Lawsuits have been filed by people who were injured by exploding lithium-ion batteries in cars, laptops, phones, e-cigarettes, hoverboards, and other electronic devices.
Need a Texas Lithium-Ion Battery Explosion 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 exploding lithium-ion battery, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
UPDATE: Apple iPhone Battery Fire Lawsuits
Apple is facing a growing number of lawsuits and class actions from angry consumers who were injured or burned when their iPhone battery exploded or caught on fire. Several of these lawsuits ended in confidential settlements within a few months of being filed.
What is a Lithium-Ion Battery?
The popularity of lithium-ion batteries has driven the consumer electronic revolution. Thesee lightweight, powerful, fast-charging batteries pack a lot of power into a small size, making it ideal for everything from jumbo jets to earbud headphones.
What is the Problem?
As consumers demand smaller electronic devices with longer-lasting batteries, engineers have struggled to fit lithium-ion batteries into tighter spaces. Unfortunately, this can create problems when tiny design flaws lead to catastrophic battery explosions and fires.
Examples of Products Recalled for Lithium-Ion Battery Fires & Explosions
- HALO 1000 Portable Power Banks
- IKEA Power Banks
- Verizon Ellipsis Jetpack Mobile Hotspots
- Phones (batteries and cases)
- Hoverboards (self-balancing scooters)
- Electric scooters
- Wireless headphones
- Laptops
- Vapes
- Power banks
- Electric vehicles (EVs)
- Solar panels
- Massage guns
- Electrostatic sprayers
- And more
Common Reasons Why Lithium-Ion Batteries Explode
- Short-circuit
- Overcharging or using incompatible charger
- Defective manufacturing
- Design flaws
- Physical damage (crush, puncture, etc.)
- Excessive heat
- Touching metal, keys, coins, etc.
Fire Hazards of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries have many advantages, but the biggest disadvantage is the risk of fires and explosions. Inside every battery is a highly-flammable liquid electrolyte chemical. When this chemical catches on fire, it explodes with temperatures up to 1000ºF and is nearly impossible to extinguish until the fuel in the battery burns out.
Short-Circuit Battery Fires
Short-circuits are a common reason why lithium-ion batteries overheat and explode. This electrical problem, also known as a “thermal runaway,” occurs when the battery overheats and boils the highly-flammable chemicals inside. The chemicals release gas, which breaks open the case. When the chemicals leak out of the broken case and hit a spark of electricity, the battery will suddenly explode into flames.
Electric Car Fires
Electric cars are powered by lithium-ion batteries that sometimes explode into flames after car accidents. Several lawsuits have been filed against Tesla on behalf of people who died in these tragic accidents.
Phone Battery Explosions
Phone battery explosions drew global attention in 2016, when over 1 million Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones were recalled due to a risk of the lithium-ion batteries overheating and catching on fire. Dozens of people were seriously burned when their Samsung phone exploded.
Since then, several lawsuits have been filed by people who were burned by other phones that exploded due to lithium-ion batteries. One lawsuit was filed by a man from Texas whose LG phone exploded and injured his hand, ending his basketball career.
Hoverboard Battery Explosions
In 2016 and 2017, over 500,000 hoverboards from several brand-names were recalled after dozens of reports of fires involving lithium-ion batteries. In one tragic case in Philadelphia, a charging hoverboard caught on fire and burned down a house, killing 2 children.
Headphone Battery Explosions
Most people don’t expect their headphones to explode, but that is exactly what happened in 2017 to an Australian woman who was severely burned on her face when her headphones exploded on an airplane.
Laptop Battery Explosions
Recalls have been issued for millions of lithium-ion laptop batteries sold by Apple, HP, Toshiba, Dell, and others. For example, in June 2019, Apple recalled the 15-inch MacBook Pro from 2015 because the battery could potentially overheat and explode.
E-Cigarette & Vape Battery Explosions
E-cigarettes and vapes are often powered by lithium-ion batteries. The problem is that when the batteries explode, it is often when a person is holding the device very close to their face or in their mouth. Several deaths and hundreds of severe injuries — many involving blindness or permanent scarring — have been linked to exploding vape batteries.
Power Bank Explosions
In January 2020, PCNA recalled about 5,000 power banks after a fire was reported due to the lithium-ion battery overheating and igniting. The power banks were given away for free at meetings and events nationwide from July 2019 to September 2019.
In October 2019, Michaels craft stores recalled approximately 14,000 tassel-keychain power banks after 2 reports of fires that occurred when the lithium-ion batteries overheated during charging. No injuries were reported. They were sold at Michaels stores nationwide between March 2018 and August 2019.
Need a Lithium-Ion Battery Explosion 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.
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