Rhode Island Accident Lawyer Blog
Driven by the demand for at-home workout equipment during the pandemic, Peloton, maker of the popular exercise bikes and at-home fitness machines, experienced a huge boost in sales of their products and quadrupled their stock value. That may soon change. This week, the company issued a recall of its Tread+ and Tread treadmills. The recall arrives amidst reports of dozens of injuries, and the death of a young child, associated with the company’s machines.
In March, a 6-year-old boy died in an accident involving a Peloton treadmill. At Tapalian Law, as personal injury lawyers, we know there is never a way to make sense of a death from a devastating accident, and it can seem perhaps even more tragic and senseless when it involves a child. Sadly, childhood injuries from accidents are the number one cause of death in kids under the age of 19, according to the CDC.
In April, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an “urgent warning” to owners of the treadmills to stop using them immediately. The warning came after the commission received 72 reports stating adults, children, pets, and objects had been pulled under the rear of the machine. Of the 72 reports, 29 involved children, including the death of the young boy. At the time, Peloton fought back against the agency’s request calling it “inaccurate” but has since apologized, acknowledged its wrongdoing, and issued the equipment recalls.
Peloton’s Recall Remedy
As a result of the recall, Peloton is offering a full refund to owners of the recalled treadmills, which retail for over $4,000. Alternatively, for those who wish to keep the treadmill, a free service is offered to relocate the piece of equipment to an appropriate place within the customer’s home where it can not be accessed by children or pets. In addition, the company plans to offer a repair that would include an automatic lock on the machine after use and require a password to unlock it.
This is not the first time Peloton has issued a recall on its fitness equipment. In October, they recalled approximately 27,000 of their bikes after receiving reports of injuries caused by broken pedals.
Do You Own a Peloton Treadmill?
If you own one of these recalled pieces of equipment, you are urged to stop using it immediately and contact Peloton for further instruction. Store the equipment and its accessories away from where children and pets can access it.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in RI if You’ve Been Hurt
If you, or your child, have been injured by a defective product or hurt in another type of accident, seek legal help right away. You may be eligible to seek compensation for your damages including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Attorney David Tapalian has over 20 years of experience as a personal injury attorney in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, helping victims of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, and child injuries. Tapalian Law offers a free consultation to discuss your accident claim and explain how we can help you. Call us today at 401-552-5000 or contact us online. With offices in Providence, Warwick, and Seekonk, we are easily accessible to our clients throughout RI and MA.