Table of contents
- Latest Hoverboard Lawsuit Updates
- December 21, 2023: CPSC Announces Helix Recall
- March 30, 2023: CPSC Announces Recall After Two Deaths
- September 21, 2022: Hellertown Family Files Federal Lawsuit
- May 19, 2022: CPSC Announces Superfly Recall
- August 25, 2021: CPSC Announces Battery Pack Recall
- July 24, 2017: CPSC Announces iRover Recall
- March 12, 2017: Harrisburg Fire Tied to Charging Hoverboard
- July 6, 2016: CPSC Announces 10-Firm Recall
- What Are Hoverboards?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Recall and Regulatory Background
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Potential Compensation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How Many Hoverboard Injuries Happen Each Year?
- When Do Hoverboard Fires Start?
- Do Children Get More Fractures from Hoverboards than Adults?
- How Many Hoverboards Have Been Sold in the US?
- How Do I Contact the Importer About the Hover-1 Helix Recall?
- How Do I Report a Hoverboard Fire or Injury to CPSC?
Hoverboards with lithium-ion batteries can overheat and catch fire. Some models have also thrown riders in falls. CPSC has recalled several models since 2016. Reports include smoke inhalation, house fires and deaths.
Claims so far are individual injury suits. No MDL covers hoverboards. A suit over a fatal fire was filed against Jetson Electric Bikes and Walmart on September 21, 2022.
The suit follows an April 1, 2022 fire in Hellertown, Pennsylvania that killed two girls, ages 15 and 10. Models CPSC has recalled include the Hover-1 Helix and Superfly, the Jetson Rogue, the Razor Hovertrax 2.0 and the iRover.
Latest Hoverboard Lawsuit Updates
December 21, 2023: CPSC Announces Helix Recall
CPSC announced the recall of about 25,000 hoverboard units in the Hover-1 Helix line. The lithium-ion battery can overheat, creating a fire hazard. The recall number is 24-065 [1].
The remedy is a free replacement. Only the Camouflage and Galaxy colors are included, so check the color and serial number on your board. The boards sold for between about $170 and $200.
March 30, 2023: CPSC Announces Recall After Two Deaths
CPSC and Jetson Electric Bikes announced the recall of about 53,000 42-volt Jetson hoverboards. Two people died in a fire on April 1, 2022, in Hellertown, Pennsylvania [2].
The firm is out of business, so no remedy is available. The boards sold for between $100 and $150. CPSC tells owners to stop using and stop charging the boards.
September 21, 2022: Hellertown Family Files Federal Lawsuit
The New York Post reported that the family of two sisters killed in the Hellertown fire sued Jetson Electric Bikes and Walmart in U.S. District Court [3].
The suit alleges the board’s batteries were subject to short circuits and degradation, and that it was not adequately tested before sale. It seeks unspecified damages.
May 19, 2022: CPSC Announces Superfly Recall
CPSC announced the Hover-1 Superfly recall of about 93,000 boards, model H1-SPFY, because a software malfunction can cause falls. The recall number is 22-135 [4].
CPSC received 29 reports of the software problem. The recalled boards are model year 2020 and black. The remedy is a free repair, and the boards sold for about $200.
August 25, 2021: CPSC Announces Battery Pack Recall
CPSC announced the recall of about 237,300 Hovertrax 2.0 hoverboards with GLW battery packs because of a fire hazard. The recall number is 21-189 [5].
The notice reports more than 20 reports of overheating, including some of smoke or fire. No injuries were reported. The remedy is a free replacement battery pack, and the boards sold for about $460.
July 24, 2017: CPSC Announces iRover Recall
CPSC announced the recall of about 2,800 iRover hoverboards, models 87645 and 87644, for a battery fire hazard. The recall number is 17-193 [6]. The notice cites two reports of battery packs smoking and overheating.
March 12, 2017: Harrisburg Fire Tied to Charging Hoverboard
6abc Philadelphia reported that a house fire in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania killed a 3-year-old girl. Fire officials ruled the fire accidental and attributed it to a hoverboard recharging on the first floor [7].
July 6, 2016: CPSC Announces 10-Firm Recall
CPSC announced the recall of about 501,000 self-balancing scooters, or hoverboards, from 10 firms because of a lithium-ion battery fire hazard [8].
The notice cites at least 99 incident reports of overheating, sparking, smoking or fire. Recalls since then have covered individual brands and models.
What Are Hoverboards?
