A man who suffered multiple burn injuries after an e-cigarette exploded in his pocket has sued a retailer and a Chinese manufacturer of lithium batteries in a product liability lawsuit he has filed. According to a report in The Telegraph, the plaintiff, Joseph Tucker, has named Cloud 9 Vapor and CBD as well as Shenzhen IVPS Technology Co., which makes lithium batteries.
Explosion and Burn Injuries
In his lawsuit, Tucker said he purchased an e-cigarette from the Cloud 9 Vapor Lounge on May 2, 2018, and had placed it in his right pants pocket where it exploded and burst into flames. The explosion caused burns on Tucker’s right buttocks, thigh and leg, the lawsuit states adding that he will be “hindered from wearing certain attire and prevented from attending to his usual duties and affairs of life.”
The lawsuit also claims he incurred significant medical expenses. The product in question contains tobacco, batteries and other elements. The company advertises the product as “new and powerful with a maximum output of 320 watts.” Tucker’s lawsuit claims the batteries were “unreasonably dangerous in design” where the batteries could suddenly explode or burst into flames. The company that makes the batteries is based in Shenzhen, China. The lawsuit claims the store and battery company were negligent.
Product Liability Issues
There have been a number of reports in the news media about e-cigarettes that could explode and cause severe injuries. According to one study in 2018, which was published in the British Medical Journal, there were more than 2,000 e-cigarette explosion and burn injuries in the United States that sent users to emergency departments from 2015 to 2017
. Doctors have described a majority of accidents involving flame burns. A number of patients also ensure blast injuries that lead to tooth loss, disfigurement and extensive loss of soft tissue. Many of the flame burns also require skin graft surgeries, doctors who care for these victims say.
If you have been injured in an e-cigarette explosion, you may have a product liability case against the manufacturer, retailer, distributor or other parties involved. You may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, cost of surgery, permanent injuries (scarring, disfigurement), pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced product defect lawyer can help you better understand your legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Alton-man-sues-over-exploding-e-cigarette-15254995.php
