Lithium Battery Explosions Are Often Unpredictable

Over the last several months, we’ve all heard scary reports about lithium ion battery explosions involving a wide array of gadgets from e-cigarettes and smartphones to hoverboards. According to an ABC7 news report investigation, the even more frightening fact about these batteries is that no one can really predict which one of these batteries can blow up. The batteries can overheat and burst into flames. Experts say they are like “mini-fuel tanks” that can pack a powerful punch. The fuel tank is the lithium ion battery.

Several Gadgets Use These Batteries

The batteries are powering more and more of our gadgets from laptops to smoke detectors. You might not realize it, but lithium-ion batteries can be found even in those nifty greeting cards that sing songs when you open them. The tiny batteries have been blamed for devastating incidents.

For example, a 14-year-old girl in Pleasanton who opened up an app in her brand new iPhone said the battery exploded and burned a deep hole in her hand. The phone was blown apart, once again by the lithium battery. There have been numerous cases where e-cigarettes have blown up in people’s faces and pockets causing devastating injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration documented 25 battery meltdowns, or blowups, on planes and airports since January. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has more cases involving iPhones, laptops, flashlights.

Is Prevention Possible?

Experts say currently there is no real alternative to the lithium battery that can be as efficient and effective. Researchers have yet to come up with a safer battery. But, the distressing fact is that there are no real safeguards for consumers and no preventive steps they can take to avoid getting in danger. And that is because there is no real way to predict which of these batteries or gadgets is going to blow up or catch fire.

What can we do as consumers? If you have been injured by one of these batteries, you can file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer and/or retailer, distributor, etc. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages they may have suffered including all medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, surgery, permanent injuries such as scarring or disfigurement and pain and suffering. These incidents will not stop until strong measures are taken to ensure the quality and reliability of these batteries and devices.