According to a CPSC staff report, hoverboards are “also referred to as self-balancing e-scooters that are electric-powered, two-wheeled standing scooters with no handlebars” [9].
CPSC recall notices for several hoverboard brands say the lithium-ion battery packs in recalled boards can overheat, posing a fire hazard.
Who May Be Affected?
You may be affected if you own or used a hoverboard model that CPSC has recalled:
- Hover-1 Helix in Camouflage or Galaxy, with 15914, 19203 or 19988 as the fifth serial code, sold September 2020 through December 2021
- 42-volt Jetson board, made in 2018 and 2019, sold August 2018 through November 2021
- Hover-1 Superfly H1-SPFY, sold October 2020 through October 2021
- Hovertrax 2.0 with GLW battery packs, made between September 2016 and August 2017
The same CPSC report found that 86 of 139 hoverboard fire incidents happened while the board was charging or had just finished charging.
Hoverboard injuries occurred most often at home, at 37 percent of injuries with a known location. Whether you have a claim depends on your facts, so an individual legal review is needed.
Reported Injuries or Damages
The Hellertown suit alleges two girls died in a house fire started by a Jetson hoverboard. CPSC states the cause of the fire remains undetermined. The Jetson notice also reports smoke inhalation injuries to the girls’ parents.
The Helix notice reports three fires. It also reports five cases of headaches, nausea or coughs from smoke, and about $25,000 in property damage. The Superfly notice reports four minor injuries from falls.
The CPSC staff report by James Tark, dated September 2023, estimates 138,400 hospital emergency visits for hoverboards from 2017 through 2022. CPSC knows of 18 hoverboard deaths in that period, and 13 of them were tied to fires.
Counselman et al. in the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine (2017) reviewed 83 patients at 10 hospital emergency rooms in southeastern Virginia [10].
Falls caused 91 percent of injuries. Bruises (37.3 percent) and fractures (36.1 percent) were most common. About 20 percent had head injuries, and only one patient reported using a helmet.
Recall and Regulatory Background
CPSC has recalled hoverboards for fire or fall hazards since 2016. Fixes range from refund, repair or replacement to disposal only for the Jetson boards, because the firm is out of business. A recall does not itself establish liability.
CPSC says to always be present when charging such devices and to use only the supplied charger. Other battery fire claims are covered in our guide to lithium-ion battery explosion lawsuits.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep these items after a hoverboard fire, fall or recall:
- The hoverboard and its charger, kept as they are
- The serial number and model label on the bottom of the board
- Purchase receipts or order emails, and the name of the retailer
- Photographs of the damage, the board and the scene
- Fire department and incident reports
- Medical records and bills
- Communications with the seller or maker, and any recall correspondence
Filing Deadlines
Time limits for a hoverboard claim are set by state law and depend on the date of the injury or loss.
Filing after the cutoff can end a hoverboard claim, even a strong one. Talk to a lawyer promptly so you know which deadline applies to your situation.
Potential Compensation
A claim may seek damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and property damage, including a home and belongings lost to a fire. In a death, damages may include funeral costs and loss of a family member’s support.
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation depends on the facts, the law and the evidence in each claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Hoverboard Injuries Happen Each Year?
How many hoverboard injuries happen each year depends on the year. CPSC estimates 17,100 emergency-department-treated injuries in 2022, down from 23,100 in 2021 and 27,100 in 2020. These estimates count emergency visits only.
When Do Hoverboard Fires Start?
Hoverboard fires start at several points, not only during charging. Of 166 in-depth investigations, CPSC found fire was the problem in 139. Of those fires, 26 happened during or right after use, and 11 began when the board caught fire spontaneously.
Do Children Get More Fractures from Hoverboards than Adults?
Children got more fractures from hoverboards than adults did in the Virginia study. Pediatric patients had fractures in 46.2 percent of injuries, compared with 27.3 percent for adults. The authors reviewed chart records from emergency departments.
How Many Hoverboards Have Been Sold in the US?
About 2.5 million hoverboards have been sold in the US since they became available in 2015, according to the authors of the Virginia study. They give this figure as background for their review of emergency department injuries.
How Do I Contact the Importer About the Hover-1 Helix Recall?
You can contact the importer of the Hover-1 Helix, based in Edison, New Jersey, toll-free at 888-556-8426 about the recall. Phone hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
How Do I Report a Hoverboard Fire or Injury to CPSC?
You can report a hoverboard fire or injury to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov or through its hotline at 800-638-2772. Have the model name, serial number and purchase details ready, since recall notices identify boards that way.