Vaping devices and e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular, especially among teens and young adults. However, these devices can cause catastrophic injuries and deaths. Some of the problems arise from defects in the design of the product, batteries used in the products, or the potential harm to a person’s health. Below are three potentially harmful and deadly issues with e-cigarettes that might require the assistance of a California personal injury or wrongful death lawyer if an injury occurs.
1. Problems with the lithium-ion batteries used in vaping devices.
There is a new craze making its way into high schools across the nation, the Juul e-cigarette. This outbreak has been covered by Newsweek and various other media outlets. The Juul is an e-cigarette that looks like a flash drive. The device vaporizes nicotine, and other chemicals and flavorings that gives you the feel of smoking a cigarette, without the harm of smoking a cigarette. Well, that was the plan at least. As it turns out, inhaling any kind of smoke or vapor (that is derived from chemicals) is not too great for your lungs..
Q: Who is responsible for my e-cigarette injuries?
You are probably aware of the wildly popular e-cigarette- a mechanical, copy-cat cigarette-style device originally marketed to help smokers kick the nicotine habit. E-cigarettes mimic the smoking experience as users inhale a fluid-based vapor from the plastic or metal device shaped like a cigarette.
In order to produce the “smoky” vapor, e-cigarettes use a lithium ion battery and heating element to bring the fluid to vaporization. The problem is, the batteries can overheat causing a chain reaction that leads to an explosion–sending pieces of shrapnel into the faces,