You’ve probably seen them in music videos and blog fails. Where you won’t see them are on a long list of university campuses, airplanes and football stadiums.
Hoverboards have earned a bad rap since they swept the hot holiday gift list in 2015, and not just because of their inaccurate name. The two-wheeled toys have been reported to spontaneously catch fire and cause major damage. So much damage, in fact, that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has officially deemed them unsafe. A quick online search will show you how destructive they can be – not just to your post-spill posterior, but also your property.
Here’s what you need to know to minimize your risk:
- Faulty lithium ion batteries inside the hoverboards have been identified as the primary cause of fires. In this case, it’s possible that the manufacturer would hold some responsibility.
- If you have one, do not walk away from the device if it’s plugged in to charge.
- If you experience damage related to a hoverboard, call your insurance agent before you clean it up or throw it away so that evidence can be preserved for the claims investigation.
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