The irony is that some people use electronic vaporizers because they were told they are safer than smoking cigarettes. However, recent events are changing people’s minds. So far, over 100 incidents of e-cigs exploding have been made public. Some believe that number may be a low estimate and that many others in Texas and elsewhere have not reported their injuries from the defective product.
The problem seems to be in the battery. Lithium-ion batteries, similar to those related to recent cell phone explosions, overheat randomly, exploding at most inopportune times. When one is carrying the device in his or her pants or shirt pocket, the explosion tends to ignite the clothing, causing horrific burns to the legs, groin, chest and arms. When one is using the product, an explosion damages the teeth, face and eyes.
Over 9 million people use e-cigs regularly, creating a $3.7 billion industry for the manufacturers. Despite the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned their sales to minors, e-cigs are marketed to teens with sweet flavors and catchy names. Approximately 16 percent of teenagers in the country have tried e-cigs.
Those recently injured by the electronic vaporizers are suing for damages, targeting not only the manufacturers but everyone in the supply chain down to retail stores. They say they are seeking more than monetary compensation. As with many who contact an attorney to file a claim against a defective product, they want those responsible for ignoring the dangerous potential of these e-cigs to pay attention, and they hope to warn people in Texas and other states to avoid using e-cigs.
Source: nj1015.com, “Vaping horror: 4 in NJ say they were badly burned by exploding e-cigs“, David Matthau, Dec. 15, 2016
