First Confirmed Vape Pen Death

A vape pen has been confirmed as the cause of death in a recent and tragic accident where a 38-year-old man was fatally injured when the product he was using exploded. Not only did it inflict fatal wounds, but it also initiated a house fire. This is not the first time vape pens have been implicated as hazardous products: in the past few years, many people have sustained debilitating burn injuries as well as cuts and lacerations from them.

What are Vape Pens?

Vape pens – also known as “e-cigs” or e-cigarettes – are typically handheld, reusable, and rechargeable vaporizing products that consumers can use to inhale smokeless nicotine. Vape pens are usually battery-powered and contain internal heating coils. Although some people like them, many others warn against them for masquerading as “safe” alternatives to conventional tobacco products.

Vape pens are popular among both teens and adults, and are now a multi billion-dollar industry in the U.S. Because vape pens only became a part of the consumer market in recent years, the full scope of what medical and health consequences they have the ability to cause is not yet fully understood.

Consumer Injuries from Vape Pens

A quick Google search of the phrase “injuries from vape pens” brings up an array of horror stories associated with these dangerous products. Teens and adults across the country have sustained burns, lacerating injuries, and many other types of injuries while vaping. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 2.5 million Americans are estimated to use e-cigarettes.

Categorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as noncombustible tobacco products, The FDA mandates that vape pen manufacturers follow the same regulations as tobacco product manufacturers. The obvious problem however, is that consumers keep getting hurt – and now a vape pen is to blame in a fatal case.

The CDC reports that e-cigs can inflict injuries on unsuspecting consumers in a variety of ways, like:

• Injuries associated with explosions and/or overheating (the agency says these are most likely to occur when a unit is being charged);
• Causing acute nicotine poisoning, which can occur from touching, breathing in, and/or swallowing e-cigarette liquid, and:
• Exposure to thousands of chemicals that are also found in the smoke of traditional tobacco products, like cigarettes

Although it is important to report all defective or unsafe vape pens to the FDA, if you or a loved one sustained injuries from one the manufacturer may be liable. When an individual is unexpectedly injured because of product malfunctions or there is a design defect, lost time from work and medical expenses can add up quickly. Legal recoveries for victims can help cover these expenses and provide some peace of mind for the future.

It is critical that agencies continue to investigate the safety and long-term effects of vape pen use, but no individual should suffer from preventable injuries because of negligent product manufacturing. If you have questions or concerns about an injury associated with an e-cigarette that you experienced, please contact a representative at our firm directly.

Philadelphia Products Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP Represent Individuals Injured by Dangerous Products

If you sustained injuries because of a defective or dangerous product, please contact the Philadelphia products liability attorneys at Galfand Berger. With offices located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To schedule a consultation, call us at 800-222-8792 or complete our online contact form.