Good Fences And Not So Good Neighbors: Property Law 101

A Hoverboard Legal Guide That All Consumers Should Read

22 January 2016 by Hunter Moore

Hoverboards were a much sought after item at one point. Perhaps you are one of the individuals who decided to buy one. Although there are a number of retailers who opted not to sell these and others who stopped sales and offered refunds to people who bought them, there are still people who have hoverboards in their possession despite the recent news that brings to question their safety. These novelty items have been named as the culprit for different types of bodily injury, and they have also been reported as potential fire hazards. The following will give you an idea of actions you could take if you are injured as a result of a hoverboard.

Proving Negligence Against a Private Party

Some personal injury cases involving hoverboards are not manufacturer related. These two-wheeled devices may be used by people who exhibit negligence. For example, if a person walking on a sidewalk is struck by someone riding a hoverboard, the person riding the hoverboard could be deemed as being negligent rather than the manufacturer of the device.

Some states have banned the use and sales of hoverboards. Therefore, a person who decides to operate one anyway will be breaking the law. If they injure someone while "joyriding," the injured person could seek compensation. The person riding the device might also face criminal charges. Parents of minors in states with bans could be deemed responsible for any accidents caused by their children. 

Manufacturer Liability

Manufacturers are legally responsible for ensuring that the products they make are safe to use prior to selling them to the public. If there are potential dangers associated with certain products, the manufacturer must clearly make the information available to consumers. Warnings may be printed inside packaging as inserts, on the outside of the box, or on the device itself. 

In some cases, products might give all of the information for consumers to make informed decisions about whether or not to purchase and use them. However, manufacturers may fall short when it comes to actually making or designing safe products, or they may sell some products that are defective alongside the many others that are in safe working condition. People who are injured by the defective products or have property damages as a result of using them could seek compensation.

Personal injury attorneys like those at Erickson Law Office are the best resource to use if you or your child sustain injuries or damages that are hoverboard-related. They can help you determine whether the manufacturer or even the seller of the device is liable. It is possible that both parties could be deemed negligent in some cases. Keep in mind that product liability, which is a type of personal injury law, varies from state to state. The complexity of the sales process and statutory laws are the reason it is best to have legal representation. 

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