Peloton has said that a child was fatally injured in an accident involving the company’s Tread Plus treadmill. According to a news report in USA Today, the incident was confirmed in a note from Peloton CEO John Foley, which was posted on the company’s website on March 18. Peloton said in a statement to USA Today that they would not share any additional information out of respect to the family and their privacy.
Child Injuries Reported
Foley said the company is aware of only a “small handful” of incidents involving Tread Plus where children have been injured. The note also offers advice to Peloton owners including keeping kids and pets away from the treadmill at all times to remove the safety key and keeping it out of the reach of children when it’s not in use. Foley said Peloton is currently looking at ways to reinforce its warnings about these critical safety precautions to prevent accidents in the future.
However, according to Bloomberg, this was not the only major incident involving these treadmills. According to a report filed with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a second, separate incident in February with a Tread Plus treadmill caused a 3-year-old boy to suffer a “significant brain injury.” The report states that the child had “tread marks on his back,” a neck injury and facial injuries. Peloton updated the report in March to say that the child is expected to recover fully.
In October, Peloton issued a recall on pedals for 27,000 of its bikes after consumers reported that the pedals were breaking off and causing injuries. A large number of people have turned to fitness equipment such as treadmills and bikes from Peloton as they have been stuck at home and unable to exercise in a gym.
Injuries and Liability
The Tread Plus was designed and tested for use by people over the age of 16 and weighing more than 105 pounds. About 25,000 children are injured annually in home exercise-related equipment accidents. One of the most common injuries that children suffer in these types of accidents is a friction burn. This occurs when a child touches a moving belt on a machine. There have also been other high-profile fatalities. In 2009, boxer Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter, Exodus, was killed in a treadmill accident after a cord wrapped around her neck.
If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a dangerous or defective product or as the result of a product manufacturer’s failure to adequately warn consumers about their product’s dangers, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit seeking compensation for your injuries, damages and losses. An experienced product defect lawyer can help you better understand your legal rights and options.
Sources: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/03/18/peloton-death-child-accident-treadmill/4750652001/
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-18/peloton-ceo-says-accident-with-treadmill-led-to-death-of-child?sref=ExbtjcSG
