A Brooklyn, New York, mother has filed a lawsuit against high-end fitness company, Peloton, following the death of her son.

Ryan Furtado, 32, passed away in January 2022 after his Peloton stationary bike tipped over, severing his carotid artery in his Brooklyn residence. 

The tragic incident isn’t the first tied to the fitness company. In 2021, a child aged six succumbed to injuries from an accident involving a Peloton treadmill. Another episode involved a three-year-old sustaining significant harm from a treadmill incident. Regulators imposed a $19 million fine on Peloton after these occurrences.

The ongoing lawsuit details that during a “Core” workout session, Furtado had to step off the bike for some ground exercises. He leaned on the bike for support as he was getting up, which resulted in the bike falling and causing the injury to his neck. The plaintiff alleges that the bike’s design combined with only a singular warning label was insufficient in ensuring users’ safety.

In response, Peloton attributed Furtado’s untimely demise to his own actions, emphasizing that their terms of service compel users to take on all liability. 

Peloton’s Senior VP of Global Communications, Ben Boyd, conveyed his condolences to Furtado’s kin. Nevertheless, the legal representatives of the family believe that Peloton should offer clearer communication about the possible dangers linked to their equipment.

The legal action highlights a concern about the lack of adequate warning signs, suggesting that Peloton bikes may be hazardous to consumers. The family is pursuing compensation for several expenses, encompassing funeral expenditures, possible future financial support, and medical charges. 

Additionally, this past May, Peloton voluntarily recalled around two million bikes owing to the seat post’s potential to disengage while in use, which was implicated in multiple injury reports.