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Cause for concern over some e-cigarettes going up in smoke?

Several cases have been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County against certain manufacturers and retailers of electronic cigarettes, otherwise known as “e-cigs.” Made popular by numerous celebrities, the use and production of e-cigs has skyrocketed in recent years as an alternative for people who want to quit smoking.  Manufacturers produced and sold e-cigs at a time when the industry was greatly unregulated.

NBC reported that in some situations, extreme heat may cause the e-cig to burst.  In other cases, the explosion was attributed to the user’s modification of the vaporizer.  A confidential source confided that most e-cigs use a battery to heat oil or oil-like liquid, contained in a vile which sits on top of a coil.  When the user activates the e-cig and inhales, the battery heats the oil and produces vapor for the user to inhale.  However, the injured Cook County Plainitffs allege that there were problems with the lithium ion batteries contained within these e-cigs.  Their theory of liability is that the homes on the coil were allegedly incorrectly calibrated, and that is what caused the battery to explode.  One injured Plaintiff in Cook County alleged that an e-cig blew up in his mouth, causing serious burns/damage to his teeth, mouth and throat. Another injured Plaintiff alleged that an e-cig exploded in his pocket, and as he tried to remove it from his pants he suffered burns to his leg, genitals, and hand.

This article is not meant to deter any users from using e-cigs, however, we encourage you to first become educated on the product and your specific manufacturer and retailer before you indulge. The law firm of Goldstein Bender & Romanoff has represented injured Plaintiffs for over 60 years. If you or anyone you know is injured as a result of an exploding electronic cigarette, or as a result of any defective product for that matter, give us a call for a free consultation.

— David H. Latarski

References:

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/what-s-causing-some-e-cigarette-batteries-explode-n533516

https://info-electronic-cigarette.com/e-cigarette-explosions-an-in-depth-investigation/