Tech Executive’s Fatal Treadmill Injury

Dave Goldberg’s death from falling off a treadmill in a Mexican villa, along with Harry Reid’s exercise injury, puts a renewed focus on treadmill safety and exercise safety in general.

Treadmills are one of the most dangerous pieces of exercise equipment, accounting for some 24,400 injuries annually in the U.S. The combination of a moving belt plus a momentary loss of balance or inattention can lead to serious injuries or death. Goldberg, CEO of tech giant SurveyMonkey, and husband of Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg, reportedly suffered a head injury after falling off a treadmill while exercising.

Increased interest in high intensity exercise like CrossFit may be contributing to injuries. United States’ Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s eye injury was during a routine where he did as many as 250 sit-ups and used the second strongest resistance band available. The band he was using broke, catapulting him across the room and into a cabinet. Whether exercising at home or at the gym, you should be aware of your abilities and avoid using unfamiliar equipment without being instructed in how to use it.

When using a machine with heavy weights or moving parts that can cause injury, you should be extra cautious.

The combination of treadmills and increased use of electronic devices like mobile phones or iPads may contribute to treadmill injuries. While looking at a screen might be a good way to occupy yourself running, not paying attention to the machine beneath you could be disastrous, particularly if you have not used the machine before. If your treadmill has a safety device such as a safety key that triggers an automatic shut off if it’s disconnected from the treadmill, it is a good idea to wear it.

While exercising can improve health in the long term, like any strenuous activity it carries potential risks. Taking proper safety precautions can reduce the risk of injury.

For more information about exercise safety, or to discuss an exercise equipment accident, contact personal injury lawyers in Philadelphia at Galfand Berger at 800-222-8792 or contact us online.