Recently a lithium battery fire in a passenger’s backpack caused a plane to divert its flight and make an emergency landing, reported the Federal Aviation Administration. Lithium batteries, which are used in e-cigarettes, phones, laptops, and other devices, are known to explode and/or catch fire without warning. The backpack was quickly removed from the plane, preventing injury or further damage.
Although no one was injured on the flight, lithium battery explosions can cause devastating injuries, particularly in cell phone and e-cigarette explosions. Last year, Samsung recalled millions of its Galaxy Note 7 phones because the batteries were catching fire and causing injuries. Panasonic, Toshiba, and Lenovo recalled laptop batteries for fire danger. E-cigarette explosions are also on the rise. Batteries that catch fire can explode causing both chemical and thermal burns requiring skin grafts and bone reconstruction. Recovery can take years requiring daily burn care and some injuries leave permanent damage.
If you or someone you know has been injured from an e-cigarette explosion or other lithium battery incident, you should consult an experienced attorney who can advise you about long-term treatment coverage, special insurance considerations, and compensation for injuries.