Defective products injure thousands of people in New York each year. You should know how to avoid getting injured and what to do if you are injured. Earlier this year a number of laptop battery manufacturers expanded their recalls of defective batteries. Serious burns can be sustained due to exploding batteries. This is a bigger issue than most people realize. Today, more than ever, we rely on batteries to keep us connected to our lives and our work.

Do you get frustrated when your cell phone or laptop runs out of juice?
Sure you do. You miss calls, cannot check your emails, you’re disconnected and you lose precious time. It is always important to keep your batteries charged and properly maintained. Each type of battery has different ways to ensure longevity and healthy use so be sure to refer to your user manual for that important bit of information.

Exploding batteries are not a myth…

Although batteries are designed to operate in a wide range of conditions they can fail at certain temperatures and altitudes. Defective batteries, however, may spontaneously explode or burst into flames, even under normal conditions. This is not a myth, it happens all over the world, and it can happen to anyone, anytime. You must always take extra precautions to avoid getting skin burns to the thighs, knees, hands and even your eyes and face, from a defective battery.

– Check with your device manufacturer to verify if there has been a battery recall issued for your specific device:

o Dell – http://www.dellbatteryprogram.com

o HP – http://www.hp.com/support/BatteryReplacement

o Toshiba – http://www.bxinfo.toshiba.com

o Nokia – http://batteryreplacement.nokia.com

o Check with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

o Check with http://www.saferproducts.gov

– Never use a laptop while wearing shorts or in direct contact with your skin. Try to use an additional barrier between the device and your body whenever possible.

– Never use your battery-operated device outside of its recommended parameters.

– Never use a battery-operated device if it has come in contact with any liquid, chemical, fire or extreme heat.

– Do not place batteries or devices in direct sunlight.

– Replace worn-out or old batteries as recommended by the device manufacturer.

That worst case scenario…

If you or someone you know gets burned or injured from a defective or exploding battery seek emergency medical attention immediately. The scarring or lasting effects of a burn can be minimized by getting to a burn center or treating the burn appropriately and quickly. Contact the fire department if there is a flame or continued smoke coming from the device or battery.

Once the danger has been eliminated, hold on to any evidence you can, take pictures of the defective product, the injuries and the surroundings, place the defective product in a plastic container and hold on to it.

Get professional, legal help…

Contact an attorney, as soon as possible after the incident. Do not contact the manufacturer on your own, they will only try and minimize their responsibility. The law office of Omrani & Taub, P.C. has experienced personal injury attorneys who are acutely aware of the laws and intricacies involved in recovering compensation for current injuries as well as future pain and suffering sustained from defective products. To speak to an experienced attorney who can fight for your rights call Omrani & Taub at 212-529-7848 (that’s the famous 212-LAW-SUIT).