Fire officials reported another lithium-ion battery related fire in the city, this time in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco.
On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, two people jumped out of a window to escape a fire most likely started by a charging e-scooter. The battery used in their e-scooter, also known as lithium-ion battery most likely exploded while it was plugged in, causing the fire.
According to the San Francisco Fire Department, this is the 24th fire caused by a faulty e-bike or e-scooter battery.
The rate of fires started by lithium- ion batteries have risen steadily as the popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters rise.
The fires are usually caused by a battery cell that is defective, damaged or overcharged, and if it ignites, it releases a significant number of flammable gases that spread rapidly and are hard to stop.
Officials are finding that e-bikes and e-scooters run by lithium-ion batteries are more prone to causing explosions. This is due to the large size of the batteries which, if defective, are easily ignited.
Lithium-ion batteries are also used in electric cars. However, due to more stringent regulations, there are reportedly fewer fires caused by batteries in e-cars.
This year alone, New York fire officials have reported 13 fatalities from lithium-ion battery fires and 23 in total since 2021. In response to this growing problem, the state of New York will ban e-bikes and e-scooters that do not meet safety standards starting in September.
In San Diego, fire officials have reported a steady increase in lithium-ion battery fires especially in e-bikes and e-scooters, over the last five years.
Meeting safety standards will be key in keeping individuals and property safe from lithium-ion related fires. However, the challenges brought on by third-party sellers like Amazon or Facebook Marketplace, make it almost impossible to enforce safety rules regarding lithium-ion batteries, which can be found in most electronics due to the lack of regulated safety protocols on those platforms.
In 2019, CaseyGerry represented a woman who sustained major burn injuries when the lithium-ion battery in her laptop exploded. The plaintiff purchased the defective replacement lithium-ion battery on amazon.Com. The multinational e-commerce platform was not held responsible in the first judgement, however, CaseyGerry appealed the case on her behalf and secured the first successful judgement holding amazon.com liable for injuries.
The fire attorneys of CaseyGerry encourage members of the community to practice caution when purchasing lithium-ion battery operated items and ensure they purchase them from a reputable source that is under obligation to provide products that meet safety standards.
If you or your loved ones have been injured or impacted by a fire caused by a defective lithium-ion battery, please contact our attorneys today at (619) 731-0329 to explore your legal options.
