Georgetown Lithium-Ion Battery Lawyer
These products usually make life easier and more convenient. When they don’t, the Georgetown lithium-ion battery lawyers at the Stanley Law Group obtain the compensation these victims need and deserve.
Many products are assembled in the United States, but the components are made elsewhere. These components often do not work together the way they should. Products that contain lithium-ion batteries are a good example. The same battery may go into a wristwatch and a smartphone. Since the smartphone draws so much more power, it overheats the battery, leading to fires and explosions.
Other times, the entire product is manufactured overseas and then shipped to the United States. Many countries, such as China, do not have strict product control standards and watchdog agencies, like the Consumer Product Safety Commission, that oversee product safety. In the absence of such laws and oversight, these manufacturers often take dangerous shortcuts. These shortcuts, much more often than not, hurt people.
Georgetown Lithium-Ion Batteries Lawyers and Legal Issues
Defective lithium-ion batteries have the potential to seriously injure tens of thousands of people. A negligence (lack of care) standard is not strong enough to protect so many people. Therefore, under South Carolina law, most manufacturers are strictly liable for injuries caused by:
- Design Defect: Lithium-ion battery makers try to make their products as small as possible. As a result, the separator (fuse) may be too thin or inadequately protected. This design defect causes heat to accumulate rapidly, causing thermal runaway. The battery cell’s temperature increases so rapidly that the cell cannot dispel the increased heat. So, the battery discharges all of its energy in seconds, causing a fire or explosion.
- Manufacturing Defect: Production flaws cause impurities to seep into lithium-ion cells . Additionally, inadequately manufactured and thin separators could cause explosions, as outlined above. Furthermore, manufacturers often cut corners during the manufacturing process. Low-quality components are one of the highest causes of battery failures. Finally, manufactured parts don’t work together seamlessly, especially if the battery was built in one location and the charger was built somewhere else.
In many cases, these companies could spend a few extra cents per product and correct manufacturing and design flaws.
Although the legal standard is high and companies usually disregard known risks in these situations, a settlement is by no means guaranteed. Several defenses, such as product misuse, are available. Leaving a device on much too long or using it in a very hot environment could constitute product misuse.
What to Expect in a Mass Tort Case
Defective batteries usually affect every item in a lot. Therefore, most defective battery claims are class action or MDL (multidistrict litigation) claims. These matters are procedurally different from car crashes and other tort claims.
The judge merges individual actions and certifies them as a class action if they are too numerous to efficiently handle on a piecemeal basis, the claims are factually and legally identical, and a single Georgetown lithium-ion battery lawyer can speak for all victims in the class.
MDL is a hybrid between individual and class-action lawsuits. Judges assign this status if the claims are too numerous to handle individually, but the claims don’t meet the other class action criteria.
Basically, officials consolidate these cases for pretrial purposes. A single judge rules on all pretrial proceedings, such as procedural motions and discovery disputes. If a case does not settle, it returns to its home jurisdiction for trial.
Connect With a Dedicated Georgetown County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Georgetown lithium-ion battery lawyer, contact the Stanley Law Group. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
