A Utah mother claims that one of her e-cigarettes exploded in her car, giving her 3-year-old son first and second degree burns, Fox News 8 reported.
Kinzie Barlow, of Mount Pleasant, Utah, said she had a White Rhino e-cigarette plugged into her car’s charger that exploded while she was driving, sending a hot copper coil flying across the car.
The coil landed in son Khonor’s car seat, causing it to light on fire, according to Barlow.
“He was screaming and saying, ‘Mom, get me! Get me,’ Barlow told Fox 8.
Barlow stopped the car and was able to extinguish the fire, but not in time to save her son from suffering burns.
Fire Marshall Lynn Schofield, of Provo, Utah, confirmed Barlow’s report. He said it’s the second time in Provo a fire has been caused by an electronic cigarette, but this is the first resulting in injury.
Khonor is recovering well from his injuries.
Manufacturers of defective products should answer for their actions. One skillfully handled lawsuit can force a recall or redesign of an unsafe product, eliminating the risk of future injuries.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, deaths, injuries and property damage from product liability accidents cost the U.S. more than $700 billion annually.
What to Do If a Defective Product Has Injured You or Your Family
Do not return the product to the manufacturer for “testing” or any other reason. All defective product cases are won with the defective product in hand. Here is what you should do:
- Secure the product in a safe place
- Secure any documentation about the product, including packaging, packaging inserts, manuals, and instruction booklets
- If you contact the manufacturer, they will want the defective product. Do not give it to them. Manufacturers want to secure and destroy evidence.
- If the evidence is a motor vehicle or something not in your possession, put everyone in contact with the evidence on notice, including owners, tow operators, wrecking yards, police impounds, and so forth. If they are told to preserve important evidence and fail to do so, they can be subject to suit for destruction of evidence.
- Contact a product liability attorney. If you were injured by a defective product, it is critical to the success of your case that you consult with a qualified attorney immediately. The laws are complex and filing claims have a specific time limit. After determining that you have a valid case, the attorney will begin the intensive information-gathering process of investigating federal and state statutes, regulations, and safety orders concerning the product(s) and components involved in your injury.
