Defective Battery Causes Garage Fire

 

House Fire Caused by Defective Battery

According to a KSAT News report, lithium-ion batteries caused a house fire at 12:30 a.m. on August 1, 2023.

According to fire investigators, defective lithium-ion batteries that were being stored in a garage in a home on the North Side of San Antonio, just off Highway 281 and Redland Road, caused a garage to be set on fire. Fire crews reported that the family was alerted to the blaze by the smell of smoke, which was fortunately caught in enough time that the damage did not spread to the rest of the house or cause any injuries. Authorities recommended after the accident that all lithium-ion batteries should be removed from their charging station once charged and that the charger be unplugged when not in use to prevent fire risk.

Did You Know?

Overheating, which is commonly the result of a design flaw or damage, is the most common reason lithium-ion batteries explode or cause fires.

Lithium-Ion Battery Damage – Safety Issues and How to Spot It

Lithium-ion batteries charge thousands of consumer products throughout the United States, such as phones, electric vehicles, outdoor equipment, and more. Unfortunately, these batteries can be designed, manufactured, or distributed in such a way that presents damage or defects that causes them to be an extreme safety hazard.

What Makes Lithium-Ion Batteries Defective?

A 2020 peer-reviewed study on the safety issues presented by defective batteries found that the most common reason that lithium-ion batteries are defective is the introduction of a foreign substance during the manufacturing process. The study also found that these types of defects can be almost impossible to detect and can cause the battery to sustain dangerous temperatures for long enough to present a serious danger in their use.

Batteries can also be designed in such a way as to make them unsafe and can be damaged during distribution before ever making it to the final product it was intended to power.

Signs of a Defective Battery

Whether at work or at home, there are a few tell-tale signs that your battery may be unsafe, as reported by Lion Technology Inc.

• Unusual Signs – such as a burning smell or sustained heat.
• Loose or Damaged Wiring – can happen from regular use and increase the risk of fire.
• Discoloration or Corrosion – white, blue, or green grainy material on a battery is a sign of corrosion, and discoloration is easy to spot when near properly functioning batteries.

To keep updated on the latest recalls or to report a defective battery, you can visit Recalls.gov.

Liability for Defective Batteries

If a defective lithium-ion battery causes a fire or explosion that injures you or damages your property, there could be multiple parties responsible, including:

• Manufacturers who carelessly allow damage to the battery while making them,
• Product Designers who design unsafe batteries,
• and Distributors who damage products during transit.

American consumers have the right to safe products at home and on the job. If you were injured by a defective product, contact the defective product attorneys at Carabin Shaw ASAP.

Defective Product Attorneys in San Antonio

If you or your family were injured or your property was damaged by a defective lithium-ion battery in San Antonio, contact Carabin Shaw. We have 30 years of experience representing the injured in San Antonio and across Texas, and we care. Contact us today via live chat or at 800-862-1260. We look forward to serving you.