E-Cig, Pen, Mod and Vape Battery Explosion

Electronic cigarette (E-cig) batteries and vape devices have exploded in the pockets or in the mouths of consumers, with faulty batteries causing serious or even fatal injuries and prompting lawsuits against the manufacturers and sellers. 

Vaping Danger: E-Cig, Pen, Mod, and Vape Battery Explosions

In recent years, there’s been an increase in injuries related to e-cigarette battery explosions. Explosions occur through a process known as a “thermal runaway.” This occurs when a battery overheats and the internal battery temperature increases dangerously, to the point of explosion. 

These exploding batteries can cause serious injuries to the user’s hand, face, and other parts of the body. Many consumers have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers and sellers of e-cigarettes or vape pens for this reason.

E-Cigarettes, e-cigs, vape, and vape mods are new consumer products designed to replace traditional cigarettes. The devices are battery-operated vaporizers. Using an e-cigarette or vape is commonly spoken of as “vaping.” The liquid vaporized by the product is not tobacco but contains nicotine. Non-nicotine versions are on the market. The products are frequently marketed as smoking cessation devices or as a “healthier” alternative to traditional smoking of conventional cigarettes.

If you or someone you know has sustained injuries caused by electronic cigarette battery or vape device explosions, you can pursue legal action. For a free and private consultation, you can call us at (415) 426-3000, email us at info@levinsimes.com, or start a conversation with us through the chat function on this page.

Injuries Caused by Vape Battery Explosions

Once the battery overheats, whether in the vape or e-cig device, on a charger or outside a device, it can quickly cause a chain reaction that leads to ignition, explosion or leakage of superheated liquid. If a lithium-ion battery catches fire in your pocket, it can cause serious burns to your body. If a lithium-ion battery explodes in your hand or mouth, the damage can be catastrophic or even fatal.

Common injuries caused by vape battery explosions include:

• Burn injuries to the hand, face, or other areas of the person’s skin
• Damage to (or loss of) digits on the hand 
• Broken or missing teeth 
• Jaw injuries
• Blindness, loss of taste, smell, and other senses
• Scarring and disfigurement injuries, including permanent changes to the face, loss of hair, and other traumas to a person’s appearance
• Injuries to the leg or groin region (if the device has exploded while in one’s pocket)

These are only a few of the main types of injuries that an exploding vape mod battery can cause. Injuries can range from minor to very severe, life-changing, and even life-threatening. In certain cases, a wrongful death claim might be appropriate if the vape device caused the loss of life of a loved one.

Damages in an E-Cig Explosion Lawsuit

E-cig products can be extremely dangerous and are not subject to rigorous safety standards. Manufacturers, sellers, distributors, and other parties should be held responsible if a vape product causes injury to a person. 

Legal action can help the injured party recover financial losses caused by the vape injury. These include: 

• Medical expenses, such as hospital treatments, costs of medication and surgeries, rehabilitation, and reconstructive surgery (especially for scarring and disfigurement cases)
• Loss of wages, especially if the person has missed work in order to recover physically 
• Loss of the ability generate future income, such as when a person loses function in their hand after a vape pen explosion, and can no longer perform the same tasks
• Pain and suffering connected with the injuries, as well as emotional trauma that often results from scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of companionship of a loved one, if the injuries have placed undue strain or challenges in a relationship 

A monetary damages award from a lawsuit can often help cover losses that aren’t normally covered by insurance or health care policies. In this way, legal action helps to ensure that the injured person is fully cared for and their long-term needs are met.

E-Cig Vape Construction

An e-cig or vape contains these parts:

• Mouthpiece
• Cartridge (tank)
• Heating element, also called an “atomizer”
• Microprocessor (in digital devices
• Mechanical switch (in mechanical devices)
• Battery
• LED Light (for effect)

Vape mod and mechanical mod vaporizers are products sold to consumers as intentionally modifiable. They are frequently referred to as a “mech mod” or “mech mod vape.” The word “mod” is in reference to the many designs that can be modified by adding, and their history of being built from other devices modified to become a vape. These devices can be taken apart and changed, removing or replacing individual components. 

Consumers are instructed and encouraged to mix and match various components in these mod vapes, from batteries to heating elements and switches to change the behavior of their devices.  Unfortunately, these changes also alter the power consumption and draw of the device, and many combinations of parts can result in battery failure or explosion.

Note that overheating, explosions, and injuries can occur even if the user hasn’t modified or changed the device in any way. These dangers are often the result of defective e-cigarette products or components. Manufacturers and other parties should be held liable for any injuries their products cause to the general consumer public. Contact Levin Simes at (415) 426-3000 for representation.