E-Cig Explosions: Recent Developments
Although public health officials have raised doubts about the safety and effectiveness of the use of e-cigarettes as a means of cutting down or quitting smoking, many people have been turning to vaping as an alternative to cigarettes. In fact, e-cigs are used by millions of people around the world. It’s unknown if this trend will continue as reports continue to circulate regarding the risk of e-cig explosions.
Death of a Fort Worth, Texas man
On January 27, 2019 a Fort Worth, Texas man entered a local vape shop to ask for help using his e-cigarette. He didn’t receive the answers he was looking for, as the shop didn’t sell the particular type of e-cig that he was using. The man left the store, but he didn’t get very far. In the parking lot, his e-cig allegedly exploded. The vape pen tore through his left carotid artery, causing massive bleeding and a stroke.
He was rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma, where imaging studies revealed that the vape pen had lodged in his throat. He was later pronounced dead from “penetrating trauma.” He was using a mechanical mod vape pen, a device with a notoriously steep learning curve and a history of problems.
New York man suffers severe burns from vape pen
Also in January of 2019, an e-cigarette allegedly exploded and inflicted severe burn injuries on the left leg of a man in New York. The 27-year-old Westchester County resident had just arrived at his worksite when he felt sparks. A coworker noticed smoke emanating from his pants leg. The explosion burned through the pants pocket and down the leg, causing first-and second-degree burn injuries. He survived, but may require skin grafts.
Kansas man files lawsuit against vape shop
A Wichita, Kansas man filed a lawsuit on February 6, 2019 against Big E’s Vapor Shop after he allegedly sustained injuries from an exploding e-cig. The e-cig lawsuit alleges that he was carrying a lithium ion battery for his vape pen, along with car keys and coins in his pocket. The metal items caused a short when they came into contact with each other, causing an explosion. He suffered chemical and thermal burns to his leg and hands. The distributor, VapeUSA Corp., is also named as a defendant.
North Carolina father survived two e-cig explosions
A North Carolina man discovered the dangers of keeping e-cig batteries in his pocket when two of them exploded in June 2018. As he was driving home, the lithium-ion batteries allegedly suddenly burst into flames. In an interview with Today, He said, “It just exploded. One minute you’re pulling up in your driveway and the next minute your pants are like crazy on fire.”
After the first battery exploded, he jumped out of his car. Then, the second battery burst into flames. “It just burned right through my pants. The other one explodes, shrapnel in my face and everything, hits me right in the eye.” He suffered severe burns to his leg and required a skin graft surgery. Additionally, shrapnel hit him in the face, barely an inch away from his eye, which could have caused permanent vision loss.
It was determined that he was also carrying spare change in his pocket. The explosion allegedly happened as the battery came into contact with the coins.
Vigorous legal advocacy services for victims of e-cig explosions
The product liability lawyers at Chaffin Luhana are closely following the recent developments with e-cig explosions. We provide legal representation to victims from all around the U.S. When results matter most, you need legal services that you can rely on. Turn to the trusted team at Chaffin Luhana to discuss your legal rights and the possibility of filing an e-cig lawsuit.
Additional resources:
- FOX San Antonio, Electronic cigarette explosion injures Huntington man, https://foxsanantonio.com/news/nation-world/electronic-cigarette-explosion-injures-huntington-man
- KCCI, Fire official: Man suffers burns after e-cigarette explosion, https://www.kcci.com/article/fire-official-man-suffers-burns-after-e-cigarette-explosion/21971009