Segway Wheel Lock Lawsuit Alleges Accident Resulted in Rider Suffering Permanent Brain Injuries

Lawsuit claims head trauma left the rider with physical and emotional injuries that will require life-long medical care and monitoring.

A New Jersey woman has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a man under her care, alleging a defective Segway scooter suddenly locked and threw him violently from the device, causing a life-threatening head injury.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Cecilia G. Santos, as legal guardian for Ian T. Isaac, in the Superior Court of New Jersey last year, naming Segway Inc. as the defendant. The case was later removed to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on April 20. 

Santos’s complaint alleges the scooter was defectively designed and unreasonably dangerous, and that Segway failed to properly inspect, maintain or repair the device during refurbishment, in addition to failing to provide adequate warnings or instructions.

Segway Electric Scooter Risks

A Segway is a two wheeled motorized electric scooter, where the rider uses a platform to balance their body on the device between two large wheels. The scooter is powered by a lithium-ion battery and uses gyroscope technology to turn and move. They are commonly used during tours, security patrols and for commuting.

In recent years, motorized devices like scooters and Segways have been linked to a growing number of serious injuries and deaths. Some of these cases have even resulted in severe and permanent disabilities, which have led to dozens of lawsuits being brought against various manufacturers.

Segway Injury Allegations

Santos’s lawsuit indicates that Isaac purchased a refurbished Ninebot KickScooter F35 directly from Segway in January 2024. That August, Isaac was riding the scooter in Jersey City, New Jersey, when the wheel abruptly locked without warning. He was violently thrown from the device onto the street and sustained a head trauma that led to permanent physical and emotional injuries.

The complaint alleges the scooter crash was caused by a design defect that made the device unreasonably dangerous to operate, and claims Segway should have identified the issue during refurbishment.

Santos further contends the company had a duty to properly inspect, maintain and repair the scooter before reselling it, but failed to take those necessary steps.

The lawsuit also indicates Segway failed to offer sufficient warnings or instructions for use. As a result, Isaac requires extensive life-long medical care.

“The Product was defective at the time it left the possession and control of the Defendants. The defect rendered the product unreasonably dangerous for its intended and reasonably foreseeable use. While being used in a reasonably foreseeable manner, the Product malfunctioned directly causing plaintiff to suffer serious personal injuries.”

– Cecilia G. Santos et al v. Segway Inc.

Santos presents claims of product liability, negligence and loss of consortium. The lawsuit seeks compensation for physical and emotional injuries, punitive damages, court costs, interest costs, and reimbursement for attorney’s fees.

Electric Scooter Injury Lawsuits

A similar product liability lawsuit was filed against Segway earlier this year. That case alleged a Ninebot scooter suddenly shut down without warning, violently throwing the rider to the pavement. As a result, the rider suffered multiple fractures to his arm and underwent surgery to implant titanium plates and screws.

Another lawsuit was brought against Segway in 2025 due to defective handlebars on the Ninebot scooters. The complaint stems from a recall issued by Segway in early 2025, affecting more than 220,000 scooters. The recall was announced following 68 reports of handlebars collapsing, causing more than 20 injuries, including broken bones and lacerations.

That complaint alleged the fix for the recall was not sufficient to protect riders and left consumers unsafe on Segway devices that are prone to sudden collapse. Instead of a repair or refund, Segway offered a do-it-yourself maintenance kit for the handlebars. The lawsuit claims this placed an undue burden on consumers.

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