Is E-Vapor Really the “Healthy Alternative,” or Just an Alternative?
Cigarette smoking causes roughly one out of every five deaths in the United States, or 1,300 deaths per day. With such a high death rate, it is no wonder that e-cigarette use continues to grow. Currently, 3.7 percent of adults use e-cigarettes, nearly a quarter of which are former cigarette smokers. E-Vapor is supposed to be the healthy alternative to tobacco, and a way to help smokers quit. However, what if e-vapor is not necessarily a healthier alternative, but just an alternative that poses a different set of problems?
Injuries Involving E-Vapor
At the beginning of 2016, a Naples man sued an e-cigarette company after the device exploded in his mouth in mid-2015. His damages included a burnt face, throat, and lungs. The accident left him in a coma for a short period of time. He sued the e-vapor company for permanent injury and “unimaginable mental anguish.”
A second Florida resident, James Dardini, was sent to the emergency room in 2015 for a burn to his leg that resulted from an e-cigarette exploding in his pocket. His had to undergo extensive surgery to fix the damage. He filed a lawsuit against the e-cigarette company for his damages.
Similar reports have popped up from California, New York, and Texas, and manufacturers and retailers of e-cigarettes now have a new type of lawsuit to contend with: exploding devices.
On top of exploding e-cigarette devices, manufacturers of the product must deal with the negative health effects of e-vapor as well. Research on e-cigarettes has shown that the devices and e-vapor cause the following complications:
- Nicotine poisoning and toxicity;
- Accidental inhalation;
- Pneumonia;
- Congestive heart failure;
- Disorientation;
- Seizure;
- Hypotension; and
- Airway obstruction and inflammation.
Unfortunately, e-cigarettes are not as heavily regulated as they should be. From lenient age restrictions to lack of proper regulations regarding their manufacturing, there are plenty of opportunities for an e-cigarette to do more harm than good. In fact, some brands of e-cigs are thought to contain more nicotine than an actual cigarette, thereby defeating the very purpose of their existence. Because of this, many health experts suggest thinking about e-cigarettes as one might think about dessert or a good steak: yes, they can be enjoyable, but as with all good things in life, moderation is key.
Were You Injured By an E-Cigarette?
If you switched to e-cigarettes because you believed them to be the “healthy alternative” to smoking regular cigarettes, and if you are experiencing new and extensive health problems as a result of the switch, consult with a Miami personal injury lawyer. There have been several successful cases against e-cigarette companies in recent years – some of which were class action lawsuits – which goes to show that just because the e-vapor industry is relatively new does not mean that it is immune to legal ramifications. At The Pendas Law Firm, our Miami product liability lawyers can help you build a case against the e-cig manufacturer and any other liable parties and work to secure a successful outcome. To schedule your private consultation now, call 1-844-200-0000 today.
The Pendas Law Firm also serves clients in the Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Daytona, Bradenton, and Fort Lauderdale areas.
Resources:
chestnet.org/News/Press-Releases/2016/04/eCigarette-smoking-immediately-affects-pulmonary-function-in-healthy-mild-asthmatic-young-smokers
thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/25/e-cigarettes-the-side-effects-nobody-talks-about.html
orlandosentinel.com/business/os-ecig-injury-lawsuit-20161128-story.html
miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article57037303.html
atr.org/new-cdc-data-more-9-million-adults-vape-regularly-united-states