Fitness trackers have become very popular over the last few years. These small wristbands serve as a convenient way for people to track their health and exercise. Many people have found that by being able to actually see statistics about their health (we are likely all familiar with the question “did you get enough steps in today?”) Many people use these numbers to take action to improve their health. However, there have been some serious issues that have arisen from the widespread use of these devices.
Two Class Action Lawsuits Filed Against Fitbit
Fitbit is one of the most common fitness tracker brands. In fact, just like you might use the word “Kleenex” to refer to a tissue, many people use the word “Fitbit” to indicate any sort of portable fitness tracker. As a company, Fitbit has seen explosive growth over the last three years and now offers a variety of fitness trackers. However, they have been receiving a great deal of attention lately due to being named in two separate class action lawsuits.
The first lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles and claims that Fitbit actively promoted their product as safe to use, when in fact a large majority of people reacted negatively to the wristband. The case shows that there have been over 900,000 instances of people developing a rash, hives, boils, or open sores on their wrists as a result of wearing the band. In addition to these reactions to the synthetic material, additional reactions have been noted from the bonding agents used in the product and the type of metal used for the back of the monitor.
The second lawsuit, and perhaps more serious, was recently filed in Santa Ana and states that the monitoring device on the Fitbit is not accurate. The lawsuit alleges that the heart rate monitoring device is faulty when a person is exercising which can lead to a heart attack or death. The lawsuit states that the only time the Fitbit is accurate is when a person is sitting still or walking at a casual pace.
The lawsuit further states that one of the plaintiffs was wearing the device and it recorded their heart rate to be in the ’90s during their workout. However, according to a physical trainer’s assessment, the person’s heart rate was actually above 150, which is dangerously high. Thousands of similar reports have been filed.
Fitbit denies any wrongdoing and has stated that its device is not a medical device and therefore cannot be treated as such.
Apple and Nike Fitness Trackers
In 2015, Apple and Nike settled a class-action lawsuit for very similar reasons. The lawsuit against their fitness trackers stated that the heart rate monitor and calorie tracking monitors were inaccurate and potentially dangerous to the health of the individuals wearing the devices. Apple and Nike settled the case under the pretense that they did nothing wrong.
Your Information Is Relevant To Your Case
If you have been actively using a fitness tracker and have discovered that the information it’s provided you with is incorrect to the point of causing you potential harm, make sure to keep all the information that you have stored from your device. If your situation turns into a product liability or personal injury case, data from your fitness tracker may be used as evidence against the tracker’s manufacturer.
Contact Tate Law Group
If you or your loved one has sustained an injury due to the inaccuracies of a fitness tracker, we encourage you to contact us to discuss a potential product liability or personal injury case. You have every right to seek compensation for anything negative you have experienced relating to a faulty fitness tracker.