E-cigarettes and vaporizers seem to be all the rage right now for those seeking a “healthier alternative” to cigarettes. However, more and more studies are showing that E-cigarettes and vaporizers are not safe alternatives to regular cigarettes. And now, the devices themselves are proving to be potentially dangerous.
A Colorado man, 29, suffered serious injuries after an electronic cigarette exploded in his face. He suffered a facial fractures, burns to his mouth, shattered teeth and a broken neck in the explosion. According to the family, he was using an e-cigarette by Kangertech when it exploded.
In England, David Yeo, 35, suffered third degree burns after his e-cigarette battery exploded while in his pants pocket. The man was sitting in his home when the spare battery for his e-cigarette burst into flames. His leg suffered third degree burns and required major surgery.
In another case, Reed Morrison of Newport Beach was in bed when he heard a crackling sound coming his from e-cigarette. He was able to remove it from his mouth right before sparks and flames erupted. But as Morrison tried to throw it away from him, the device melted to his hands. He is recovering from third degree burns to his hands.
Finally, a Florida man spent days in a medically-induced coma after an e-cigarette exploded in his face.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there were at least 25 incidents of exploding e-cigarette batteries between 2009 and 2014. Recently, three separate California lawsuits were filed on behalf of consumer injured then the batteries from their e-cigarettes exploded.
“The shape and construction of e-cigarettes can make them more likely than other products with lithium-ion batteries to behave like ‘flaming rockets’ when a battery fails,” FEMA warned in a 2014 report (PDF).”
An estimated 2.5 million Americans use e-cigarette devices. In an industry that is currently unregulated, problems are expected to continue. If you or a loved one has suffered burns or injuries related to the use of an e-cigarette, you should contact an attorney to discuss your rights. Sheller, P.C. is currently investigating e-cigarette battery explosions and other e-cigarette related injuries. If you have been harmed by an e-cigarette explosion, please do not hesitate to call Sheller, P.C. at 800-883-2299 for a free no obligation consultation.
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