When you purchased a Fitbit, you did so to keep better tabs on your health. Whether you wanted to track your sleep, steps, or overall activity level, you relied on the company’s advertisements and reputation. You also trusted that its products were not only effective but also safe. However, in recent months there have been consumer complaints that Fitbit devices have overheated, causing severe and sometimes debilitating burns. And while Fitbit has recalled over 1.7 million units, some consumers suggest that the Fitbit recall failed to cover certain models that are capable of causing serious burn injuries.
If you own a Fitbit and suffered burns to your wrist as a result of the device becoming abnormally hot, it may have been the result of a defective device. If so, you may be able to bring a product liability case against Fitbit. Through a product liability claim, you may be able to recover compensation that will not only cover your medical expenses and lost wages but also provide you with monetary damages for any pain and suffering you experienced due to your injuries.
At Console & Associates, P.C., we understand the frustration that you feel, and we want to help in any way we can. We believe that manufacturers must be held responsible for the injuries their product causes; otherwise, we will continue to see potentially dangerous products on the shelves. For this reason, our team of personal injury lawyers is actively investigating product liability claims against Fitbit. As a part of our investigation, we are offering free consultations for individuals who were burned by a Fitbit. We can help you understand your rights and explain your legal options to pursue compensation for what you’ve been through.
While Fitbits have been around for over a decade, in recent years, there have been anecdotal reports from hundreds of consumers that various Fitbit devices have caused serious burns to their wrists. Based on these reports, the Fitbit can suddenly become extremely hot while on a user’s wrist. From what consumers have said, there is no way to determine if a Fitbit is likely to overheat, as the units that allegedly overheated looked and functioned normally.
” In March 2022, Fitbit recalled 1.7 million of its “Ionic smartwatches,”…” Yes, in March 2022, Fitbit recalled 1.7 million of its “Ionic smartwatches,” noting that “the battery in the Ionic smartwatch can overheat, posing a burn hazard.” The Ionic smartwatch was manufactured between 2017 and 2020. In announcing this recall, Fitbit specifically noted that “this voluntary recall is specific to Fitbit Ionic devices. It does not impact any other Fitbit smartwatches or trackers.” Previously, Fitbit had issued a recall in 2014 for the company’s Fitbit Force products based on concerns that the devices caused skin irritation when worn.
However, more recently, consumers have raised concerns that the 2022 Fitbit recall failed to include other similar devices that suffered the same type of problem. For example, in May 2022, two women filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Northern California, claiming that the Fitbit Versa Lite and Fitbit Versa 2 overheated, causing serious burn injuries. Of course, for those consumers who were burned by a Fitbit, a recall does little to compensate them for what they’ve been through.
Burn injuries can be severe and may limit your ability to attend school, work, or live your life the way you want to live it. For example, in a recently filed Fitbit lawsuit in New Jersey, a woman explains that she had to take time off of work to recover from her injuries and now faces significant medical expenses related to the treatment she needed. She also expects that she will need to continue spending money well into the future on medical care and that she’s been forced to refrain from the activities she used to enjoy.
Consumers who suffer serious burn injuries due to an overheating Fitbit should first ensure that they receive the appropriate medical treatment. Burn injuries can be complex, and serious burns can cause damage to the nerves near the burn site. In the reported cases of Fitbit injuries, consumers’ wrists have been burned. Burns on or near the wrists are especially concerning because there are several nerves that travel along the underside of the wrist.
Once you’ve consulted with doctors about your injuries, you might want to consider reaching out to a personal injury attorney to determine if you have a potential product liability case against Fitbit.
A product liability case is a type of personal injury claim brought by a consumer who was injured by an allegedly dangerous or defective product. Most product liability cases are filed against the product manufacturer; however, product liability law permits consumers to bring a case against distributors, retailers, and other parties in the distribution chain.
While product liability cases fall under the umbrella of personal injury cases, there is one big difference between the two: in most product liability cases, an injured consumer does not need to prove that the company was negligent. This is because the legal doctrine of strict liability often applies, meaning it is enough to show that the product was defective and that the defective product caused the consumer’s injuries.
The concept behind a product liability lawsuit is that consumers rely on companies to take all steps to ensure that their products are safe for their intended uses. Indeed, in the case of Fitbit, there is nothing that consumers can do to determine if their Fitbit poses a burn risk. However, manufacturers such as Fitbit can—and should—conduct all necessary safety testing before releasing a product to market. In this way, it is only fair that the company, rather than the consumer, is responsible for any injuries caused by their products.
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Fitbit is a consumer electronics company that designs and manufactures wearable devices that track your movement, activity, steps and sleep. The company was initially founded in 2007 in San Francisco, California, under the name Healthy Metrics Research, Inc., but changed its name to Fitbit a few months later. Fitbit is still based in San Francisco, California; however, in January 2021, Fitbit was acquired by Google.
Fitbit’s current line-up consists of six models of fitness trackers and five models of smartwatches, including:
If you were burned while wearing a Fitbit, you are not alone; hundreds of consumers have made similar reports. At the same time, the company’s efforts at addressing the situation, thus far, appear to be insufficient. Even if your model is covered by a recall, that only entitles you to a new unit or reimbursement for the cost of your Fitbit. But what about your medical bills? What about all the work you missed? What about the lingering pain you’re still experiencing?
At the law firm of Console & Associates, P.C., we understand the dilemma that consumers find themselves in after being injured by a product manufactured by a large company like Fitbit. And that’s where we come in; you don’t have to go up against Fitbit on your own. For more than 25 years, our product liability attorneys have been advocating on behalf of consumers, helping them hold companies financially liable for the injuries their products cause. If you or a loved one suffered a burn caused by a Fitbit, we want to help. If you are interested in learning more about pursuing a Fitbit burn lawsuit, reach out to an experienced product liability lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C., at 866-778-5500 or complete our contact form. We will attentively listen to your story, answer your questions, and offer you guidance about how you may be able to pursue a claim against the parties responsible for your injuries or loss.
