Vape Battery Explosion Lawyer

FDA Guidelines to Avoid an E-Cig Battery Explosion

In order to help avoid battery explosion, here are guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on past product malfunctions:

• Use products with safety features like vent holes, firing button locks, and battery overcharge protections
• Keep loose batteries in a case so they don’t come into contact with metal like keys, coins, or rivets/zippers on clothing
• Only charge your vape with the charger it came with — do not use your phone or electronic tablet as a power source
• Don’t let your vape charge overnight or unattended
• Replace any battery that is damaged or gets wet, and if your product does not come with replaceable batteries, contact the manufacturer for customer support 

Other guidelines include avoiding extreme temperatures for your vape, i.e. don’t leave it on a hot car dashboard or on a window sill in freezing weather. Don’t mix and match vape chargers, batteries, or cartridges, as they do not adhere to a standard design and could conflict. 

When you do charge your vape, it’s advised to leave it on a non-flammable surface instead of something that could catch fire like a couch. Keep vapes far from flammable liquids like gasoline or propane at all times.

Additionally, there are more guidelines for flying with vape products, including only transporting them in carry-on luggage and refraining from charging or using them during the duration of your flight.

The guidelines consumers have to follow to avoid being harmed by their vape products could be considered “onerous” under the law. This means they are burdens or obligations that counterbalance or outweigh the advantages of using vapes in the first place. You deserve a fully safe product, not a hazardous device with safety guidelines you may have never received.

Injuries Caused by an E-Cig Explosion

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 severe second or third-degree burns to your body. However, the damage can be catastrophic, or even fatal, if a lithium-ion battery explodes in your hand or mouth.

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)
• Death

A 2018 study analyzed 46 patients who suffered burn injuries from exploding vape pens, focusing on demographics, injury patterns, and treatment outcomes. The patients were followed up after an average of 13 months:

• Most injuries affected the groin (69%), followed by the hands (25%) and face (7%).
• The majority of patients (61%) required skin grafts, with 39% experiencing wound infections. All patients underwent debridement, and some had hydrotherapy.
• 42% of patients reported modifying their vape devices to enhance battery life or smoke production, increasing the risk of malfunctions.

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.

How Can an E-Cigarette Explosion Lawyer Help Me?

A vape battery explosion lawyer can help with the different requirements and tasks necessary to prepare for trial. These include: 

• Gathering evidence, such as purchase receipts, medical records, and injury reports
• Researching the laws relevant to your vape explosion case
• Examining the vape product(s) in question 
• Determining which parties can be held liable
• Arguing for the maximum amount of damages under the law

Having legal representation can significantly impact the outcome of your case. In fact, research conducted by Martindale-Nolo found that readers who worked with a lawyer received settlements that were more than four times greater on average than those without legal help. The right lawyer can help ensure you get the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one were injured due to a vape explosion, contact Levin Simes at (415) 426-3000 or online. We are at the forefront of the movement to hold vape manufacturers and companies accountable for defective products.

What Kind of Financial Support Is Available in a Vape Battery 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 to 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 vape 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 Explosion Settlements 

Vape pen explosions can lead to intensely hot, violent bursts that can cause catastrophic injuries. The high temperatures and force of these explosions often result in permanent disfigurement or even death. Below are a few settlements secured:

• $2.3 Million Settlement: A Missouri man received more than $2.3 million in a lawsuit against Lightfire Holdings, LLC after an exploding vape left him with broken teeth, a fractured jaw, burns, and nerve damage. 
• $1.9 Million Settlement: A California woman was awarded $1.9 million after an e-cigarette battery exploded while charging in her car, causing flames and severe burns to her legs, buttocks, and hand. She sued the device’s distributor, VapCigs, wholesaler Cartons 2 Go, and the store Tobacco Expo.
• $15 Million Settlement: A Florida man was awarded $15 million after suffering 3rd-degree burns when a vape battery exploded in his pocket, leaking acid and igniting his leg. He filed a lawsuit in 2017 against Vapor Life LLC, Vapor Life 5 LLC, and Shenzhen Battery Company Ltd., the battery's manufacturer.