Burn Injuries From Defective Products: Bakersfield, CA
Battery-powered devices are among the most common causes of consumer product burn injuries, particularly lithium-ion batteries. Household products account for many others: space heaters, kitchen appliances, coffee makers, pressure cookers, hair styling tools, and electric blankets, for example. Other causes include industrial machinery and agricultural equipment, vehicle electrical systems, fuel containers, and defective electrical components.
The failure itself usually traces to one of a handful of mechanisms: battery thermal runaway, electrical arcing, a short circuit, a fuel leak, defective wiring, overheating components, or the failure of a safety shutoff system. California’s product liability laws hold manufacturers responsible for designing reasonably safe products and for adequately warning consumers about foreseeable dangers.
Lithium Battery Fire and E-Cigarette Explosion Cases
One of the fastest-growing categories of product liability litigation involves lithium-ion batteries, which now power thousands of everyday products, from smartphones, tablets, and laptops to e-bikes, scooters, power tools, portable battery packs, and vape devices. These batteries store a large amount of energy in a small space, and while that makes them efficient, it also means a failure can be sudden and have severe consequences.
The specific hazard is a condition known as thermal runaway, in which heat builds inside a battery cell and triggers a chain reaction that feeds itself. Temperatures can climb to hundreds of degrees within seconds, igniting a fire or causing an explosion, which can lead to thermal and chemical burns.
E-Cigarette and Vape Device Explosions
Electronic cigarettes are the cause of a growing number of serious injury claims. These incidents commonly occur when a battery overheats during charging, a device ignites while in a pocket, a battery fails during use, or a charging system malfunctions. Because these devices are often held or carried close to the body, an explosion can cause severe injuries.
Proving a Product Caused a Burn Injury
Establishing a product liability claim requires more than showing that a burn occurred. It depends on demonstrating that the product was defective and that the defect caused the injury. Several types of evidence typically are involved in proving this.
The product itself is often the most important piece of evidence. Whenever possible, it should be preserved after the incident: do not throw it away, repair it, take it apart, or otherwise alter it. Any batteries should be kept as well, as long as it is safe to do so. Even a severely damaged product can supply critical forensic evidence.
Documentation of the incident helps establish what happened. Seek medical attention first, both to safeguard your health and to establish a record of the injury. Take photographs of the scene. If there were witnesses, take down their statements. Purchase records such as receipts, online orders, warranty registrations, and packaging can help identify the product, its manufacturer and distributor, and its model and serial number.
Recalled Products and Known Defects as Evidence
A recall does not by itself establish liability, and a product that was never recalled can still be the basis for a claim. What a recall can do, however, is independently confirm that a defect existed and help identify the specific hazard, as well as the units affected. An experienced product liability lawyer will investigate whether similar incidents have occurred with the same product model, battery system, or component; a pattern of similar failures can help show the defect was not an isolated event. Whether any particular recall or prior-incident evidence is admissible, and how it can be used, is a question for an attorney to assess.
Why Product Liability Cases Are Different
California product liability claims are governed by “strict liability,” which allows an injured consumer to recover damages without needing to prove that the manufacturer acted negligently. Liability can arise simply because the product was defectively designed, defectively manufactured, or sold without adequate warnings or instructions.
However, these cases tend to involve extensive technical evidence, several corporate defendants, insurance carriers, and engineering experts. Acting promptly secures evidence and keeps important records from being lost.
$22.1
million
Pedestrian Accident
$15
million
Products Liability Explosion
$11
million
Premises Liability
$10
million
Oilfield Accident
$10
million
Motorcycle Accident
$9
million
Industrial Accident
$8.8
million
Police Misconduct
$8
million
Pedestrian Accident
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If a defective product caused your burn injury, California law may allow you to pursue a product liability claim against the manufacturer and, depending on the circumstances, other companies involved in designing, distributing, or selling the product. You may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, permanent scarring, and future treatment costs. An attorney can evaluate your specific circumstances.
A prior recall does not automatically win your case, but it can be significant evidence, because it can confirm that the product had a defect. Even if you never received notice of the recall, or the product stayed in circulation, you may still have a valid claim. A product that was never recalled can also be the basis for a claim, as long as the evidence shows the product was defective and caused the injury.
The deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit in California is typically two years from the date of injury. Some factors can alter that timeline, so it is best to speak with an attorney promptly. Acting early can also help preserve the product and other evidence before it is lost.
Serving Bakersfield and Kern County
Chain | Cohn | Clark investigates product liability claims throughout Bakersfield and Kern County, working with engineering, fire investigation, and medical experts to determine how a product failed and which companies may be responsible. When a manufacturer places an unreasonably dangerous product into consumers’ hands, the firm is prepared to pursue the full compensation California law allows. Contact Chain | Cohn | Clark today for a free case review.
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