Texas E-Cigarette Explosion Lawyer

There have been over 150 reports of e-cigarettes exploding or catching on fire since 2009, mostly when they are being charged but also when they are being used. In 2015, $1.9 million was awarded in the first lawsuit to go to trial.

Need a Texas E-Cigarette Explosion Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was injured by an exploding e-cigarette or vaping battery, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

UPDATE: Dozens of Lawsuits Filed Over E-Cigarette Explosions

July 2016 — E-cigarettes manufacturers are facing dozens of lawsuits from people who were injured by exploding lithium-ion batteries. One lawyer said, “It’s an issue of the batteries being unregulated and manufactured haphazardly with poor warnings that never get down to the consumer.” Click here to read more.

$1.9 Million Jury Award in 1st E-Cig Explosion Trial

In October 2015, a jury in California awarded $1.9 million to a woman who was severely burned by an exploding e-cigarette. The plaintiff, Jennifer Ries, plugged her VapCig e-cigarette into the car charger. It almost immediately exploded, cuasing 2nd-degree burns on her legs, buttocks, and hands, as well as emotional scars.

Florida Man in Coma After E-Cig Explodes in Face

Evan Spahlinger, a 21 year-old man from Florida, was placed in medically-induced coma and underwent surgery after an e-cigarette exploded and caused severe burns to his face, neck, and lungs. Now, he is warning about the dangers of the device:

“These things are deadly. I thought I was gonna die. It went like a pipe bomb. My skin was charred. Eyebrows burned off. Eyelashes burned off.”

159 Reports of E-Cigarette Explosions

In April 2016, eCigOne.com published a list of 159 reports of e-cigarette explosions since August 2009, but this is likely an underestimate. Out of the incidents that were reported, 44% occurred during charging and 25% occurred during use.

Burns were the most common injuries, with 93 incidents reported — mostly involving fingers, face, teeth, mouth, and eyes. Some of the most serious injuries involved missing teeth, blindness, finger amputation, jaw wired shut, and facial scarring from lacerations and burns.

There are also many reports of drivers losing control of vehicles, house fires, and at least 26 reports of e-cigarette explosions on planes between 2013 and 2015.

What is the problem?

E-cigarettes are relatively new products that became popular very quickly among smokers and teens. The FDA recently announced plans to regulate e-cigarettes, but the industry still suffers from poor quality control.

Lithiuim-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are excellent power sources for small electronic devices, but even minor damage can cause them to them to catch on fire and explode.

Overheating and over-charging can also cause a lithium-ion battery to explode. When flammable liquids inside the battery are heated to their boiling point, pressure increases inside the battery until it explodes.

Unlike other electronic devices, e-cigarette batteries come in a cylindrical canister that is weakest at the ends. When the seal on the end of the battery breaks, the battery and/or canister can be shot across the room like a small bullet.

In comparison, cellphones and laptop computers have lithium-ion batteries encased in rigid plastic pouches that are generally strong enough to keep them from “rocketing” away — though fires do occur sometimes.

What Should I Know?

• Most explosions occur when the battery is charging
• Your pocket or purse can catch on fire if a battery contacts something metal (keys, spare change, etc.) or is damaged
• Do not plug it into a computer or “standard” USB port
• Only use the battery charger that comes with your e-cigarette
• Throw away damaged batteries
• Carry loose batteries in storage case
• Be careful when using mods, or don’t use them at all
• Watch out for counterfeits

What Could Happen?

E-cigarettes can explode suddenly and behave like “flaming rockets” when the battery fails, according to a report (PDF) by FEMA.

Investigators found 25 reports of e-cigarette explosions and fire in the United States between 2009 and August 2014, mostly during charging. Nine people were injured, including two people who were seriously burned.

In some reports, the battery or other parts of the e-cigarette were ejected under pressure and “flew across the room,” often igniting nearby carpets, bedding, drapes, couches, or vehicle seats.

Need an E-Cigarette Lawyer in Texas?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our Texas e-cigarette lawyers for a free lawsuit review.