Treadmills may be the most popular piece of exercise equipment. With more people now trying to become healthy and increasing their exercise, more than 50 million Americans are now using them. This number is a nearly 40 percent increase in the last ten years.
With that said, using treadmills can pose a serious risk of bodily harm to users. In fact, according to federal statistics, treadmills are the most dangerous piece of exercise equipment that a person can use.
The case of Seyed Moezivaziri, who was injured on a treadmill he was using, is just one example. Since his injury, he’s filed a suit against Healthcare Fitness Center of Elmwood Inc., Ochsner Clinic Fondation, Star Track and Nordictrack Inc. Moezivaziri contends that he was working out on a Nordictrack treadmill when it malfunctioned and he fell. The plaintiff claims he received severe and disabling injuries to his knees, right hip and right wrist in the incident.
Moreover, Moezivaziri claims the defendant
- Failed to properly manufacture the product
- Failed to warn users of the potentially dangerous condition of the design
- Failed to use reasonable and prudent care under the circumstances
- Improperly designed and manufactured the product
- Failed to inspect and replace the defective equipment
Moezivaziri is suing for an unspecified amount including compensation for physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of earning capacity and disability.
This is not the only example of injuries attributed to a treadmill. Julie Osborne was running on her home treadmill, got off to grab her water and went to get back on. However, the belt was still moving when she tried to get back on. She lost her balance and in an attempt to regain it, she placed her had down to stabilize herself. As a result, three fingers got caught between the frame and the running track.
The belt rolled over her hand and sheared off skin to the point where there was exposed bone.
There are numerous videos on YouTube showing people falling on treadmills—typically involving people crashing into walls and hitting their heads. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, treadmills send roughly 19,000 people to the hospital each year. Approximately 6,000 of these involve children. The typical injuries include broken bones, amputated fingers, and concussions.
Fitness experts conclude that using a treadmill requires focus and personal responsibility since falling off of one is like falling off a bicycle at 10 miles per hour. Moreover, while treadmills are generally safe to use, it is ridiculously easy to become distracted and to step off the belt while operating a machine, which is why they require 100 percent of your attention while operating.
If you have been injured while operating a treadmill and believe the accident was caused by negligence on the part of the facility or manufacturer, please schedule a free consultation with Tennessee personal injury attorneys at Gilreath & Associates today. We can evaluate the incident and help you determine if you have a case. In addition, you can also browse our blog and knowledge center to find other information.