Electric skateboards and hoverboards have exploded in popularity over the last decade. Marketed as convenient, eco-friendly, and thrilling ways to travel, they attract riders of all ages—commuters, teenagers, urban explorers, and recreational users. But the fun often comes with a dangerous reality: these devices cause thousands of injuries every year, ranging from broken bones and concussions to fires, electrical burns, and high-speed collisions. And when something goes wrong, determining who is legally responsible can be far more complicated than people expect.
At Alan Ripka & Associates, we’ve helped clients work through complex injury claims involving emerging consumer technologies—including electric personal mobility devices. Just like in corporate retreat accidents, where multiple parties may share responsibility, hoverboard and e-skateboard injuries often involve overlapping liability among manufacturers, retailers, property owners, and sometimes even software providers. In this blog, we break down who can be liable, how defects are assessed, and what injured riders should do to protect their rights.
Why Electric Skateboards and Hoverboards Are High-Risk for Injury Claims
These devices combine high-speed motors, lithium-ion batteries, gyroscopic systems, and app-connected software—all in products often used on unpredictable terrain. This mix of complex technology and user movement dramatically increases injury risks.
Riders face hazards such as:
Mechanical or Electronic Failures
Sudden shut-offs, braking malfunctions, faulty acceleration sensors, or gyroscopic glitches can send riders airborne.
Battery Fires and Explosions
Hoverboards have a well-documented history of overheating batteries. Fires from defective lithium-ion cells have destroyed homes and caused severe burns.
Structural Cracks or Breaks
Weak decks, cheap materials, and poor assembly can cause boards to split or collapse mid-ride.
Remote Control Lag or Software Errors
Electric skateboards controlled by handheld remotes can lose connection or respond unpredictably, especially at higher speeds.
Terrain-Related Falls
While some injuries stem from rider error, many result from insufficient warnings about device limitations on uneven surfaces, slopes, or wet areas.
These scenarios raise immediate questions about whether the device was defective, whether safety instructions were adequate, or whether the property where the accident happened was maintained properly.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Hoverboard and electric skateboard injury cases mirror corporate retreat claims in one key way: responsibility rarely belongs to only one party. Multiple entities may share liability depending on how the accident occurred.
Manufacturers
If the device had a design flaw—like an overheating battery, unstable frame, or unreliable braking system—the manufacturer may be liable for creating a defective product.
Manufacturing defects (errors during assembly) are also common, especially in lower-cost devices.
Retailers
Stores may be liable if they sold unsafe products, ignored recall notices, or failed to disclose known risks. In some cases, sellers are responsible even if they didn’t know the product was defective.
Importers and Distributors
Since many hoverboards and electric skateboards are produced overseas, U.S. importers may be treated as the legal manufacturer if foreign companies cannot be sued directly.
Software or Firmware Providers
Many devices rely on apps to control speed modes, battery management, or balancing systems. If a software update caused a malfunction or removed safety features, the software provider may share responsibility.
Property Owners
If the injury occurred because of a dangerous condition—cracked pavement, hidden potholes, unlit pathways, unsafe stairs—property owners may be liable under premises liability law.
Rental Companies
Electric mobility rental services may be responsible if they failed to maintain devices or allowed dangerous units into circulation.
Because these devices involve hardware, software, and the surrounding environment, determining who caused the injury requires a thorough, evidence-driven investigation.
Types of Injuries Commonly Seen
Electric skateboard and hoverboard accidents can be severe because riders often lack external protection and travel at speeds reaching 20–30 mph.
Common injuries include:
Traumatic brain injuries
Even with helmets, sudden high-speed falls can cause concussions or long-term neurological damage.
Fractures and dislocations
Wrist fractures, collarbone breaks, and shoulder dislocations are extremely common.
Facial injuries
Falls often result in chipped teeth, broken noses, or oral trauma.
Severe burns
Battery explosions can cause second- or third-degree burns requiring skin grafts.
Spinal injuries
Wrongful acceleration or sudden device failure can lead to dangerous backward falls.
Each injury type requires examining whether the rider’s actions, device quality, or environmental conditions were the primary cause—and who had the legal duty to prevent harm.
Critical Defenses Companies May Use
Like employers in corporate retreat cases, manufacturers and retailers often rely on aggressive legal defenses. Expect them to argue:
“User misuse caused the accident.”
Companies may claim riders were speeding, performing tricks, or using the device on unsafe terrain.
“The rider assumed the risk.”
Many devices include warnings—but courts often find these warnings inadequate or overly broad.
“A third party caused the failure.”
Manufacturers may blame the battery supplier, importer, retailer, or user for charging errors.
“The product complied with standards.”
Compliance does not excuse negligent design or failure to warn consumers about foreseeable risks.
An attorney with experience in consumer product litigation can counter these defenses by analyzing device data, maintenance history, and manufacturing processes.
What Injured Riders Should Do Immediately
If you’re injured while using a hoverboard or electric skateboard, quick action is crucial:
- Seek medical treatment and document all injuries.
- Preserve the device—do not attempt repairs.
- Photograph the scene, terrain, and any hazards.
- Screenshot app data, speed modes, or notifications.
- Gather witness information.
- Keep receipts, packaging, and instruction manuals.
- Avoid giving statements to manufacturers or insurers without legal guidance.
Time is a major factor. Devices often overwrite onboard diagnostics, and companies may try to shift blame immediately.
How a Strong Attorney Builds Your Case
At Alan Ripka & Associates, we investigate electric mobility injuries using a detailed, multi-layered approach—similar to our work in retreat and equipment injury cases.
We often:
- Analyze product design, assembly quality, and recall history
- Review firmware updates and app logs
- Examine battery origin and safety compliance
- Consult engineers and biomechanical experts
- Investigate the accident location for premises hazards
- Identify every potentially liable party
- Coordinate with insurers and negotiate aggressively
These cases require both technological understanding and traditional personal injury expertise. Our goal is to build a claim that reflects the full scope of the failure—not just one element of it.
Conclusion:
Electric skateboards and hoverboards may promise freedom and fun, but when they malfunction or are poorly designed, the consequences can be life-changing. Companies frequently try to shift responsibility onto riders, ignoring defects, inadequate warnings, or negligent assembly.
You deserve better.
If you or a loved one was injured due to an electric skateboard or hoverboard, you may be entitled to compensation. Liability can fall on manufacturers, retailers, importers, property owners, or software providers—and you shouldn’t have to navigate those complexities alone.
At Alan Ripka & Associates, we fight for victims harmed by defective or unsafe consumer products. We will investigate, gather evidence, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
📞 Call us today at (212) 661-7010 or visit AlanRipka.com to schedule your consultation. Your recovery matters—and we’re here to protect your rights.
