E-cigarettes and vape pens are everywhere. These smoking products are all over the news, and seemingly everyone loves their ease-of-use and reliability – especially teenagers. While many enjoy these e-smoking devices, they are still nicotine products and are addictive and hazardous to the health of those who use them. These hazards are especially true should these devises malfunction and explode. Here is everything you need to know about exploding vape pens and who’s to blame.
How Often do Vape Pen Explode?
While exploding vape pens aren’t common when they do blow up the results can be catastrophic. Take, for example, the case of a Florida man, Tallmadge D’Elia, who died when his vape pen exploded and sent pieces of the pen into his skull. He also suffered horrific burns over three-quarters of his body.
What Causes Exploding Vape Pens?
Data from the U.S. Fire Administration shows that roughly 80 percent of all vape pen explosions happen when charging the devices. The remaining incidents occurred when the vapes were either in the hand, mouth or pockets of users.
The leading causes of exploding vapes are product malfunction, using the wrong charging dock, or defective lithium-ion batteries. Other common reasons for explosions are flaws in the manufacturing, inferior-quality materials used in production, poor production techniques, overheating batteries, or improper handling or usage.
The Most Common Injuries in Exploding Vape Pen Accidents
Some of the most common injuries associated with exploding vape pens include:
- Severe burns
- Scarring
- Bruising
- Cuts or lacerations
- Permanent Disfigurement
Also, exploding vape pens may leave severe emotional damage which may require therapy or counseling services.
Vape Pen Explosion Liability
In New Jersey, victims of exploding vape pens may be able to hold the retailers and manufacturers of these products liable if the product can be proven defective. If a vape pen was poorly designed or built with inferior parts, an injured person may be able to sue the product manufacturer for negligence. Even if the pen was designed and manufactured correctly, you may still be able to seek compensation if the product injured you.
If you are the victim of an exploding e-cigarette or vape pen, here are the steps you need to take as soon as possible:
- Save the defective vape pen.
- Make sure not to use the defective pen again.
- Keep the defective product protected from the elements and weather.
- If another person has the vape in question, tell them to hold on to the product.
- Save all documentation which can help identify the vape pen and where it came from.
- Contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission and alert them of the defect and see if the vape pen had previously been recalled.
- Call an experienced New Jersey product defect and personal injury attorney.
Contact an Experience Product Liability Lawyer Today
Exploding vape pens are no joke. If you have been injured as a result of an exploding e-cigarette or vaping device, call the Law Offices of James C. Dezao. We have over a quarter of a century of experience in getting our clients the results they want – and deserve – after injuries caused by defective products. Call a member of our knowledgeable legal team today at (973) 358-6134 for a free consultation.