“Vaping” has grown significantly in popularity in recent years, and it is often seen as a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. However, as more and more people have begun using electronic cigarettes (commonly known as e-cigarettes or vape pens), a large number of people have reported serious injuries from devices that explode or catch fire.

Exploding e-cigarettes can be incredibly dangerous, especially when these incidents occur near someone’s face. For example, in one recent case, a Nevada teen’s jaw was shattered and several of his teeth were knocked out when his device exploded in his mouth. In another case, a Florida man was killed when a vape pen exploded and sent shrapnel into his brain. Those who are injured by dangerous e-cigarettes should work with a personal injury attorney to determine their options for pursuing compensation.

What Causes E-Cigarette Explosions?

E-cigarettes use high-powered lithium-ion batteries to vaporize a liquid, and these batteries are often unstable, leading them to overheat, catch on fire, or explode. Some of the causes of these incidents include:

Parents often assume that the products intended for use by their children are safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and there are many situations in which companies put profits ahead of consumer safety and release defective or dangerous products to the market. This was demonstrated recently when news stories broke about a jogging stroller that had caused injuries to parents and children.

Injuries When Using the Britax BOB Jogging Stroller

The BOB jogging stroller produced by Britax is intended to keep children safe and secure when parents are using it to run on sidewalks, streets, or even dirt paths. This three-wheeled stroller, which typically costs between $400 and $600, appears to be rugged and sturdy. However, hundreds of reports were sent to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) between 2012 and 2018 stating that the front wheel of the stroller could suddenly become detached. When moving at high speeds, the strollers could then flip over, causing serious or life-threatening injuries to both children and parents. Some of the reported injuries included broken bones and teeth, torn ligaments, and severe lacerations.

In 2017, the CPSC requested that Britax voluntarily recall these strollers, but the company refused to do so. Even though the quick-release lever used to secure the wheels to the strollers was prone to cause these wheels to detach, the company claimed that the product was completely safe when used correctly because it had passed all safety tests. While the company ultimately took steps to address the issue in later models of the stroller and put out information intended to help owners use the strollers safely, there are still nearly 500,000 strollers which may be unsafe in American homes.

After two separate aviation accidents involving Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes within the past six months, the plane’s manufacturer is under a great deal of scrutiny. A Lion Air plane crashed in Indonesia on October 29, 2018, and an Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed outside of Addis Ababa on March 10, 2019, with the two crashes resulting in the deaths of 346 people. Investigations have found that faulty sensors and software may be to blame for these disasters, which opens up the possibility that the families of these plane crash victims may be able to pursue product liability lawsuits against Chicago-based Boeing.

Faulty Flight Control Systems

Investigators into both crashes have noted that there are “striking similarities” between the two incidents. In both cases, it appears that a flight control system called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which was meant to prevent mid-air stalls, caused the pilots to lose control of the planes. The MCAS had automatically acted to force the planes’ noses down in response to incorrect readings from the planes’ angle-of-attack (AOA) sensors, and pilots had not been properly trained in how to disengage this system. Experts believe that the combination of faulty data, automated systems, and lack of pilot training proved to be deadly in these cases, and in order to avoid similar crashes, countries around the world have grounded all 737 MAX planes.

Many people are questioning how such a system could have been put in place and how it could have passed the certification process by the FAA. Typically, planes have redundant systems in place to ensure that if one component fails, others will be able to ensure that the aircraft can be operated safely. However, the Boeing 737 MAX appears to have been designed with a single point of failure, and the reliance on sensors that were providing faulty readings likely was a major factor in these disasters.

Recently, reports that Johnson & Johnson baby powder may contain asbestos have alarmed people throughout the United States. This product has been a staple of many families for decades, and the potential dangers that it may pose has led many to worry about their safety. In March of 2019, a woman in California won a major victory against the company when a jury awarded her $29 million because she contracted mesothelioma that she claimed was caused by her use of J&J’s products.

Johnson & Johnson is currently facing around 13,000 lawsuits involving injuries allegedly caused by their baby powder. In another recent case, 22 women in Missouri were awarded $4.69 billion from J&J because they contracted ovarian cancer. Those who have experienced injuries or illnesses that may have been caused by asbestos in baby powder should be sure to understand their options for pursuing compensation through a product liability lawsuit.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Baby powder is composed of talc, and depending on where this talc is mined, it may potentially contain asbestos fibers. When baby powder is applied, any asbestos in the product is likely to become airborne, and it may be inhaled. The inhalation of asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a form of cancer that attacks the chest cavity.

On March 10, 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed, leading to the deaths of 157 people. This was the second major airline disaster in recent months involving a Boeing 737 MAX plane, and in response, countries around the world have ordered these planes to be grounded. Those who have been affected by these incidents or who have been injured while traveling on a plane should understand their options for pursuing compensation through a product liability lawsuit.

Legal Issues Involved in Aviation Accidents

The cause of the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash has not yet been determined. However, the fact that it occurred so soon after another Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Lion Air crashed in Indonesia in October 2018 indicates that these planes may have dangerous defects that threaten the safety of passengers. That crash is also still being investigated, but it may have been caused by a faulty sensor that affected pilots’ ability to control the plane.

In response to this potential danger, multiple countries, including China, Britain, Germany, France, and Australia have chosen to temporarily ground all Boeing 737 Max 8 planes. This is not the first time in recent history that Boeing planes have faced safety issues; in 2013, airlines grounded Boeing 787 Dreamliners because of an issue with lithium batteries.