In the last decade, electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs, e-cigarettes, and vape pens, have increasingly become popular among people who want an alternative to traditional cigarettes. This trend is growing because of the belief that smoking, or vaping, e-cigarettes are safer than conventional cigarettes. While these products may not have as many chemicals inside as traditional cigarettes, smoking anything is still harmful to your health. What’s more, e-cigarettes and vape pens have been known to explode and cause personal injury to their users.
The product liability lawyers at Colling Gilbert Wright want you to know that if you’ve been injured by an e-cig or vape pen that exploded while you were using it correctly, we can help.
If you’ve experienced injury because of an exploding vape pen or e-cigarette, please contact us today by filling out the form on this page or by calling us at 407-712-7300 to schedule your free case evaluation today. We proudly help those who live in and near the Orlando and nearby areas of the state of Florida.
E-Cigarette Dangers
Beyond the health issues of smoking, e-cigarettes and vape pens pose the risk of explosion which can cause burns and even injury from projectiles. There have been numerous reports of e-cigarette-related explosions since they became popular, generally from the battery overheating. Many times these explosions are related to a defective device but there are also instanced of explosions caused by people using mechanical mods, or mods, which enable users to modify the device’s battery to allow for more product to be inhaled resulting in larger smoke plumes upon exhaling.
In May 2018, the first apparent vape pen-related death was reported in St. Petersburg, Florida where a man used a mechanical mod from a Philippines-based company called Smok-E Mountain Mech Works. According to the medical examiner’s office, the device exploded and projectile struck the victim’s head, causing a fatal injury. The explosion also started a fire in the victim’s room which resulted in nearly 80 percent of his body suffering burns.
While that instance is the first death linked to an e-cigarette explosion, the dangers of suffering burn injury are real. A 2017 United States Fire Administration report stated that between the years of 2009 to 2016 there were reported 195 e-cigarette explosions in the U.S. alone. The site e Cig One, which compiles information and reports of e-cig explosions from around the world states that there were 267 reports of e-cig explosions from 2012 to June of 2018, with 177 of those resulting in some form of personal injury.
Staying Safe While Vaping
At Colling Gilbert Wright, we know that people will continue to use these devices as an alternative to traditional cigarettes. While we are here to help you in the event that you suffer personal injury from an explosion we also want to help you stay safe so that you can hopefully avoid serious harm. A few tips for safe and effective e-cigarette use are:
- Read and understand all instructions for using and storing the device
- Follow the guidelines for charging the battery
- Avoid carrying spare batteries in your pockets or purse
- Properly dispose of old or visibly-damaged batteries
- Don’t let the atomizer overheat (holding the button too long)
- Keep the device away from any water
- Beware and use caution when using mechanical mods or hybrid mods
Contact Our Product Liability Attorneys Today
In the event that you suffer a personal injury while using an e-cigarette or vape pen in a proper manner, our experienced product liability lawyers can help you file a claim. We can help you determine who is responsible for the defect which caused the explosion and pursue compensation for you for any medical bills, lost wages from time missed at work, and any pain and suffering you’ve endured.
If you’d like to learn more about what you can do after an e-cigarette explosion, contact us today by filling out the form on this page or by calling us at 407-712-7300 to schedule a free consultation. We’re located in Orlando and proudly serve those who live in and around this area of Florida.