Lithium-Ion Battery Explosions Can Cause More Than Burn Injuries

Lithium-ion batteries are used in mobile phones, laptops, e-cigarettes, power tools, and cars. If one of these batteries is damaged, it can catch fire and cause extensive burn injuries. Nevertheless, according to scientific studies, burns are not the only threat coming from such accidents. A lithium-ion battery explosion may launch shrapnel far enough into the patient’s body to cause traumatic injuries.

A case report in Trauma Case Reports describes one such incident. In their article, scientists reported a patient who suffered a severe hand injury due to the explosion of her mobile lithium-ion battery.

A battery explosion can cause serious hand injuries 

As noted in the report, a healthy 45-year-old woman had come to the hospital seeking medical attention from an incident that occurred four hours prior. In this case, a lithium-ion battery exploded in her left hand. A hammer struck the battery before it exploded.

Although medical practitioners had noticed that she had injuries to her index finger initially, further diagnosis indicated that there were some serious issues. Foreign material was found to have pierced from the tip of her finger towards its proximal part. It was discovered that the explosion resulted in a high-pressure injection injury where foreign bodies had entered her body tissues through small holes.

She had surgery the next day. They found that black material was deposited in the nerves, arteries, and veins. Removal of the foreign material and irrigation of the finger were done as well. The wound had healed after about one month.

Why lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous 

One of the most important features of lithium-ion batteries is that they’re small but can pack a whole lot of energy. On the other hand, these batteries are extremely hazardous if they malfunction.

In particular, the battery can ignite in a number of scenarios. These include short circuits and thermal runaway. If the problem is thermal runaway, self-heating can raise temperatures to as high as 500 degrees Celsius or 932 degrees Fahrenheit.

An explosion can expose a consumer to multiple threats. Besides burning, there is also the risk of ejection from a battery or device. This can pose multiple dangers, ranging from lacerations to nerve damage and others.

Lithium-ion battery injuries can lead to product liability claims 

Not all accidents involving lithium-ion batteries result in a product liability case. For instance, the battery used in the case study blew up after an accidental hammer strike. In some cases, batteries explode or ignite during use, transport, charging, or storage. The authors noted that most earlier mobile battery explosion cases occurred while devices were charging.

When a battery catches fire or explodes unexpectedly, understanding why the product malfunctioned is of the utmost importance. Possible causes include manufacturing defects in the battery, problems with the charger, the battery management system, insufficient warning labels, and more.

Injured people involved in lithium-ion battery explosions should save the battery and the device, along with any other necessary documents, if possible. A product liability lawyer experienced with this type of lawsuit will work with other experts to determine why the product failed.

Talk to a Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Attorney Today 

Halpern, Santos & Pinkert represent the interests of individuals who have been injured due to defective lithium-ion batteries. Call our Florida personal injury lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin investigating your case right away.

Source:

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8591351/