Exploding Electronic Cigarettes
Exploding electronic cigarettes can happen to 20% of e-cig users.
Millions of people have turned to electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes to either cut back or quit regular cigarettes. How safe are they, though? Many have been burned and injured when these devices malfunction and explodes in a person’s hand, face or pocket.
What are Electronic Cigarettes?
Electronic cigarettes are also known as e-cigarettes, e-cigs or vape are an electronic nicotine delivery system that produces a heated vapor, resembling smoke. In 2007, they came on the market. Now, more than 2.5 million people in the U.S. are using them.
Using a heating element, the devices vaporizes a liquid solution, which can deliver various levels of nicotine. Some activate the heating coil automatically when a user takes a drag from the device. Some are manual. Many use a lithium-ion battery to power the device.
How do Exploding Electronic Cigarettes Occur?
Many devices use lithium-ion batteries to power it. Manufacturers make lithium-ion batteries with alternating layers of metallic anode and cathode material separated by a porous film. Inside this film is a flammable liquid electrolyte. If the lithium-ion battery overheats, the flammable electrolyte may explode.
Lack of Regulation
Currently, there are few studies into how many electronic cigarettes are exploding. The reason there aren’t more studies into e-cigarette safety is that there aren’t any government safety regulators. The FDA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are both still waiting for approval to standardize these devices. Without regulators, manufacturers do not have to report safety defects. Low-cost, low-quality devices are flooding the market. This causes, even more, devices to be susceptible to explosion.
Electronic Cigarette Timeline
Explosions Just Last Year
Here are just a few of the 66 reported cases of electronic cigarette explosions last year.
- A Florida man suffered severe burns from an electronic cigarette exploding in his pocket. He required burn unit treatment in the hospital.
- A Cobb County, Georgia resident suffered severe injuries after his e-cig blew up in his face while vaping.
- In Tennessee, a man had spinal surgery after an electronic cigarette exploded in his mouth causing facial fractures, broken neck and shattered teeth.
- A man from California lost an eye when his device exploded and sent hot shrapnel into his face.
- Also in California, another man spent a week in the hospital after an e-cig exploded in his mouth. He had second-degree burns and a piece of the device lodged in his tongue.
We Want to Help Victims
If you were seriously burned by an exploding electronic cigarette, you may have a claim against the manufacturers of the device and battery. This means you may be able to recoup damages from your injury.
Contact the Michael Brady Lynch Firm today for a free consultation to learn more about seeking justice. Compensation may be available for any medical expenses associated with this ordeal, as well as for your physical and emotional suffering. There is no obligation.
How We Can Help
When you experience an injury, it can have devastating effects on your entire life. Compensation for injuries and damages could be available.
The recoverable losses include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of an ability to work; and
- Pain and suffering
The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is experienced in product liability claims. Our law firm has an experienced team of trial lawyers who focus on the representation of plaintiffs in electronic cigarette lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new electronic cigarette injury and death cases in all 50 states.