Over the course of the last four months, Harford, P.C., has been investigating injuries occurring from the use of a Boosted Board skateboard. The firm now represents an individual who sustained a number of ligament tears as a result of falling off the board. The injury is believed to have occurred due to a heightened and unsafe initial acceleration of the board.
Boosted Boards are available for purchase directly from the manufacturer’s website. Consumers can purchase a Dual+ (2,000 watts of power with maximum speed of 22 mph) or Dual (1,500 watts of power with maximum speed of 20 mph). The boards are controlled by Bluetooth remote device with four separate levels: Beginner, Eco, Expert, and Pro. Riders must choose one of these levels prior to starting their ride. Each of the levels have different levels of velocity and acceleration rates controlled by a throttle wheel located in the top right corner of the device.
The throttle wheel is much more sensitive in the third and fourth levels, meaning a faster rate of acceleration and overall speed will be engaged. A simple search on the internet show a number of injuries occurring to riders in the third and fourth levels. Some of these injuries include reports by different consumers of: (i) “9 broken ribs and a badly broken clavicle;” (ii) “separated collar bone and shoulder”; (iii) “gash/laceration [in] my right elbow”; and (iv) “tor[n] up elbow, knee, and some minor road rash on right rib cage.”
There are also reports of the skateboard suddenly stopping short and causing injuries. More specifically, consumers have reported that the board will not appropriately brake downhill when the ion lithium battery (contained inside the board) is fully charged. This can result in the brake suddenly and unexpectedly stopping the skateboard. Other issues of the board losing power and braking due to radio interference, a dead remote battery, or even riding over a puddle of water.
Riders should take every precaution prior to engaging one of these Boosted Board, particularly if they are riding in the third or fourth mode. Appropriate safety gear consisting of helmet, gloves, pads, and long sleeves should always be worn.
For more information on Harford. P.C.’s investigation of Boosted Board skateboards, feel free to reach us at (212) 390-8983. We are here to help you.
