A Florida man has filed a personal injury lawsuit over injuries suffered when his electronic cigarette exploded, burning his mouth, face, throat, and lungs.
According to court documents, Evan Spahlinger purchased an electronic cigarette at a Naples, Florida retail location in July of 2015 – a product of San Diego-based manufacturer VapeAMP. Roughly three months later, the cigarette exploded in his face, causing Spahlinger to inhale scorching hot air, smoke, and flames.
As a result of the explosion, Spahlinger was rushed to the burns unit at Kendall Regional Medical Center, where he was placed in a medically-induced coma to combat extensive damage from internal burns.
The lawsuit further alleges that Spahlinger requires constant care to deal with the severity of his permanent injuries.
Each year, people across the United States are injured or lose their life due to accidents stemming from defective products. When these accidents occur, victims may require the assistance of personal injury attorneys in order to pursue compensation or other damages.
Personal Injury From Defective Products
When consumers purchase a product, they have a reasonable expectation that the product in question is, above all, safe to use. Though millions turn to e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, there are a number of other risks associated with adapting the habit as well.
In fact, concerns over fire safety, including the risk of explosion, have lead to increased examination by the U.S. Fire Administration, which examines e-cigarette related incidents.
Typically, these types of accidents involve some sort of defective product. And while a product may be defective for a number of reasons, personal injury claims classify defects in three categories – design, manufacturing and marketing.
At its center, defective product liability is about negligence. Filing a claim means you will have to prove that the defendant’s negligent behavior directly resulted in the loss or injury in question. Additionally, you may have a defective product liability claim if the product does not live up to the warrantee, or safety guarantees of the manufacturer.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
If you or someone you love has been injured due to product defect, such as an e-cigarette or related smoking device, it is important that you contact a qualified personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Only an attorney specializing in accidents, injuries, and liability can examine your situation and recommend a course for the recovery of any owed damages.
Throughout Las Vegas, the personal injury attorneys at Bertoldo, Baker, Carter and Smith represent victims of personal injury incidents, including defective product liability. Taking on product manufacturers and marketers is no easy feat, and we understand that. That’s why our firm is committed to serving clients with the highest degree of professionalism, expertise, and compassion. Let us help secure a brighter future for you as you continue on the road to recovery.