Teenage girl suffers second-degree burns in iPhone fire
A teen girl was burned recently when her iPhone burst into flames in her pocket.
February 25, 2014
Teenage girl suffers second-degree burns in iPhone fireArticle provided by Miller Schirger LLC
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A 13-year-old girl was treated for second-degree burns recently after her smartphone caught fire in her pocket while she was sitting in school. Although the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, some commentators have speculated that it may have been due to a dangerous defect in the phone itself.
A popping sound, then smoke
According to a report by PCMag, the eighth-grader was carrying the two-month-old iPhone 5c in her back pants pocket when she sat down at a desk for her first class of the day. As she took her seat, witnesses report hearing a popping sound, followed immediately by the appearance of billowing smoke around the student.
Fortunately, the girl responded quickly by executing a "stop, drop and roll" maneuver and removing the burning article of clothing, which likely helped to prevent her injuries from becoming more severe than they otherwise may have been. Other students and school staff were nearby at the time of the fire and were commended by the school principal for lending their assistance, Seacoast Online reported.
The principal also expressed gratitude to local emergency responders, who treated the girl at the scene and then transported her to a nearby hospital. She received treatment at the hospital for moderate second-degree burns and was released about 45 minutes later.
iPhone may have been defective
Witnesses present at the time of the fire say the girl's phone fell from her pocket and was visibly burnt. The cause of the fire has not yet been officially determined. According to Geek.com, the device was not plugged in at the time of the fire and did not appear to be equipped with any third-party accessories, which are frequently to blame when cellphone fires occur.
Similar incidents in the past have been blamed on cheap or mismatched accessories, such as third-party replacement batteries, screen replacements or power cables. In this case, however, there is no indication that any such accessories were involved -- suggesting that the fire may have been caused by a safety flaw in the way the phone itself was designed or manufactured.
Who is responsible for injuries caused by dangerous products?
When a person is hurt by a dangerous product, he or she may be able to recover monetary compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturer. This is because companies that make and sell products have a legal duty to ensure that those products are safe for consumers to use. When manufacturers fail to adequately perform this duty, they can be held legally and financially responsible for any harm that occurs as a result.
An injured person who files a successful product liability lawsuit may be able to receive financial compensation for his or her medical bills and lost wages, as well as pain and suffering and other damages. To learn more about the legal options if you or a loved one has been hurt by a dangerous product, talk with a product liability lawyer in your area.