July 10, 2026 — A recent incident report details a consumer’s experience with Sketchers GOWALK 3 shoes, alleging that a “suction” effect caused a trip and fall, resulting in fractured bones in the left foot. The incident highlights potential safety concerns for users of this popular footwear.
Product Details
Product: Sketchers Sketchers GOWALK 3
Incident Overview
On June 18, 2026, a consumer reported an incident involving their Sketchers GOWALK 3 shoes. According to the report, the shoes created “too much suction,” leading the individual to trip and fall. The fall resulted in significant injury, specifically fracturing the 4th and 5th metatarsals of the left foot. The consumer had purchased the shoes from Kohls. The exact circumstances leading to the alleged suction effect, such as the type of walking surface or environmental conditions, were not specified in the incident report.
Safety Concerns
This incident raises several safety concerns regarding footwear design and user interaction with various surfaces.
- Immediate Dangers: The primary immediate danger is the risk of falls. Falls can lead to a range of injuries, from minor sprains and bruises to more severe outcomes like the fractured metatarsals reported here. Other potential immediate injuries include twisted ankles, wrist fractures (from attempting to break a fall), head injuries, and abrasions.
- Long-Term Risks: Severe fractures, if not properly treated, can lead to chronic pain, mobility issues, arthritis, and a prolonged recovery period that may impact daily activities and quality of life. Repeated falls, or falls at certain angles, could also lead to more complex orthopedic problems.
- Who Might Be Affected: While anyone wearing the shoes could potentially be affected, individuals with pre-existing balance issues, the elderly, or those carrying heavy loads might be at a higher risk of serious injury from a fall. Children, who may not always be mindful of their foot placement, could also be vulnerable.
- Property Damage Potential: While the incident primarily involved personal injury, a sudden fall could also lead to damage to personal items being carried (e.g., cell phones, glasses) or nearby objects, depending on the environment where the fall occurs.
What Consumers Should Do
If you own or use Sketchers GOWALK 3 shoes, or any footwear that you suspect may be contributing to an unstable walking experience, please consider the following:
- Immediate Steps: If you or someone you know has experienced a fall or injury similar to the one described, seek immediate medical attention for any pain or discomfort. Document the incident with photos of the shoes, the injury, and the location if possible.
- How to Check if You Own the Affected Product: Verify if your shoes are the Sketchers GOWALK 3 model. You can usually find the model name on the shoe’s tongue, inside the shoe, or on the original packaging.
- Prevention Measures:
- Be mindful of the surfaces you are walking on. Different sole designs can react differently to various floor types (e.g., smooth tiles, polished concrete, wet surfaces).
- If you notice an unusual “suction” effect or feel unstable, consider testing the shoes on different surfaces in a safe environment.
- If you consistently experience instability or peculiar sole interaction with surfaces, consider discontinuing use and seeking alternative footwear.
- Ensure shoes are properly sized and tied, if applicable, to prevent trips due to improper fit.
- Reporting Procedures: If you have experienced a similar incident or have concerns about your Sketchers GOWALK 3 shoes, please report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.saferproducts.gov. You should also contact the manufacturer directly to report your experience.
Manufacturer’s Response
Skechers USA, Inc. provided a response on June 25, 2026, stating: “We appreciate receiving this information regarding our customers’ use of Skechers shoes and are sorry to hear that this customer reported a negative experience involving one of our products. We would be glad to inspect the customer’s shoes for unusual or unexpected wear if the customer is willing to provide them, but nothing about the design or materials of the referenced shoe’s outsole would create “suction.” It is important to note that footwear is subject to many different surface conditions encountered in everyday use, and that a fall such as the one reported can happen in any shoe if the user’s foot is not as far off the ground as he or she might think and the toe of the shoe contacts (even slightly) the ground in a way the user did not expect. We will contact the customer to see if they will provide the shoes for inspection and to attempt to resolve this issue. We encourage anyone with questions or concerns about Skechers products to contact us at:
Skechers USA
1-800-746-3411 (Mon-Fri 6:00 am to 7:00 pm Pacific time)
Or go to: https://www.skechers.com/help-center.html?url=HelpCenter/s/article/How-do-I-contact-Skechers-Customer-Care or use the Web Form: https://customercare.skechers.com/HelpCenter/s/contactsupport”
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process. Farzan Law is a California based Personal Injury law firm focusing on protecting the rights of those wrongfully injured.
Licensed to practice law ONLY in California.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.