Are the batteries used in E-Cigarette safe?
While e-cigarettes have been marketed as a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes, injuries from vaporizing, or ‘vaping,’ devices are increasingly common due to overheating lithium-ion batteries. As e-cigarettes grew from a $20 million industry in 2008 to a $2.8 billion industry in 2015, manufacturers jumped at the opportunity to join the growing industry in an unregulated market, turning to cheap lithium-ion batteries manufactured in China to meet the demand.
Injuries from e-cigarettes are not uncommon, however, no federal agency has been tracking data related to the injuries so the total number of reports is unclear. If you have been injured by an e-cigarette, consider a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer to determine if you should pursue compensation in court.
How Do E-Cigarettes Injure People?
E-cigarettes deliver nicotine through a heated vapor that the user inhales. A heating element powered by a lithium-ion battery heats and vaporizes nicotine when the user takes a drag from the device. Lithium-ion batteries are supposed to shut down when they start to overheat, but cheap versions can be defective.
When a lithium-ion battery overheats in an e-cigarette, the outcome is very dangerous, causing the device to explode. The injuries from an e-cigarette that overheats can range from harmful burns to the hands and face, fractured bones and even the loss of eyesight.
E-Cigarette Injury Compensation in Civil Court
People who have been injured by e-cigarettes can file civil lawsuits against retailers, distributors, wholesalers and manufacturers for negligence in selling a defective product. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed in Florida, New York and California already. If you were injured by an e-cigarette, consult with an Arkansas personal injury lawyer to educate yourself on what compensation is due to you.
