On behalf of Smiley & Smiley, LLP posted in Defective Products on Thursday, May 7, 2015.
Many Americans have been understandably shocked by the news that Facebook COO and notable author of “Lean In” Sheryl Sandberg recently became a widow when her husband died after falling off of a treadmill and hitting his head. Sandberg’s husband, who was the CEO of SurveyMonkey, was not an elderly person. Unfortunately though, even young and healthy individuals can suffer serious injuries while using treadmills.
According to Findlaw, approximately 50 million Americans frequently use treadmills. The percentage of the population that uses treadmills may be much greater in cities like New York, where it is difficult to exercise outside in the winter and where crowded city streets make regular outdoor exercise difficult even in warmer months.
It is therefore important for New Yorkers and others who use treadmills to understand how to use them safely. It is also important to understand your own personal physical limits and to not push yourself so hard that you risk falling off these devices.
If a personal trainer pushes you too hard and you suffer injury as a result, you may be able to hold that professional accountable for the harm you have suffered. Similarly, if a treadmill manufacturer produces a faulty product and you suffer injury as a result, an attorney may be able to help you secure compensation for the harm this product has caused. But in many cases, it is simply important to understand that treadmills are inherently hazardous movement-based exercise machines and that you must use care when operating them.
Source: Fndlaw Injured, “Are Treadmills Dangerous?” Christopher Coble, May 7, 2015
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