A growing number of lawsuits have been filed against Apple by angry consumers who say their iPhone battery exploded or caught on fire. Some lawsuits ended in confidential settlements within a few months.
Need a Texas iPhone Fire Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was injured or burned by an iPhone battery fire or explosion, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
What Happens When an iPhone Explodes?
An exploding iPhone is extremely dangerous and happens fast. Just watch this video of an iPhone 6 fire during a routine battery repair:
Texas Man Files iPhone Battery Fire Class Action Lawsuit
In June 2022, a judge allowed a class action lawsuit to proceed against Apple for iPhone 6 battery explosions and fires.
The lawsuit was originally filed by Robert F., a man from Texas who claims that his iPhone 6 exploded into flames. The incident allegedly occurred in August 2019, when he was listening to music on his iPhone. He picked up his phone when the songs began to skip, and without warning it exploded in his face.
According to the lawsuit, he fell onto the ground and “immediately felt a burning pain in his eyes and right wrist. … [He] suffered injuries to his eyes and wrist as a result of this incident.” He continues to suffer from pain due to these injuries.
His iPhone Fire Lawsuit was filed against Apple Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Sherman Division) — Case Number 4:21-cv-00354-ALM.
Settlements in iPhone Battery Fire Lawsuits
Apple has used settlements to quietly end several other lawsuits involving iPhone 6 battery fires. Here are just two examples in recent years:
- In December 2018, Apple reached a settlement in an iPhone battery fire lawsuit in South Carolina. The case involved a man who was severely burned when his iPhone 6 battery exploded.
- In October 2020, Apple agreed to a settlement with man from Pennsylvania whose iPhone 6 battery exploded into flames in his pocket, causing him to suffer painful 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns and permanent scarring.
What Happens When an iPhone Battery Explodes?
iPhones are powered by lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are small, lightweight, and recharge quickly, making them ideal for handheld devices. The tradeoff is that the batteries are extremely flammable and fragile.
Inside every lithium-ion battery is a highly-flammable liquid. If the battery overheats, short-circuits, is crushed or punctured, it can catch on fire and explode like a small bomb.
Lithium-ion battery fires are extremely dangerous. The burning chemicals and lithium metal is very hot — over 2,000ºC (or 3,632ºF) — which can immediately cause severe 3rd-degree burns and permanent scarring.
Toxic gases and smoke are another risk of iPhone battery fires. Breathing the smoke may be even more dangerous than the heat and flames, especially if the fire occurs in a confined space, such an airplane or vehicle.
Why Do iPhone Batteries Catch on Fire?
- Thermal runaway
- External heat (over-heating)
- Physical damage
- Over-charging
- Using low-quality accessories
- Electrical short-circuit
- Manufacturing errors
Using Low-Quality Accessories Poses a Fire Hazard
iPhones sometimes catch on fire when people use low-quality accessories. Because the official Apple products are so expensive, many people buy 3rd-party knockoff products like USB charging cables or wall power adaptors.
This can “backfire” when a poorly-made knockoff causes the iPhone to over-charge and the battery overheats and explodes. It is extremely dangerous when an iPhone overheats in the middle of the night, or near a person who is sleeping in bed.
Can I Join a Class Action?
The Clark Firm, LLP is nationally recognized as a class action law firm in Texas. We are filing individual lawsuits for people who were injured or burned when their iPhone battery exploded or caught on fire.
If you decide to file a lawsuit or join a class action, we may be able to help you seek financial compensation for your pain and suffering, long-term injuries, lost income, property damage, and more.
Need an iPhone Fire Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.