Is Your Laptop Safe?

Lithium-ion batteries power everything from phones to laptops, and the power contained within these powerful batteries creates a strong potential for explosions and fires. When these devices fail and cause explosions or fires, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and maintenance technicians can be held liable for the personal injuries and deaths they cause.

HP Recalls 50,000 Laptop Batteries

In January 2018, HP issued a recall for 50,000 faulty lithium-ion laptop batteries that are prone to malfunctions that lead to overheating. The recall covers some of the companies most popular product lines including the HP Pavillion, HP ProBook, and HP Envy. To date, the faulty batteries are known to have caused at least eight incidents of overheating, one fire, and one instance of first-degree burns.

Lithium-Ion Risks

The dangers of lithium-ion batteries are well known. In 2017, there were 17 confirmed cases of lithium-ion batteries catching fire on airplanes. Other devices prone to lithium-ion failures and fires include hoverboards, cell phones, and tablets. Similar battery problems to those discovered in laptops led to the recall of over 500,000 hoverboards and nearly 2.5 million Samsung mobile phones in 2016.

Lithium-ion batteries can fail due to faults in the electrode, separator, electrolyte, or system process. Exposure to extreme temperatures, strong vibrations, or impacts can damage these components and increase the likelihood of a failure. In most cases, a failing lithium-ion battery is not discovered until it reaches a critical stage and a fire or explosion takes place. At this stage, also known as the “thermal runaway” stage, the internal temperature of the battery can exceed 900 degrees Fahrenheit.

Liability for Lithium-Ion Fires

Personal injury liability for a lithium-ion failure that causes burns or shrapnel wounds can fall upon manufacturers whose designs contain defects that cause components to fail. It can fall upon repair technicians who damage the battery during servicing. It can also fall upon individuals who deliberately tamper with the device with the intent of causing a failure. These actions can cause severe burns and significant property damage. In severe cases, they can cause permanent disability and wrongful deaths. For these reasons, consumers should heed recalls related to devices they own and cease the use of lithium-ion batteries that are known to be dangerous or have become damaged during regular use.

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Joseph J. Wirth

Joseph J. Wirth is the founding senior partner of Mainor Wirth Injury Lawyers in Las Vegas, Nevada. Representing injured victims throughout the state, Joe has recovered millions on behalf of his clients and has earned his reputation as a highly-respected member of the legal community.

Years of Experience: More than 15 years
Nevada Registration Status Active

Bar Admissions: State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Advertising Advisory Committee, Member 2008-Present Nevada Justice Association, Associate Member 2007-Present Nevada State Bar, Associate Member 2006-Present American Association for Justice, Associate Member 2006-Present

author-bio-image author-bio-image
Joseph J. Wirth

Joseph J. Wirth is the founding senior partner of Mainor Wirth Injury Lawyers in Las Vegas, Nevada. Representing injured victims throughout the state, Joe has recovered millions on behalf of his clients and has earned his reputation as a highly-respected member of the legal community.

Years of Experience: More than 15 years
Nevada Registration Status Active

Bar Admissions: State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Advertising Advisory Committee, Member 2008-Present Nevada Justice Association, Associate Member 2007-Present Nevada State Bar, Associate Member 2006-Present American Association for Justice, Associate Member 2006-Present