Vaping pens and e-cigarettes have obvious appeal. They’re sleek, compact and they have fewer associated risks than cigarettes. However, lower risk doesn’t mean risk-free. Mysterious vaping-related illness have started cropping up throughout the country, which has intensified questions many people were already asking: Are users safe? After an injury, are people on their own, or might they have legal recourse for harms they suffer?
Symptoms Of The Illness
As of today, more than 800 people have contracted an unspecified vaping-related illness, which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been monitoring since the spring. More than a dozen people have died so far, but that number could rise. Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent coughing
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain in the chest or abdomen
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss
No one knows for sure what’s causing the illness, but many experts suspect that the chemicals used in vaping products may be to blame.
Potential Liability
As this mysterious disease spreads throughout the country, government agencies have begun looking into who’s to blame. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently warned that Juul, the main seller of vaping products, may have marketed them illegally, claiming they were safer than smoking cigarettes. If this assertion from the FDA holds up in court, Juul and other manufacturers may soon find themselves on the receiving end of legal action from a host of e-cigarette users.
Companies who sell products have a responsibility to ensure that they’re safe. If they aren’t, they could be responsible to pay damages resulting from dangerous or defective products. If you or someone you know has fallen victim to an e-cigarette illness or injury, you should contact an attorney who focuses on product liability. You have the right to be safe, and no amount of corporate marketing or red tape can take that away from you.