Who is Responsible When Lithium-ion Batteries Cause Fires and Explosions

Lithium-ion batteries are being used in many different products. These products include e-cigarettes, mobile phones (including iPhones), electric vehicles, toothbrushes, medical devices, laptops, and solar power systems. They’re popular because they’re rechargeable and have a high energy density. According to The Battery Tips, each lithium-ion battery “contains lithium-ion cells and a protective circuit board. Lithium-ion batteries are known for their high efficiency, longevity, and ability to store a large amount of energy.”

Different types of lithium-ion batteries have different uses due to their energy levels, life spans, and other factors:

• Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP): These batteries are used in some electric vehicles.
• Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO): Smartphones and laptops often use these batteries.
• Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC): These batteries are used in scooters, e-bikes, and other “electric powertrain” products.
• Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA): Tesla and other “high-performance, high-load EV models” use these batteries.
• Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO): These batteries “are often paired with NMCs to help with a longer drive range.”
• Lithium Titanate (LTO): These “batteries are used for uninterrupted power backups like emergency solar energy storage.”

Vapes and e-cigarettes

Vapes or e-cigarettes are an electronic device that emits vapor when you draw on them. E-cigarettes are often used by people who want to cut back on smoking tobacco cigarettes but aren’t ready to quit altogether.

Many e-cigarettes and vape devices use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries due to their high energy density and the ability to provide the power necessary for vaporizing e-liquids. Lithium batteries are also used in e-cigarettes and vape devices because they’re lightweight and each charge lasts a long time.

The Battery Tips states that:

Lithium-ion batteries consist of three main components: the anode (usually made of graphite), the cathode (often composed of lithium metal oxides), and the electrolyte (which enables ion movement). The operation relies on the movement of lithium ions through the electrolyte during charging and discharging phases, enabling energy storage and release.

How do lithium-ion battery fires happen?

According to SafetyCulture, “lithium-ion battery fires occur when the battery overheats, becomes damaged, or experiences a short circuit, causing a chemical reaction known as thermal runaway that can lead to a sudden and unexpected fire or explosion.”

The US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) identifies the following causes of lithium-ion battery fires:

• Physical damage to the batteries or casing can cause short circuits.
• Overcharging or overheating due to excess voltage or excess heat can cause “thermal runaway.”
• Manufacturing defects (generally, design flaws or production flaws can cause internal failures).
• Improper handling or storage can “increase the risk of short circuits or thermal runaway.”
• Lithium-ion batteries can age, causing internal failures, which can cause fires.

Lithium-ion fires and explosions can cause serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths. These fires and explosions can also cause business losses and damage the environment.

Safety suggestions include telling users about safe handling, charging, and storage; regularly inspecting the batteries for signs of malfunction or wear and tear; and identifying other dangers.

The dangers of using lithium-ion batteries include:

• Chemical composition: Lithium-ion batteries contain volatile electrolytes, and when exposed to high temperatures or physical damage, they can release flammable gases.
• Ejection: Batteries can be ejected from a battery pack or casing during an incident, thereby spreading the fire or creating a cascading incident with secondary ignitions/fire origins.
• Risk of reignition: Even after extinguishing a lithium-ion battery fire, there is a risk of reignition.
• Thermal runaway: This is the chain reaction of uncontrolled heating that can lead to a fire or an .

What types of injuries can lithium-ion batteries cause

Generally, all products that use lithium-ion batteries have some risk of catching fire or exploding. When fires or explosions happen, the users can suffer many different types of catastrophic, permanent, or severe injuries, including the following:

• Burns of the face, lips, eyes, mouth, hands, and other parts of the body
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Fractures/broken bones
• Respiratory disorders
• Loss of vision
• Damage or loss of teeth
• Organ damage
• Death

We work with your doctors to understand the full scope and severity of your injuries, and how your injuries are affecting every part of your life.

Who is liable for lithium-ion battery injuries and fatalities?

You should save the batteries and the device that injured you, so the product safety experts we work with can examine these items for defects.

Our Tampa product liability injury lawyers file personal injury and death claims against everyone responsible for defective lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion battery products. The defendants may include the following:

• Manufacturers
• Distributors
• Retailers
• Designers

The basic requirements for filing a product liability claim are:

• Generally, you do not have to be the owner of the product, but you must be using it or an injured bystander
• The product must be defective
• The defect must cause your injuries

Batteries and the products they’re used in are defective if:

• The design is defective.
• The production or workmanship is defective.
• The product labeling and marketing fail to warn users of dangers, such as the danger of overcharging the lithium-ion battery.
• The product labeling and marketing are unclear, such as the need to use chargers that are specifically designed for lithium-ion batteries.

Additionally, product liability claims include showing that a manufacturer breached any express or implied warranties or that the manufacturer was negligent because they failed to comply with industry standards.

What damages can I receive for a lithium-ion battery fire or explosion?

We demand compensation for all your current and future damages. These damages include your medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, the inability to enjoy life’s pleasures, and other damages.

Contact our Tampa personal injury lawyers today

Call us today or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis.