Lawyers for Victims of Battery Explosions and Fires
Lithium-ion batteries are used in a countless number of products. Unfortunately, certain conditions and defects can cause these batteries to explode, leading to devastating injuries. The product liability lawyers at Parker Waichman LLP represent victims of exploding batteries and the damage they cause, and we can help you get compensation if you’ve been harmed by a dangerous battery defect. Call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER today for a free case evaluation.
What Is a Lithium Battery?
A lithium-ion battery is different from something like a typical AA or AAA battery because it’s rechargeable and often built directly into the device that it’s powering. Many manufacturers favor lithium batteries because of their long life. Laptops and phones use these batteries because of the large amount of power that can contained in a small battery.
Can Lithium Batteries Explode?
Yes, lithium batteries can explode. While they are efficient power storage devices, many aspects of their design make them potentially dangerous.
Why Do Batteries Explode?
These batteries contain two types of electrodes: the cathode and the anode. A thermoplastic substance called polypropylene separates the cathode from the anode. However, as we’ve made devices smaller, this protective layer has shrunk, too. If the cathode and anode accidentally touch, this can ignite flammable liquid inside the battery. When this happens, the battery’s temperature increases and intense pressure builds up, which causes the battery to explode.
Batteries aren’t designed to explode, so when they do, a battery defect is usually to blame. Design or manufacturing errors can leave the battery without proper ventilation or with jagged pieces that damage the polypropylene shield. Poorly made chargers can also cause batteries to overheat, and dropping a device can cause pressure in the battery, leading to an explosion. There is also some concern that lithium batteries explode on plane trips because of the change in air pressure.
How Hot Can a Battery Get Before It Explodes?
When the cathode and anode touch, the inside of a battery can reach more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, the flammable materials inside can ignite or explode, causing severe burns, fires, and other injuries.
What Products Contain Lithium Batteries and Explode?
From vape injuries to explosive battery car accident cases, lithium-ion batteries have caused injuries in a multitude of products and devices. These batteries are so commonly used that they can be found in many items people use every day, including:
- Cameras
- Laptops
- Smartphones
- Electric cars
- Electric bikes
- GPS systems
- Electric wheelchairs
- Vapes
- Bluetooth speakers
- Hoverboards
Vape accidents are of special concern because of the frequency of battery explosions. From 2015 to 2017, more than 2,000 people visited the emergency room due to burns and other injuries related to exploding vape pen batteries.
Tesla has also come under scrutiny over the safety of their batteries after reports of explosions and even tragic deaths in Indianapolis.
What to Do if a Lithium Ion Battery Explodes
A lithium-ion battery fire can be doused with water. You can also use a Class D fire extinguisher on device. Once the fire is extinguished, place the battery outside, as further cells within the battery can catch fire as chemical reactions continue. If you have been injured or the fire is at risk of spreading, contact emergency services for help. After that, you can consider contacting our lawyers for a free consultation on a potential battery defect case. Make sure to keep the remains of the battery as evidence, sealed away safely.
I Was Injured by a Battery Defect: Can I Sue?
If you’ve been injured by a defective battery, contact Parker Waichman as soon as possible, as you may be able to get compensation by filing a product defect lawsuit. We’ll examine your case for free and help you determine whether you should take legal action against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of your defective battery.
Contact Parker Waichman’s Defective Battery Attorneys Today
The experienced product defect attorneys at Parker Waichman are well-equipped to handle cases related to lithium battery accidents. Whether you were injured by a vape accident, an exploding battery in a phone, or a defective battery in a scooter or wheelchair, contact us today: We’ll help you determine who is responsible for the damages you’ve suffered and hold them accountable.
We all have the right to safely use battery-powered devices and to trust that defective batteries will be kept out of the hands of consumers. When this doesn’t happen, consumers suffer, and we’re here to help them seek justice. Call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER today for your free case evaluation.
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Lithium-Ion Battery Accident News
CPSC Warns E-cigarette Lithium-ion 18650 Cells Present a Serious Fire Risk USA - According to a safety news report posted on mybigplunge.com, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a new safety warning concerning 18650 cells used in electronics such as vapes, e-cigarettes, flashlight lights, and toys. The CPSC warns that 18650 cells pose a significant… Read more...
SEATTLE, Wash. — Apple publicized warnings about older 15-inch MacBook Pro laptop computers with retina display because the computer catches fire or burn the user because of a battery malfunction. According to a story published in Consumer Reports on June 20, 2019, Apple sold the faulty computers between September 2015 and February of 2017. The announcement… Read more...
Small Batteries Present Serious Dangers To Children. We have been advocating stronger safety regarding a vast variety of consumer products; however, few issues are more important than the safety of our children, who are often the most seriously at risk. One of the hidden dangers in many consumer products are those small button batteries found in… Read more...
CPSC Warned Consumers About Remote Control Helicopters. Just in time for the holiday shopping season, consumers are being warned about another dangerous toy. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), remote control helicopters powered by lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries may pose a fire and burn hazard. Because technological advances have made toy remote control helicopters… Read more...
CPSC Issued Recalls Over Burn Hazards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued two releases announcing recalls over products that pose burn hazards. Approximately 1,700 DiNotte Lighting Lithium-Ion Batteries used with bicycle lights have been recalled by DiNotte Lighting due to a burn hazard. AA Portable Power Corporation of Richmond, California is the manufacturer and… Read more...
Sony Recall Lithium-Ion Batteries. Sony is recalling more lithium-ion batteries used in Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Dell laptop computers because they pose a fire hazard. According to the company, the batteries can overheat and cause a fire. The Sony recall includes 35,000 lithium-ion batteries in the United States and, and an addition 65,000 worldwide. According to the… Read more...
CPSC Announced Recalls Of Toy Helicopter. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in collaboration with two firms, has announced two voluntary product recalls. One recall is for a battery-operated helicopter and the other is for propane-fueled flame weeders. Both recalls have been initiated over fire hazards. Reports of problems have been received in both cases. Hobbico… Read more...
CPSC Recall Announced Of Lithium Batteries. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Hobby-Lobby International, Inc., today announced a voluntary recall of lithium-polymer battery chargers and lithium-polymer batteries sold with the AT600 Falcon Helicopter kit due to fire hazard. According to the CPSC, about 3,200 of the lithium-polymer battery chargers and lithium-polymer batteries,… Read more...
Belkin Corp. Announced The Recall Of Li-Polymer Battery Packs. The CPSC, in cooperation with Belkin Corporation of Comptom, California, announced the product safety recall of approximately 10,300 Li-Polymer battery packs sold with Bluetooth™ Global Positioning System (GPS) Navigation System manufactured in China. Customers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed. The battery can overheat,… Read more...
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