, he had been driving one of the off-road models of the Segway, designed to handle more rugged terrain than common urban environments. This is not the only incident of injuries associated with Segways, with hundreds of people reporting to emergency rooms with serious traumas. According to a case review of injuries associated with Segway devices released in 2010, some of the most common injuries associated with the device are facial traumas, head injuries, and broken bones.

With tens of thousands of Segways in operation in the United States, many physicians and public health experts have asked the U.S. Consumer Protection Agency to promulgate stricter safety regulations for the devices to keep riders from harm. The study also urged riders to wear helmets and other protective equipment when riding Segways, which can be particularly important if the rider is inexperienced.

If you have been injured in an accident associated with a Segway, you can potentially assert a number of claims against the company to recover compensation for your injuries and damages. Injuries associated with dangerous products often give rise to a strict product liability claim. This cause of action holds the manufacturer liable when the device in question was designed in an unreasonably dangerous fashion, or the particular device that the plaintiff received suffered from a manufacturing mistake that made the device unreasonably dangerous. The manufacturer may also be held liable when the device failed to come with sufficient warnings and instructions regarding the safe and appropriate use of the device.

There are often many companies and individuals involved in the device manufacturing and marketing process. The plaintiff should ensure that he or she has included all appropriate parties in the lawsuit, including any manufacturers who may have provided certain parts for the device. Conducting a thorough pre-filing investigation is the best way to ensure that you have named all the appropriate parties in your lawsuit.

At Moll Law Group, our dedicated and diligent team of product liability lawyers has assisted victims throughout the country with bringing claims against a careless product manufacturer, including in New York, Florida, Texas, and Illinois. Going up against a large corporation or several companies can be incredibly daunting. We will help you along each step of the process and ensure that you receive the settlement or the judgment that you deserve for your painful and unnecessary injuries. Call us at 312-462-1700 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation today.

Braun Medical Pays $7.8 Million for Contaminated Saline Syringes

U.S. Supreme Court Issues Key Opinion for Class Action Lawsuits