Missouri E-Cig Explosion Lawyers

E-Cig Explosions

Vaping is one of the hottest trends sweeping the nation. Short for vaporizing, vaping has become the term of choice for smoking electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs and e-cigarettes. E-cigs have been touted as a healthier alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes. E-cigarettes were introduced in 2007 and use by young people has been increasing rapidly. Wells Fargo has predicted e-cigs and all the products that make up the vaping market, will reach $10 billion by the end of 2018.

Are E-Cigarettes Safe?

From a health standpoint, it has yet to be determined if vaping is better than smoking tobacco cigarettes. Proponents of vaping argue inhaling vapor is less harmful than inhaling tobacco smoke. The vapor from e-cigs often contains nicotine, formaldehyde, and other dangerous chemicals. Aside from the danger of inhaling e-cig vapor deep into your lungs, a much more immediate danger is presenting itself. E-cig devices have been exploding like bombs and causing severe burns and other painful and permanent injuries.

If you have been injured by an exploding e-cig device or exploding e-cigarette battery, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Depending on the facts of the case, an injury victim may have a product liability claim against the e-cig manufacturer, the battery manufacture, the distributor, and the retail seller for making and/or selling an unreasonably dangerous product. It’s crucial to contact an experienced personal attorney immediately after being injured in an e-cig explosion. Preserving evidence after an e-cig battery explosion is crucial to proving your product liability case. St. Louis, MO attorney John Page has been aggressively representing injury victims living all over the country for more than a decade and a half. During that time, he has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients.

Page Law is currently reviewing cases for injury victims that have been burned or otherwise injured due to:

• Exploding e-cig devices;
• Exploding e-cigarettes;
• Exploding e-cig batteries;
• E-cig juice; and
• Vapor juice.

Our e-cig lawyers are ready to immediately review your e-cig injury claim. Call our aggressive and respected injury lawyers for a free consultation at (314)322-8515.

U.S. Fire Administration Report and E-Cigarette Explosions

A 2014 report from U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), investigated 25 cases of e-cigarette explosions between 2009 and 2014. Of the 25 e-cig incidents, 20 occurred while the e-cig devices were charging, two occurred while the devices were being used (vaping), and one incident occurred while the device was being transported. In two of the cases, it was not reported when the explosion occurred.

The USFA report stated the e-cig explosions caused building fires, vehicle fires, severe burns and other injuries. It has been reported that a 62-year-old man was killed in England when his e-cigarette exploded and ignited an oxygen tube in 2014.

E-Cig Explosion Injuries

Mother Jones magazine looked into 17 cases of e-cig explosions and found injuries included:

• Second and third degree burns;
• Hot oil burns;
• Tongue burns;
• Eye injuries;
• Shrapnel injuries; and
• Smoke inhalation.

In 2015 a Bakersfield, CA man was severely injured when his e-cig exploded, sending him to the hospital for seven days. The badly injured man underwent four surgeries—two on his tongue and two on his hand, which included a partial finger amputation.

Bystanders Injured by E-Cigarettes

In 2013, a Utah woman was charging her e-cig in her car when it exploded and shot a hot copper coil onto her son’s car seat, burning the child.

Recently, an 18 year old bartender in England was serving drinks when a coworker’s e-cig exploded behind the bar. The young woman’s dress caught on fire, causing severe burns. The flames from the explosion were caught on a surveillance camera.

Witnesses of e-cig explosions describe them with terms like:

• A gun firing;
• A bottle rocket;
• A Roman candle;
• A welding torch; and
• Shooting four foot flames.

Lithium-Ion Batteries Blamed for E-Cig Explosions

E-cig explosions are being linked to the lithium-ion batteries. This specific type of battery is used to heat the nicotine-laced juice that produces the vapor. Similar explosions and fires have been occurring with hover boards, which are also powered by lithium-ion batteries. As of December 2015, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported at least 52 cases of hover boards catching fire, which resulted in more than $2 million in property damage. Most major airlines now prohibit hover boards on flights. Similarly, the Department of Transportation has forbidden e-cigarettes and similar devices from being packed in checked luggage.

E-Cigarette Charging Issues

Some e-cig explosions have been linked to charging the lithium-ion batteries used to power the vaping devices. Many e-cig starter kits come with a USB charger and a wall adapter. If a charger other than the one that comes with the e-cigarette is used, there is a risk of overcharging the battery. An overcharged battery could potentially explode and cause serious burns and other injuries to anyone in the vicinity of the e-cig.

Who is Liable for an E-Cig Explosion?

Depending on the facts of the explosion, there may be numerous parties liable. The e-cig manufacture, the lithium-ion battery manufacture, the distributor and the seller of the device and battery may be liable. It’s important to preserve all evidence and get an investigation started immediately. The device and battery manufacturers have a legal duty to make sure the products they produce and sell are safe. Manufacturers have a duty to warn consumers about the dangers associated with the devices and batteries they manufacture. In addition, manufactures are required to warn consumers about the dangers associated with using third-party lithium-ion battery chargers.

In 2015 a California woman was awarded $1.9 million against VapCigs, the manufacturer of the e-cigarette that exploded in her car. The explosion caught her dress and seat on fire, causing severe burns and permanent scarring.

Take Action

If you have been injured by an e-cig explosion or a lithium-ion battery explosion, it’s crucial you act quickly to preserve your injury claim. We are currently reviewing cases for injury victims that have been burned and injured by exploding e-cig devices, exploding e-cig batteries, and injuries related to e-cig juice and vapor juice. Call our aggressive and respected personal injury lawyers for a free consultation at (314)322-8515.

Additional Information

• St. Louis E-Cigarette Injury Lawsuit Attorney