In the last few weeks of December, it seemed that one could not escape hoverboard mania. As the hottest holiday toy this year, the product was simply ubiquitous in news reports and on social media. For parents with children or teens, the kids’ constant requests for the products may have been enough to persuade you to purchase one of these items. With proper care, some risks can be mitigated. However, other parents may have decided to refrain from purchasing the product until more information was in regarding both the fall and fire risk presented by these devices.
It is true that the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stated that he was directing the agency to get to the bottom of the hoverboard fires. Furthermore, he did warn about the “dozens of reports of injuries from hospital ERs” that the agency had also received. Unfortunately, the CPSC has apparently not yet uncovered definitive information regarding the cause of the fires from the units lithium ion batteries. However, despite the lack of additional action by federal regulators, some organizations have already taken steps to limit or eliminate hoverboards from their premises and facilities.
If you or your child have suffered a serious, life-changing injury due to a hoverboard that caught on fire, malfunctioned during use, or came without sufficient warnings or instructions Ken Kieklak, a Fayetteville AR personal injury lawyer of the Law Practice of Ken Kieklak, may be able to fight for you. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, contact the Law Practice of Ken Kieklak at (479) 316-0438 today or contact us online.
Arkansas Schools and Universities that Have Banned or Restricted Hoverboards
Hoverboards are a novel synthesis of already existing technologies including motors, gyroscopes, computer chips, and lithium batteries. While novel and apparently fun to ride, these devices present both falling and fire risks. As such, a number of companies, organizations, and institutions have already banned or severely restricted their use.
To start, the University of Arkansas has already taken action to prohibit the device from being used or in university student housing buildings. According to the student-run newspaper, The Arkansas Traveler, University Housing distributed an e-mail on December 18, 2015 that prohibited the use of the devices in university buildings. Other parts of the new Policy 722.0 provides that hoverboards that are kept on campus must meet certain safety standards. These standards permit the user of only certain lithium batteries in the devices and the use of certain charges after use.
The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is not the only school to ban the device. A number of local Arkansas school districts have also banned the device from their grounds and campuses. In a story covered by TVH11, a representative from Pulaski County Special School District stated that, “[The hoverboards] will not be allowed in the schools or in the parking lots.” She stated that this district’s approach would be, “just like we did with heelies, with the wheels that came out of the shoe, or the razor scooter. If kids are routinely warned about something and don’t follow the rules, then they could get taken away.” The Cabot and Conway school districts have also enacted similar policies and it is highly likely that this handling will extend to many if not most districts in Arkansas.
Airlines and the USPS have Also Restricted or Prohibited Hoverboard Transport
Other organizations and businesses that have already banned the device include most major airlines because the lithium batteries are not permitted in the cargo hold. A representative from Bill and Hillary National Airport in Little Rock has gone on record stating that you cannot check or carry-on the device on a plane leaving from the airport. For the same reason, the U.S. postal service has also enacted a policy requiring all hoverboards to be shipped through ground services. USPS has even imposed restrictions the ground transport of hoverboards limiting shipped devices to only two batteries with no more a 100 watt capacity each.
These restrictions probably represent only the first wave. Private business owners are likely to ban the devices from their premises – as they have already done with skateboards and rollerblades, due to the risk of falls and liability. Furthermore, the videos of a hoverboard that caught fire at a mall may result in shopping centers banning the use of the devices.
Hurt by a Hoverboard Fire or Fall?
If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury due to a fall from a hoverboard, a battery explosion, or a fire contact Ken Kieklak. Ken Kieklak is an experienced Arkansas personal injury attorney with more than 20 years of experience fighting for injury victims in Arkansas. To schedule a free and confidential injury consultation call (479) 316-0438 today or contact the firm online.