Denver, CO personal injury attorney George McLaughlin talks about what makes OneWheel electric skateboards so dangerous. He states that the OneWheel electric skateboard has presented two primary safety issues that have caused significant injuries. The first issue, recognized in the OneWheel GT model, involved a malfunctioning footpad. When riders dismounted, the footpad sometimes failed to disengage the board, allowing it to continue moving unexpectedly. This defect posed a serious risk to bystanders. In one documented case, a rider stepped off the OneWheel GT on his driveway, and the board shot out from under him, striking his four-year-old stepdaughter and fracturing her foot. She required surgery and months of recovery. This defect led to a recall issued in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on August 11, 2022.

The second issue involves the “pushback” mechanism, designed to signal a fully charged battery. At speeds of 15–18 miles per hour, the pushback could suddenly cause riders to lose balance and fall, even experienced riders. Despite reports of injuries, Future Motion initially resisted issuing a recall. On November 16, 2022, a CPSC commissioner publicly urged consumers to immediately stop using all OneWheel electric skateboards, stating the boards “are not worth dying for.” The statement highlighted that at least four deaths had occurred due to traumatic head injuries and criticized Future Motion for failing to address the hazard.

Ultimately, Future Motion recalled all OneWheel models on September 29, 2023. The CPSC’s recall notice confirmed that exceeding the board’s operational limits could cause it to stop balancing, creating a crash hazard that could result in serious injury or death. Remedies included a refund or repair. The recall covered approximately 300,000 units. Consumers who own a recalled OneWheel should stop using it and return it for a refund or repair. Anyone injured by these products may have a valid claim against the manufacturer.