Peloton Recalls Treadmills after a Child's Death
When a product injures someone, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that the company recall the dangerous product. However, in this case, Peloton refused to recall their Tread+ treadmill after dozens of children suffered injuries and one six-year-old child died from injuries after being sucked under the track.
The company eventually agreed that it should recall the Tread+ and its other treadmill, the Peloton Tread treadmill. However, the Peloton Tread was not the subject of the recall because of the track – that one was recalled because the touchscreen could fall off.
The Peloton Recall for the Tread+
The Tread+ with a model number of TR01 features a 67-inch running deck space with a 32-inch high-definition touchscreen. The belt is a slatted belt instead of the one-piece belt found on most treadmills. The Peloton Tread has a one-piece belt and, thus far, has not posed a danger to users, children or pets.
If you have the Peloton Tread+ with model number TR01, the company recommends that you stop using it and contact it for a full refund. You have until Nov. 6, 2022, to get a full refund. If you submit your claim after that date, you will get a partial refund. Your other option is to accept Peloton's offer of having someone move the treadmill to a room where children and pets do not have access. The peloton will provide this service for free.
Treadmill Injuries Leading to the Recall
According to the recall information, Peloton received 72 reports of children, pets, and adults being pulled under the rear of the treadmill. Those reports include 29 reports of injuries to children. The children suffered broken bones, lacerations, and second-and third-degree abrasions.
The unit was sold between Sept. 2018 and Apr. 2021 at Peloton showrooms and onepeloton.com.
Recoverable Damages
Those injured or who lost a loved one in product liability cases can recover damages. Depending on your circumstances, you could recover economic damages, including lost wages, medical expenses, and funeral, burial, and/or cremation expenses. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might recover non-economic damages. If you lost a loved one, you could also recover economic and non-economic damages.
Injuries could include abrasions, broken bones, face, and eye injuries, amputation of a digit or limb, or death. If doctors expect any of these injuries to cause long-term or permanent disabilities, you could also recover future medical expenses and lost wages.
While the money does not bring back a loved one, it does reduce the financial stress of having less income coming into the household. Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress.
- Loss of companionship and/or consortium.
- Loss of quality of life.
- Loss of use of a body part or bodily function.
- Inconvenience.
If you also suffer from anxiety or depression because the Peloton Tread+ caused injuries or death to a child or a pet, you could recover medical expenses for the costs of cognitive and/or other psychological therapies. You can also recover expenses for physical therapy and occupational therapy if your injuries caused extensive damage that requires one or both types of therapy.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries, or you lost a loved one because of the Peloton Tread+, contact Wallace & Graham for a free case evaluation.