Insurance Company Sues Amazon After E-Scooter Catches On Fire Causing Significant Property Damage

A Rhode Island insurance company has filed a lawsuit against Amazon.com and Jetson Electric Bikes after a couple purchased an e-scooter from Amazon that “malfunctioned, caught fire, and caused a fire” at the couple’s home. While the growing popularity of e-scooters is exploding, the scooters themselves should be safe from fire hazards. Nonetheless, the number of fires linked to e-scooter batteries is also increasing. The market for e-scooters is expected to grow to $12.4 billion by 2030.

According to the 17-page lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Providence, the couple was insured by Amica. Amica is named as the plaintiff in the lawsuit filed against Amazon. The couple purchased a “Jetson Glyro” flashing LED electric scooter on Amazon.com in 2015 with lithium-ion batteries and a charger.

According to the lawsuit, the couple “maintained the product in a safe and proper manner, without any alteration or modification, in accordance with the product’s instructions. On November 25, 2019, the product malfunctioned, caught fire, and caused a fire inside of the dwelling causing severe damage to the dwelling. The plaintiff alleges that the product malfunctioned due to defects in its design.

Fires linked to e-scooters are a growing problem 

The New York City Fire Department reported a dramatic rise in e-scooter fires in 2023, with 268 incidents leading to 150 injuries and 18 deaths. The story is the same in San Francisco. San Francisco reported 215 documented battery fires since e-bikes and e-scooters became popular there in 2017.

In this case, Amica has filed a lawsuit against Amazon and the e-scooter manufacturer as the insurance company of their policyholders. Amica made payments to the couple who reported the fire to reimburse them for damage done to their home. Amica says that “as a result of the loss and the defendants’ negligence and breach of implied warranty of merchantability, and pursuant to the policy, Amica made payments in satisfaction of its obligation to and/or on behalf of its insureds.” Amica is now suing both Amazon.com and Jetson Electric Bikes for product liability negligence, and breach of implied warranty of merchantability. Amica contends that “[t]he defendant, Amazon.com Services LLC, breached the implied warranty of merchantability because the Product was not of merchantable quality, unsafe, not reasonably fit for its intended purpose and not free of any defects.”

Ultimately, Amica is attempting to recover payment for the house fire by extracting it from Amazon and Jetson Electric Bikes. The lawsuit is seeking a judgment against Amazon and Jetson Electric Bikes holding them legally and financially responsible for the house fire.

Talk to a Florida Product Liability Lawyer Today 

Halpern, Santos & Pinkert represent the interests of Florida residents who have been injured or sustained property damage due to a dangerous or defective product. Call our Florida personal injury lawyers today to schedule a consultation, and we can begin discussing how you could recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life.

Source:

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