It is no wonder today that there is a large body of scientific data proving the fact that cigarettes are bad for people and cause serious health risks and complications. That being said, there are still large numbers of smokers in the United States, who continue the habit despite numerous pleas from doctors and various healthcare organizations.
In addition to the various health problems that go hand in hand with smoking, such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, throat and esophagus cancer, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and several other serious conditions, many people don’t realize it. that cigarettes cause other concerns. In addition to secondhand smoke that poses a threat to those around you, cigarettes are also responsible for causing fires that can be completely devastating.
The most common cause of cigarette fires is from lit cigarettes falling onto sofas or bedding. The American Burn Association, along with the United States government, estimates that approximately 900 people are killed in the United States by cigarette fires each year, and that 2,500 more are injured. A lit cigarette that is dropped on a soft material, such as a sofa or bedding, can burn unnoticed for up to thirty minutes before a fire breaks out.
There are a variety of injuries that can result from cigarette fires. These include burns, fatal injuries, and smoke inhalation. These types of fires can also cause a large amount of property damage that can displace one or more families depending on where the fire occurs. One of the nation’s largest cigarette manufacturers paid the first settlement for damages in a personal injury case when a young child suffered severe burns from a lit cigarette left in a car and started a fire. It has been claimed that cigarette manufacturers must take certain precautions to allow the public to be safer when smoking their products.
To this end, manufacturers have started making self-extinguishing cigarettes. These cigarettes are made from a specialized paper that will automatically go out if they are not inhaled at regular intervals. Self-extinguishing cigarettes cost more to make than regular cigarettes, and some states now require that all cigarettes sold be made from the new material. While self-extinguishing cigarettes help to some extent, the nation’s largest cigarette maker has also been sued E cigarette for one of its self-extinguishing products. The lawsuit alleged that the self-extinguishing paper used in the product was actually more flammable than the paper used in the regular version of cigarettes. This later led to the potential for an increased risk of injury due to a fire.
The grounds for the aforementioned lawsuit were based on the fact that the manufacturer did not adequately warn consumers about the additional risk because the paper causes partially burned pieces of tobacco to fall from the tip of the cigarette. These embers can easily ignite surfaces or cause burns. While smokers should be partly responsible for their habits and actions, and should always exercise proper care when smoking, the manufacturers of these products must also take appropriate steps to warn the public of certain risks and provide products that are more safe when possible. .
As is the case in many different industries, tobacco companies too often put profits before people and do not want to spend the additional funds on creating safer products, improving warnings on product labels, or creating new advertising campaigns. When this happens, a type of negligence has occurred and legal action can be taken in an effort to recover damages for injuries.
If you or someone you know has been burned or damaged to property by a fire caused by a lit cigarette, you may have the right to take legal action to seek compensation for the damage that has been caused. Your best course of action is to consult with a personal injury attorney who specializes in product liability as soon as possible after the incident.