If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a faulty battery explosion and/or fire, the experienced lithium-ion battery explosion attorneys of Bisnar Chase can help you fight for compensation and justice for your losses.
Our product defect attorneys have the knowledge, experience, and resources to pursue your case and hold the manufacturer of the defective product accountable for putting a dangerous item on the market.
We understand the serious repercussions a burn injury or an explosion-related injury can have, not only on the victims but also their families. Call us at (800) 561-4887 to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.
What are Lithium-Ion Batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries are cells that power all the important electric devices we use today including but not limited to laptop computers, cellphones, tablets, and devices such as electronic cigarettes and even hoverboards. Lithium-ion batteries are a little different from the AA batteries that we use to power television remotes and other appliances.
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable and are often directly built into the devices. They also rely on lithium as their primary fuel. They are the batteries of choice for devices such as laptops and cell phones because they store energy super efficiently, which means they do not lose their charge quickly. You get more battery power compared to older technologies and often two to four times the voltage.
How Do Lithium Batteries Work?
Like any other battery, lithium-ion batteries work by storing energy and releasing it through controlled chemical reactions. The battery has two electrodes – locations where electricity can enter or exit the battery. One of the electrodes, the anode, is filled with negatively charged ions while the other (the cathode) consists of positively charged ions and lithium.
When the battery is in use, the lithium moves from the cathode to the anode, and when the battery is in charge, the lithium moves back over to the cathode. There is a separator inside that prevents the anode and cathode from touching. That’s because, when they do touch, they could trigger explosions and fires.
Why Do These Batteries Explode?
One of the most common reasons why lithium-ion batteries can explode is because of manufacturing defects that could pose problems during or after charging. Overheating can also cause explosions, which is why your phone gives you a warning when your phone is too hot and needs to cool down.
Shoddy manufacturing is a common reason. If unwanted materials such as scraps of metal accidentally end up inside the battery when it’s being made, they can short a cell of the battery and cause an explosion. Using substandard parts could also pose this danger.
Common Injuries Caused by Lithium Explosions
It is a fact that we keep our devices close by. We keep our cell phones in our pockets. We hold our laptops close to our bodies. E-cigarettes, when in use, are close to the face. Given the proximity of the batteries to our bodies, there is often the chance for serious bodily injury from a lithium-ion fire or explosion.
According to the U.S. National Fire Protection Association, there were 15 separate e-cigarette fire incidents in 2015. E-cigarettes have been reported to behave like “flaming rockets” when a lithium battery malfunctions.
Physicians in trauma and burn units across the country are seeing an increase in lithium-ion battery injuries. The flame burn and tissue blast injuries from an e-cigarette, for example, could affect the face and hands. Sometimes they could even result in life-changing injuries, such as a loss of eyesight. When cell phones or e-cigarettes explode in pockets, they could result in second-degree and third-degree burn injuries, which may require skin grafts, and result in significant pain, scarring, and disfigurement.
Liability Issues
When a lithium-ion battery malfunctions, there are a number of parties that could be held accountable for the injuries, damages, and losses caused including manufacturers, retailers, distributors, etc. An experienced product liability attorney will be able to identify the responsible parties and help hold them accountable for the victims’ losses.
Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. The worth or value of your claim will often depend on the nature and extent of your injuries and damages.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you have been injured by a lithium-ion battery explosion or fire involving a smartphone, e-cigarette, or some other device, it is critical to preserve the damaged product intact, so it can be examined for evidence of malfunctions and defects. Take photographs of the scene where the incident occurred, the damaged parts, and your injuries. Contact an experienced lithium-ion explosion lawyer who has successfully handled similar cases.
The personal injury law firm of Bisnar Chase works with engineers and experts to determine the root cause of battery failure and trace the defect back to the manufacturing or design process. We offer all our clients a no-win, no-fee guarantee, which means you don’t pay any fees or costs until we help secure compensation for your losses. Call us at (800) 561-4887 for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.
