A 27-year-old man was seriously injured when an e-cigarette battery exploded in his pants pocket in Westchester County on the morning of Jan. 28. According to a WABC news report, the victim, identified as Jacob Dudhnath, had just arrived at a job when the spare battery in his pocket burst into flames.
He told Eyewitness News that all he knew was he had a fire in his pants, and “it kept moving down.” He sad it kept getting hotter. Co-workers said his pants were on fire and had to be ripped off him.
One of his co-workers said there was about a 2-foot flame shooting out of his pants burning his whole leg from his hip below the knee. Dudhnath works for a plumbing and heating company and had just arrived at a home in Larchmont to begin some repair work. They were in the drive when the battery exploded leaving burn marks on the asphalt. Dudhnath was rushed to the hospital for treatment. He may require skin graft procedures, he told reporters.
E-Cigarette Explosions
Experts say 62 percent of e-cigarettes that explode do so while they are in use or carried in a pocket. There has been at least one fatality as a result such an explosion. Our e-cigarette explosion attorneys are representing individuals who have suffered similar burn injuries as a result of these lithium-ion batteries exploding in people’s pant pockets.
Exploding e-cigarettes can cause severe burns and injuries that require intensive and prolonged medical treatment, especially when they explode in users’ hands, pockets or mouths.
Using E-Cigarettes Correctly
Safety experts suggest the following safety measures if you use e-cigarettes:
- Charge these batteries only with the charger they come with.
- Don’t leave them charging overnight.
- If the batteries begin to get hot, discard them.
- It’s not a good idea to use them as they are charging.
- Don’t modify the products in any way.
- Do not use batteries if they are damaged, leaking or wet.
- Dispose of the batteries properly.
- Don’t leave the devices or the batteries plugged in once wholly charged. However, there have been some cases where e-cigarettes have exploded despite being appropriately used.
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://abc7ny.com/ny-man-severely-burned-when-e-cigarette-battery-explodes/5109805/
