What is a Hoverboard?
Hoverboards have an internal gyroscope, which gives them the feeling of floating on air. To go forward, the user will need to shift their weight to the front of the board. If they want to move backward, they will need to lean to the back of the board.
Risks of Riding a Hoverboard
While riding a hoverboard can be a lot of fun, that doesn’t mean that it is without its risks. One of the most significant problems is that they offer very little protection for the rider. Additionally, the design of the hoverboard makes it difficult to foresee any potential problems. For example, they will find it hard to see potholes.
Sadly, this has led to many tragic cases. There have been reports of cars or motorbikes colliding with people who were on a hoverboard. As you can imagine, the person who was riding the hoverboard can be badly hurt. In many cases, they will need to spend some time recovering in the hospital.
There are a few simple measures you can take to help mitigate these risks. You should always wear safety equipment, like helmets and shin pads. It’s also a good idea to plan your route carefully. This will ensure that you are sticking to flat ground and riding over well-maintained paths.
Laws When Riding a Hoverboard
Before you start riding a hoverboard, there are a few laws that you need to understand. One of the most important is the legal regulations that you need to meet before you will be able to start riding. First, it is required under Florida law that you need to wear a properly fitting helmet.
Some laws seek to limit the places where you will be allowed to ride your hoverboard. For example, you will need to stick to bike paths or a road where bikes are permitted. If the speed limit is under 25 miles an hour, you will be able to ride the hoverboard on the road. Some city areas have decided to ban hoverboards altogether. Because of this, you should double-check the laws in your local area.
Finally, some laws are designed to govern your actions on the hoverboard. For example, you will be required to give way to pedestrians. However, you won’t need to obtain a license to legally drive a hoverboard.
Types of Hoverboard Laws
There are a few laws that are designed to protect hoverboard users.
Hoverboard Product Liability
Like all electronic devices, hoverboards are covered by an extensive range of product liability laws. These exist to make sure that these devices are safe and fit for their purpose. This means that if your hoverboard malfunctions and you are hurt as a result, you will be able to pursue a claim against the manufacturer.
There are a few instances where product liability can be used. First, it might be a design flaw. An example of this might be failing to make the base wide enough to control the board. Secondly, you might be able to sue for a manufacturing flaw. A classic example of this is using cheap materials. This was seen with dramatic effect a few years ago when defective lithium batteries caused these devices to explode.
It should be noted that many of the companies that make hoverboards are located overseas. This means that they are outside of U.S. jurisdiction, making it almost impossible to sue them. However, you might be able to sue the company that sold you the hoverboard.
Hoverboard Operator Liability
This law applies when someone on a hoverboard isn’t looking where they are going and hits a pedestrian or causes product damages. While this might not seem like a big deal, these accidents have the potential to do a lot of harm.
Hoverboards can get up to impressive speeds. They will have enough speed to knock someone over. It might even push them out into a busy street.
Hoverboard operator liability can be a complex legal situation. Often, you will need to think carefully about what caused the accident. It’s important to be able to distinguish between a mechanical problem and a human error. This will determine what party the lawsuit should be brought against.
Negligence
Sadly, there are many cases of a rider on a hoverboard being struck by a car. This falls under negligence, on the part of the car driver. They weren’t paying attention to the road. As a result, someone got seriously hurt.
What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt in a Hoverboarding Accident?
These types of accidents are all too common. If you have been involved in one, the first step is to document the scene of the accident. Take plenty of pictures. Show the injuries that you received. If a car struck you, take a picture of the vehicle. This will form valuable evidence if you decide to take them to court. The next thing you need to do is get the contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident. They will be able to verify your version of events.
Next, you should visit the doctor. Do this as soon after the accident as possible. They will provide a medical report, helping link your injuries to the accident.
Finally, it’s a good idea to contact a legal team. The sooner you do this, the better. The incident will be fresh in your mind. It gives your personal injury lawyers more time to prepare your case.
Type of Damages You Can Claim
There are two main types of damages that those who have been involved in this type of accident will be able to claim. First, you will be able to claim for economic damages. These are tangible items that are linked directly to the accident. For example, the cost of repairing or replacing the hoverboard. This area includes hospital fees and medical expenses. It also includes any wages that you lost when you were unable to go to work.
There is a second area of damages called non-economic damages. These are harder to put a monetary figure on. This includes things like mental anguish and emotional distress suffered as a result of the accident or your recovery.
In some cases, you might also be able to claim for wrongful death. In this case, there are a lot of damages that you will be able to sue for. You will be able to claim any medical expenses required before the person passed. You’ll also be able entitled to any funeral costs.
How Long to Claim
If you have been hurt in one of these accidents, you should contact your lawyers as quickly as possible. Usually, you will have a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death. It’s longer for negligence and product liability. These last for four years. After this time, your right to sue anyone lapses.
Conclusion
For many people, a hoverboard will be a fun toy. But for others, the situation can turn tragic. It can lead to serious hoverboard injury or even death. If this has happened to you there is help available. You can talk to one of our personal injury attorneys. They will be able to look at your situation and talk about the legal options that you can explore. So, give us a call today to learn more.
