At the David W. Martin Law Group, our South Carolina defective products attorneys know that the number of consumer tech products containing lithium-ion batteries grows yearly. These essential batteries are powering more than laptops, cameras, and smartphones; they operate household goods, scooters, and even vehicles.
While lithium-ion technology is extending battery life in nearly each of the products it powers, a combination of manufacturer issues, misuse, and aging batteries can heighten the injury and fatality risk from the batteries, which use flammable materials.
All lithium-ion batteries use flammable materials, causing an increasing number of incidents called “thermal runaway,” a chain reaction that can lead to a fire or catastrophic explosion. A battery overheating, puncture, or an electrical fault like a short circuit can trigger the thermal runaway process. In cases where fires occur spontaneously while charging, it is likely due to manufacturing defects.
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury or were killed during a lithium-ion battery explosion, contact our skilled South Carolina defective products attorneys today to discuss your case during a free consultation.
What Products Are at Risk for Lithium-Ion Battery Explosions?
Many products like cellphones and laptops are at an increased risk for explosions when the battery overheats while charging. However, some — like a recent five-alarm fire in the Bronx, New York, that injured seven people and required the attention of 200 firefighters — stemmed from a lithium-ion battery of a scooter found on the roof of an apartment building.
Last year alone, the New York City Fire Department responded to more than 200 e-scooter and e-bike fires, which resulted in six fatalities. New York is not alone. Many states, including South Carolina, are experiencing increased lithium-ion battery fires and explosions that are changing lives.
While lithium-ion batteries are used in countless products, some of the dangers have been so great that they have been recalled, including those in:
- Storage batteries installed as part of an LG Chem Model RESU 10H residential energy solar panel system.
- Certain lots of the RELiON InSight Series® 48V lithium-ion batteries with intended use in, but not limited to, golf carts, low-speed vehicles, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and outdoor utility terrain vehicles (UTVs).
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating safety defects in lithium-ion cells made by LG Energy Solutions after a string of recalls with:
- Chevrolet Bolt EVs have had to recall more than 141,000 vehicles.
- Hyundai Kona EV, Smart ForTwo Electric, recalled 82,000 cars for an expensive battery replacement.
- Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrids burst into flames while parked and not running, leading to a “do not park in or near a garage” warning. Although Chrysler issued a recall, it is still unsure what the problem is.
- Some Volkswagen ID.4s due to problems with LG-made cells.
Top fire officials warn that lithium-ion fires are not comprised of a slow burn: They are literal explosions that result in a tremendous volume of fire as soon as it happens, stating it is challenging to extinguish, making lithium-ion fires particularly dangerous.
Contact Our South Carolina Defective Products Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries or the loss of life while using a consumer product or vehicle that contains a lithium-ion battery, call 803-548-2468 or contact us online to learn more about your legal rights and options to pursue the best outcome for your unique case by partnering with our dedicated South Carolina defective products attorneys at the David W. Martin Law Group today.
