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(253) 272-5226Manufacturers have positioned e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. But critics have decried vape pens and their flavored products for their appeal to youth. We are also starting to see thousands of vaping users develop serious lung illnesses. Some have even died.
Let’s look at what we know about the health risks and injuries associated with vaping, and how the State of Washington has responded. Since we’re personal injury lawyers, we’re also share what we’re seeing with vaping lawsuits, such as the JUUL lawsuits.
There have been some key JUUL lawsuit updates since we originally posted this in September 2020.
Notably:
Because e-cigarettes are relatively new, we have yet to see the long-term impacts. However, there have been many reports of illnesses and even deaths from users.
Some of the key health risks of vaping include:
Perhaps the greatest health risk to using e-cigarettes is not knowing what the long-term outcomes may be. And, if you’ve never been a smoker before, the CDC recommends it’s best not to start vaping, either.
It’s not a surprise that e-cigarettes have an appeal to adolescence. The devices can be charged in a USB port, and their inconspicuous design makes them easy to conceal. Sweet and candy vaping flavors like cherry, bubble gum, and caramel can be appealing to youth, and an entry point to vaping.
The statistics about youth vaping in Washington are startling:
Besides lung-related illnesses and deaths, injuries can also occur when the e-cigarettes explode.
E-cigarettes contain lithium-ion batteries, which can catch fire or explode if not used correctly. Battery failures can occur when there is a design or manufacturing defect. Labels need to warn consumers of how to use e-cigarettes to avoid these dangers, too.
So, what causes the explosions? Several things can happen to lead to this unfortunate result. The pens can be overcharged, used longer than intended, or exposed to an outside heat source (such as left in the sun).
Not surprisingly, an e-cigarette battery explosion can cause serious injury, or even death.
It’s clear that vaping THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, poses added risks when added to vapor products.
Recent national research shows that vitamin E, an additive in many THC vaping products, may be responsible for the EVALI outbreak. The good news is that EVALI deaths have started to decline. This is likely due to increased public awareness and some manufacturers removing vitamin E from their products.
Even so, it’s best to avoid vaping products containing THC as they are not regulated and may be contaminated.
When EVALI cases spiked in fall of 2019, Governor Inslee took swift action by imposing a 120-day emergency ban on all flavored vaping products. These products were targeted because of their appeal to youth. Many retailers pushed back as most vaping products sold contain flavors.
That ban expired and was not extended. However, the future of these products remains uncertain in Washington State. It’s clear more regulation and understanding of health concerns are needed. In the meantime, Engrossed House Bill 1074 was passed which prohibits those under the age 0f 21 from purchasing tobacco and vaping products.
The Washington State Health Board is a good resource to watch for emerging research and recommendations.
In order to have a claim, you will need to demonstrate that JUUL’s negligence caused you measurable harm. There are several different ways e-cigarettes have harmed victims. As a result, we’re seeing different types of lawsuit complaints, including:
Because so many plaintiffs have filed lawsuits, a multidistrict litigation (MDL) has been formed. An MDL allows the federal court to try many similar cases together. In other words, this helps speed up the process for plaintiffs and the court system. If you believe you’ve been harmed by JUUL, an experienced products liability attorney could assist you.
Has a vape product injured you or a loved one? If our attorneys would like to hear from you.
We offer free case evaluations, so you risk nothing. At the end of our meeting, you’ll have a better idea of your legal options. If a vaping lawsuit is the next step, you should know that our attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means you only pay us if we win you a settlement. Contact our offices today to schedule your consultation.