RAD Power Bikes Now Faces a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

RAD Power Bikes is now facing a wrongful death lawsuit following a fatal fire allegedly caused by one of its e-bike batteries. The lawsuit was filed in Alabama by Shannon Stephens after her husband, Keith Stephens, died in a blaze on 3 January 2025. The fire is claimed to have originated from a RAD Power Bike battery, with a Florida-based retailer also named as a co-defendant for assembling the bike. The bike had been purchased by the Stephens’ son as a gift and collected from the Florida shop before being delivered to Keith in Alabama. This legal action comes amid ongoing safety concerns surrounding RAD’s batteries, which have been under scrutiny since November last year when the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning about the risk of batteries igniting or exploding, especially when exposed to water or debris. Despite the CPSC’s call for a recall of over 100,000 batteries, RAD did not comply, citing the potential financial ruin such a recall would cause. The company has maintained that the incidents represent only a tiny fraction of their sales and has disputed the CPSC’s characterisation of their batteries as defective or unsafe. The lawsuit accuses RAD of being aware of the dangers posed by their batteries but failing to take adequate action. It highlights the company’s introduction of a “Safe Shield™” battery enclosure as a delayed response to fire risks, which was marketed as a routine upgrade rather than a necessary safety fix. The complaint further alleges that RAD never issued a recall or consumer alerts and did not disclose that earlier battery designs lacked UL safety certification, which is critical for preventing fires and explosions. This case also references previous incidents involving RAD Power Bikes, suggesting a pattern of fires and fatalities linked to their products. The lawsuit claims that RAD has faced similar lawsuits before, with other families suffering losses due to battery-related fires. As of now, RAD Power Bikes has not publicly responded to the wrongful death lawsuit, and the situation adds to the mounting challenges the company faces following its recent bankruptcy filing and ongoing safety controversies.