A man was recently killed in Texas following a malfunction involving an e-cigarette. He died of a massive stroke when the vape pen he was using exploded, tearing his carotid artery.
William Brown entered the Smoke and Vape DZ shop on January 27th to ask for help using the vape pen in question. The shop’s manager reportedly called for an ambulance after the injury occurred. Brown was rushed to Fort Worth hospital on the 27th, where he was put into a medically induced coma, during which time x-rays showed that part of the e-cigarette was lodged in his throat. He died there on January 29th, just weeks before his 25th birthday.
According to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office, Brown suffered a cerebral infraction and herniation after debris from the exploding device sliced his left carotid artery. His grandmother, Alice Brown, told local news outlet KTVT that she didn’t understand why doctors didn’t operate right away. "He had a future ahead of him; a life ahead of him," she said. Although JPS Healthcare stated they could not comment on the specifics of Brown’s case, a representative did say that, "We hold ourselves to the highest standards in providing high-quality healthcare and will take family concerns seriously as we review all that transpired."
E-cigarettes and vape pens are battery-operated, heating liquid to create an aerosol that can be inhaled like smoke. This liquid may have flavoring, and usually contains nicotine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also claims that as many as 1 out of 10 U.S. adults has tried vaping. Meanwhile, the U.S. Fire Administration reported 195 fire and explosion incidents related to e-cigarettes between 2009 and 2016. Last year, a man in St. Petersburg, Florida was killed after his vape pen exploded, jettisoning a part of the device into his head.
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At Belushin Law Firm, P.C., our Brooklyn defective products lawyers have been fighting to protect the people of New York since 2002. When tragedies like what happened to Mr. Brown strike, we are there to advocate for the victims. From wrongful death claims to medical malpractice cases, our personal injury attorneys have the legal skills, knowledge, and resources you need. For a firm with 75 years of combined experience and a history of recovering millions of dollars for clients, the choice is clear.
Call Belushin Law Firm today at (888) 918-9890 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.