Naples Man in Critical Condition After E-Cigarette Explosion
A Florida man is in critical condition after a terrible explosion took place on Monday, October 27th. The man, Evan Spahlinger, from Naples, Florida, was smoking an e-cigarette when it suddenly exploded in his face, burning his face, neck, hands, and lungs. He was immediately taken to a local hospital, but due to the severity of his condition, was transported to the Burn Center at Kendall Regional Medical Center the same day.
Spahlinger’s sister was at home with him when the explosion occurred, and after hearing a loud noise, discovered her brother in a room gasping for air. She immediately dialed 911.
“She went towards the explosion to find him completely covered in black, what appeared to be soot, throwing up, foaming from the mouth,” their mother, Alissa Stefanacci, reported. She discussed her concerns regarding the unknown risks associated with e-cigarettes. North Collier Fire Rescue is working alongside the state to determine what caused the explosion, although they suspect it may have been the lithium battery inside the device.
While this case might seem like a bizarre and unlikely event, defective products cause injuries nearly every day. When a defective and dangerous product causes injury or death, the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer can be held liable for damages under Florida product liability laws. There are many different ways that a defective product can be or become dangerous such as a design flaw, a flaw in the manufacturing process, a failure to warn users about potential dangers and many others. It doesn’t matter what caused the e-cigarette to explode in this rare case, consumers should never have to bear the burden of medical bills, treatments, or lost wages because of a product malfunction.
Under Florida product liability laws, people injured by defective products and the families of those killed by dangerous products may seek compensation for:
- Disfigurement
- Medical and rehabilitative expenses
- Loss of past and future income
- Disability or impairment
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished enjoyment of life
- Property damages and reduced value of property
- And more…
Many times, defective products are produced by large manufacturers, and suing them can be difficult, as they have large teams of skilled lawyers. An experienced personal injury attorney such as James O. Cunningham can build an effective product liability case that indicates how a product was defective, and how the defect led to his client’s injuries or death. For more than three decades, he has aggressively represented victims of defective products, to seek the compensation you deserve from large companies. Although no settlement or damages awarded in a product liability lawsuit can replace a life or undo a serious injury, these damages can help pay for medical bills, replace lost wages and defray the costs of rehabilitative care and other expenses.
If you would like to speak with an experienced Orlando product liability lawyer, call James O. Cunningham today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) to schedule a free consultation.
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.