Future Motion has been hit with multiple lawsuits involving OneWheel accidents, head and brain injuries, and tragic deaths.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Onewheel accident induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or died while riding a Onewheel, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
CPSC Warning: Future Motion Refuses to Recall OneWheel After 4 Deaths and Many Injuries
In November 2022, safety officials warned consumers to immediately stop using all Onewheel electric skateboards after at least 4 people died and many others were seriously injured.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said:
“There have been at least four reported deaths between 2019 and 2021 and multiple reports of serious injuries after the product failed to balance the rider or suddenly stopped while in motion.”
The reported injuries include traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper-body fractures, lower-body fractures, and ligament damage.
The warning applies to all Onewheel products that have been sold since 2014, including the original Onewheel, Onewheel+, Onewheel+ XR, Onewheel Pint, Onewheel Pint X, and Onewheel GT.
Future Motion has refused to recall the Onewheel voluntarily, but the CPSC said it will continue to pursue a recall. “Immediately stop using all Onewheel electric skateboards—they are not worth dying for.”
Future Motion insists that riders should always follow local laws and wear helmets, like when using an ATV or motorcycle. The problem is that unlike ATVs, the Onewheel is prone to sudden nosedives, which can cause a rider to fly forward and faceplant into the cement. Not even a full-face helmet and other safety gear can fully protect a rider.
Onewheel GT Footpads Recalled After 11 Injuries Reported
In August 2022, Future Motion recalled about 20,500 front footpads for Onewheel GT electric skateboards because it can “fail to disengage after the rider has dismounted while the board is in motion and the skateboard can unexpectedly continue to operate.”
There were 813 reports of the skateboards continuing to operate after the rider dismounted, including 11 reports of injuries including bruises, friction burns and a twisted ankle, according to Future Motion.
The recalled footpads were sold online at www.onewheel.com from March 2022 through June 2022 and authorized independent dealers nationwide from March 2022 through August 2022 for about $2,200.
What is Onewheel?
Onewheel is a single-wheel battery-powered transportation device, sometimes called a self-balancing skateboard, e-skate, or hoverboard. It has been sold by the company Future Motion since 2015.
How to Ride a Onewheel
To ride the Onewheel, a person stands on the skateboard-like deck and leans in the direction they want to go. To stop, the rider lifts their heel off the side of the front footpad, or leans slightly backward.
How Does Onewheel Work?
Onewheel uses gyroscopes and accelerometers to sense the weight of the rider, helping them balance and steer. Onewheel is propelled by a single tire in the center of the deck, at speeds up to 19 mph.
Models of Onewheel
- Onewheel (original)
- Onewheel+
- Onewheel+ XR
- Onewheel GT
- Onewheel Pint
- Onewheel Pint X
What Causes Onewheel Accidents?
Lawsuits allege that the Onewheel is prone to sudden stops and nosedives, in which the self-balancing technology deactivates too quickly and stops, launching the rider forward. If the rider hits their head or neck, it can cause permanent injuries, paralysis, or death.
When a Onewheel Shuts Off and Nosedives
When a One-wheel skateboard powers off during use, the front side of the board hits the ground and creates a wedge. Riders have been thrown up into the air, resulting in life-threatening injuries or death.
Problems With Pushback Accidents on Onewheel
In other cases, riders have been injured when the fell off due to a feature called “Pushback,” which is supposed to gently force the nose of the board up when the rider is about to reach the top speed.
Onewheel Lawsuits for Nosedives & Wrongful Death
Future Motion has ben hit with a growing number of Onewheel death lawsuits involving nosedive accidents, including:
- One of the first Onewheel lawsuits was filed in May 2020 by the family of a man from Texas who suffered fatal brain trauma while riding his Onewheel in a park.
- In June 2021, a lawsuit was filed for an accident that occurred in San Diego, California in August 2020, in which a man suffered head injuries when his Onewheel XR allegedly shut off and nosedived mid-ride.
- Another Onewheel lawsuit was filed by the family of a man from New York who died of traumatic head injuries, according to AP News. He was allegedly riding his Onewheel on a flat section of paved road on Long Island when it suddenly shut off and nosedived, causing him to fly off the board. He suffered head and brain injuries in the accident, as well as “multiple facial fractures, broken ribs, a broken right arm, and a punctured lung caused by his forward ejection from the Onewheel and contact with the pavement.”
Future Motion Accused of Downplaying Risks of Riding Onewheel
Future Motion is accused of downplaying the serious safety risks of riding the Onewheel and misleading consumers about how “easy” it is to ride a Onewheel.
Even as lawsuits were being filed, Future Motion continued to advertise the Onewheel on its website with claims like: “Anyone can ride Onewheel with a little instruction and practice” or “Onewheel is packed with technology that actively helps to keep you balanced.”
Onewheel Class Action Lawsuits
Instead of a class action lawsuit, The Schmidt Firm PLLC is filing individual lawsuits for people who were injured on a Onewheel, or family members of those who died.
If you believe you have a case, we may be able to help you seek compensation for your pain and suffering, medical bills, permanent disabilities, lost income, or wrongful death of a loved one.
Do I have a Onewheel Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Onewheel accident induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured or died while riding a Onewheel, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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