Peloton Treadmill Recall
If you or a family member have been injured by a Peloton treadmill, you may be entitled to significant compensation, regardless of the recall. Peloton had a duty to sell consumers a safely designed product, which it failed to do.
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Peloton announced Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 that the company would voluntarily recall both the Tread+ and Tread treadmill machines. This decision comes weeks after a warning issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissioner (CPSC) regarding the products, and only after our case, Albright v. Peloton, Case No. 3:21-cv-02858-TSH, was filed in the United States District Court in the Northern District of California.
On April 17th, 2021, the CPSC warned consumers how dangerous the Tread+ could be for small children and pets. The CPSC investigated multiple incidents where the Peloton treadmill reportedly injured children and pets. The agency immediately warned the public to stop using the machines if there were children or pets in the household.
For weeks following the CPSC warning, Peloton CEO John Foley expressed disdain for the report, refusing to recall the products. In fact, before this recall, Peloton continued to advertise the product as safe to use, continuing the company’s advertisements with images of families with small children near the machine, despite the CPSC’s warnings.
Peloton’s recall is a significant reversal of Peloton’s initial public position. Prior to the recall, Foley released a ‘follow-up note’ to the Peloton Member community saying, “You may also have read news reports suggesting that CPSC believes that we should stop selling or recall the Tread+. I want to assure you that we have no intention of doing so. The Tread+ is safe when our warnings and safety instructions are followed, and we know that, every day, thousands of Members enjoy working out safely on their Tread+.” Foley is now apologizing for not cooperating with the CPSC or responding to reports of a child’s death and dozens of injuries sooner.
Foley now acknowledges the potential dangers of the Peloton Tread+ and Tread. In a joint statement, the CPSC and Peloton announced the recall, allowing consumers to receive a full refund or other qualified remedies for the product. The company is also stopping new sales and the distribution of the Tread+. It is also working on hardware modifications.
In Foley’s statement, he apologizes for the company’s mishandling with its initial response stating, “I want to be clear, Peloton made a mistake in our initial response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s request that we recall the Tread+. We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologize.”
This recall will affect approximately 125,000 Tread+ machines and roughly 1,050 Tread products in the United States. Peloton also stated that they would work with the CPSC to help set new industry safety standards for treadmills.
Why was the Tread+ so dangerous?
The Tread+ has a flawed design. The dangerous design defects of the machine include, without limitation, its light weight, the fact that the tread is exposed not just on the top but the bottom of the machine, the expansive clearance between the floor and the exposed tread, the lack of sensors to detect a child or pet who may be trapped and dragged under the machine, and an appropriate and effective shut-off mechanism.
The CPSC released a graphic video showing a young boy being pulled under the machine and struggling to free himself. Peloton initially pushed back, saying that there was no reason to stop using the machine if they followed the safety instructions. Peloton’s defective design for its treadmills and the company’s failure to issue a recall immediately following the CPSC’s warning are at the heart of the case Cutter Law brought on behalf of Shannon Albright and all of Peloton’s consumers.
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What injuries were the Tread+ causing?
- Severe burns
- Broken bones
- Fractures
- Friction burns
- Abrasions
- Blunt trauma
- Amputations
- Death
What should I do if I have a Peloton Tread+ or Tread?
- Peloton will come to move the treadmill into a different room in the owner’s house for free
- Promises to improve software
- Creating a feature to automatically lock the Tread+ after use
- Adding a four-digit PIN to unlock the machine for future use
Should I contact an experienced law firm?
Yes. We here at Cutter Law are continuing to pursue legal action against Peloton for individuals who have been injured by the treadmills. If you or a family member have been injured by a Peloton treadmill, you may be entitled to significant compensation, regardless of the recall. Peloton had a duty to sell consumers a safely designed product, which it failed to do.
Contact Cutter Law today to learn about your legal rights and whether you can receive compensation from an injury caused by a Peloton treadmill.
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