Fitbit announced a recall for 1 million Ionic smartwatches after 78 people reported burn injuries from an overheating battery.
The Pritzker Hageman burn injury lawyers help burn survivors get maximum compensation and justice. Our burn injury legal team has won hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients, including some of the largest burn recoveries in American history.
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If you or a loved one was burned after the battery overheated on a Fitbit Ionic smartwatch, you may have a claim against the manufacturer of the device, the manufacturer of the battery, and possibly others. Here are 3 next steps for your family to consider:
- Seek medical treatment for your injuries
Lithium-ion batteries can be extremely dangerous. When defective, lithium-ion batteries can overheat or explode, causing serious burn injuries. Even with minor injuries, the toxic chemicals released by lithium-ion batteries can cause skin damage. - Preserve evidence for the investigation of your case
Gather evidence such as the damaged device, pictures of your injuries, and copies of the incident report and medical records to add to a burn injury lawsuit investigation. - Contact an experienced burn injury attorney ASAP
It is important to contact an experienced burn injury attorney right away because laws called “statutes of limitations,” which vary from state to state, may reduce the amount of time you have to file a claim.
Fitbit Ionic Smartwatch Recalled for Burn Injury Hazard
On March 2, 2022, Fitbit and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall for 1 million Ionic smartwatches over a burn injury hazard. Fitbit received 115 reports of the lithium-ion battery overheating in the U.S. There were 78 reports of burn injuries, including second-and-third-degree burns. Fitbit sold 1 million of its Ionic smartwatches, which track activity, heart rate, and sleep, from September 2017 to December 2021 in the U.S. Fitbit, which is a wearable electronics company that was acquired by Google in 2021, stopped production of the smartwatches in 2020.
The recalled devices were sold for about $200-300 at retailers including Kohl’s, Target, Amazon.com, and Fitbit.com. Model numbers and colors included in the recall can be identified by the following information:
- Model: Ionic FB503CPBU, Color: slate blue/burnt orange
- Model: Ionic FB503GYBK, Color: charcoal/smoke gray
- Model: Ionic FB503WTGY, Color: blue gray/silver gray
- Model: Ionic FB403WTNV, Adidas edition, Color: Ink blue and ice gray/silver gray
The New York Times uncovered that Ionic smartwatch users have been reporting issues with overheating batteries to Fitbit community forums since 2019.
In 2014, Fitbit recalled its Force activity-tracking wristbands after thousands of users reported gruesome burns and rashes on their wrists. At the time, Fitbit claimed that an allergic reaction to the nickel or glue in the watch caused skin irritation.
Burn Injury Risks from Other Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches
Fitness trackers and smartwatches powered by lithium-ion batteries can cause burn injuries to the wrist if the battery overheats. In addition to Fitbit, other popular brands of fitness trackers and smartwatches include:
- Amazfit
- Amazon Halo
- Apple Watch
- Garmin
- Samsung Galaxy smartwatch
- WHOOP
Defective Apple Watches have led to several lawsuits stemming from patent infringement, defective watch screens, and burn injuries. A Florida resident sued Apple and Best Buy in November 2021 over a defective watch that burned the top of his wrist.
In December 2021, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Apple claiming that the tech company violated consumer protection laws by knowingly selling Apple Watch products with a manufacturing defect that can cause serious injuries. The lawsuit alleges that a manufacturing defect failed to provide enough space inside the device to protect against swelling of the internal lithium-ion battery.
Burn Injury Lawsuit for Lithium-Ion Battery Explosion
Because of their ability to generate high power in a small size, lithium-ion batteries are commonly found in everyday electronic devices. Due to high demand, lithium-ion batteries are mass-produced by the thousands per hour. Each battery contains a highly flammable liquid electrolyte that can catch fire or explode if even the smallest mistake is made during the production process.
Lithium-ion battery explosions cause serious burn injuries and even death. These kinds of explosions can spread even further than the device by igniting furniture or other flammable materials. In one fire lawsuit, our burn injury lawyers won a multi-million-dollar settlement for the family of a mother and son who died when a sofa caught fire.
Contact our Burn Injury Lawyers
Most lithium-ion battery explosions are caused by manufacturing defects. Since the late 90s, defective lithium-ion batteries have led to serious product recalls and burn injury lawsuits. Products that have been frequently associated with burn injury lawsuits include:
- E-bikes
- Hoverboards
- E-scooters
- Electric cars
- Wearable electronic devices
- E-cigarettes/vape pens
- Cell phones
- Laptops
If you or a loved one was burned after a lithium-ion battery exploded or caught fire, contact the Pritzker Hageman burn injury lawyers for a free, no-obligation consultation. Contact us by calling 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), texting 612-261-0856, or filling out an online contact form.