Lithium-Ion Battery Fires: Understanding The Risks And Your Legal Rights After An Injury
Lithium-ion batteries power a great number of our devices due to the fact that they can be easily recharged, making them ideal for phones, tablets, and more. Unfortunately, there is an ever-growing body of evidence that devices that use lithium-ion technology can explode and catch fire, causing serious bodily injury, as well as major property damage.
As people become more and more dependent on lithium-ion-operated gadgets, knowledge about the risks involved becomes crucial. If the device malfunctions, you can face serious burns and other injuries.
What are lithium-ion batteries?
Basically, lithium-ion batteries are energy storage devices used to power electronic gadgets. They are capable of storing a lot of energy in a small space due to their compactness and efficiency. Compared with other kinds of batteries, lithium-ion batteries have some reactive materials inside. In this regard, lithium-ion batteries are safe to use when manufactured according to specifications, but any mistake can result in dangerous situations like fires or explosions.
What causes lithium-ion battery fires?
One common cause of lithium-ion battery fires is called thermal runaway. In describing how thermal runaway occurs in lithium-ion batteries, several experts state that when a lithium battery is too hot, it may trigger a chain reaction that increases the heat even more quickly.
Some possible reasons for thermal runaway in a lithium-ion battery include:
- Manufacturing defects
- Internal short-circuiting
- Charging the battery beyond its capacity
- Dropping or damaging the battery physically
- Temperature extremes
- Using incorrect or incompatible chargers
- Faulty battery cell
- Faulty repairs
Often, consumers do not know anything about the battery failure until it happens.
Products commonly associated with lithium-ion battery fires
While lithium-ion batteries are present in numerous consumer devices, certain gadgets tend to be responsible for an unusually large number of fire-related accidents. These include:
- Electric bikes
- Electric scooters
- Mobile phones
- Laptop computers
- E-cigarettes
- Power tools
- Hoverboards
- Automobiles
Recent concerns over fatal cases of battery accidents have led to increased focus on e-bikes and scooters because of their size, charging requirements, and aftermarket components.
Why are lithium-ion batteries so dangerous?
Unlike common fires, which are relatively easy to control, lithium-ion fires can be challenging to extinguish due to the heat generated internally within the batteries.
The process by which lithium-ion fires start plays a critical role in understanding how such incidents can become uncontrollable so quickly. During thermal runaway, temperatures can rise within seconds, resulting in intense flames, hazardous fumes, and blasts.
Such fires spread very quickly inside residential houses, flats, garages, and even commercial buildings, putting people’s lives at risk.
Common injuries caused by lithium-ion battery explosions
Fire from lithium-ion batteries leaves victims with serious and debilitating injuries, such as:
- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns
- Facial burns
- Burns to the eyes
- Smoke inhalation
- Respiratory damage
- Blast injuries
- Scarring
- Mental trauma
Victims of burn injuries may need immediate medical care, hospitalization, skin grafting, reconstructive surgery, and physical therapy. In extreme cases, fires caused by lithium-ion batteries could lead to wrongful deaths.
Talk to a Lithium-Ion Battery Injury Attorney Today
Halpern, Santos & Pinkert represent the interests of individuals who have sustained burn injuries in a lithium-ion battery fire. Call our Florida personal injury lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin investigating your case right away.
