E-cigarettes, also known as vape pens, and e-cigs, are all the rage right now. Offered and marketed as an alternative to cigarette smoking, e-cigarettes attempt to offer more safety for the nicotine user. In reality, these devices are dangerous and are virtually completely unregulated in the United States. With more and more accidents occurring due to vaping, if you have been injured due to an e-cigarette, you should know your rights.
Background of Vaping
A United States study indicates that almost 11 million Americans are vaping with e-cigarettes. With a large population engaging in this activity, the total number of those using these devices roughly translates to 1 in 20. Even more concerning is the high number of younger people that are also using e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes are popular and touted as a safer form of nicotine delivery. However, absolutely no government oversight exists regarding these devices. No safety regulations, no nicotine regulations, and no actual manufacturing device regulations exist. In actuality, almost all of these devices are manufactured, produced and delivered to the United States from China, where there is virtually no oversight or quality control.
While the use of nicotine in and of itself can be considered a dangerous activity, the dangers of e-cigarettes is much more sinister. These devices, with no quality control or manufacturing guidelines, are now exploding in record numbers in the hands and pockets of the persons carrying them. Severe injuries with life-altering consequences have occurred throughout the United States. With catastrophic and oftentimes permanently disfiguring injuries becoming more and more commonplace, users are looking to the legal system to compensate them for their injuries.
E-Cigarette Explosions
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has now reported that literally hundreds of severe and serious explosions have occurred from e-cigarettes in the United States. This number of accidents shows no sign of slowing down and is exponentially increasing. While the device itself is small, the devastation can cause is astronomical. Some of the most common explosions occur as follows:
- An explosion during use, while in the hand of the user, causing serious injury to either the neck, face, or any part of the upper body.
- An explosion during the charging process, which causes the device to overheat and explode.
- An explosion during transport, typically on the user’s person, pocket, or purse.
Battery defects are the number one reason that an e-cigarette will explode. These batteries are typically made of lithium-ion and are notorious for overheating. When the lithium-ion battery overheats, it creates a massive amount of hot gas which builds up with no place for release, ultimately causing a catastrophic explosion. The explosion has been compared to the power and force of a pipe bomb, or even a rocket.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
Without oversight and regulation of the devices, it is expected that even more catastrophic accidents will occur to the explosion of the lithium-ion batteries. If you were injured due to a vaping or e-cigarette explosion, we can help. Schedule a free initial consultation with the personal injury attorneys at the O’Donnell Law Offices serving clients in Kingston, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Pittston at 570-821-5717 or online today. There is no fee or costs until we win your case.
Resource:
usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/electronic_cigarettes.pdf
reuters.com/article/us-health-ecigs-us-adults/almost-one-in-20-u-s-adults-now-use-e-cigarettes-idUSKCN1LC2DN
https://www.odonnell-law.com/2019/11/01/what-is-pain-and-suffering/