The Dangers Posed By Hover Board Batteries
Federal officials with the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission are investigating the dangers posed by hover boards after the popular product began exploding or catching fire, destroying property and causing injuries. Some airlines have also banned hover boards on flights, even in checked luggage. Some retailers have even offered refunds for consumers to return some models of the hover boards.
The danger posed by hover boards lies primarily in the product’s battery pack, although sometimes the problem may extend to the charger. Most hover boards are equipped with a lithium ion battery. These kinds of batteries are found in other everyday products, such as cell phones and laptops due to their capability to hold more power despite their small size. Generally, all lithium ion batteries may explode or catch fire; however, when manufacturers use cheap versions of the battery, the risks are greatly increased. For hover boards, which may also be referred to as balance boards, gyro-boards, self-balancing scooters, or smart boards, the battery may explode while in use and also while being charged.
The manufacturer of the hover board often controls the parts that are used within its product. Therefore, some manufacturers are more likely to use cheap lithium ion batteries than others. Top manufacturers may use a better quality of lithium ion battery compared to other manufacturers who may depend on cheap batteries in order to keep costs down. For this reason, cheaper hover boards may be more prone to explosions than the top end models. However, even the top end models still hold a risk, as to all products containing lithium ion batteries, because the chemical makeup of the battery makes it susceptible to explosions under certain circumstances.
Exercising Caution
In addition to investigating the reported injuries and property damage caused by exploding batteries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends users take certain precautions to avoid hover board injuries and hover boards that may be more likely to have issues. These include:
- Purchase the hover board from a reputable retailer that you can trace in case of future problems;
- Only charge hover boards away from combustible items;
- Avoid charging them overnight or unobserved;
- Avoid charging a hover board immediately after use, and let it cool off for a period of time before charging; and
- Avoid wrapping up fully charged hover boards; if a hover board is to be wrapped up as a gift, leave it partially charged.
Aside from the dangers posed by exploding hover boards, the Consumer Product Safety Commission also warns consumers to be careful when operating these devices due to the risks of falls, some of which have landed users in the emergency room. Should users choose to use hover boards despite the current dangers, they should exercise caution and use protective gear when operating the devices.
Contact A Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Attorney
If you have suffered an injury or property damage as a result of a hover board catching fire or exploding, you need an experienced personal injury attorney handling your case. Contact a Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney at Boone & Davis, P.A., for a free consultation today.
