If you bought a Samsung cellphone any time in the last few years, there are a few things you need to know about recalled exploding Samsung batteries:
- The lithium-ion battery in your Samsung phone may overcharge and explode.
- These phones have caused severe burns and property damage.
If you have a Samsung phone, there are a few things you need to know about recalled exploded Samsung batteries overheating and catching fire.
The Issue with These Dangerous Samsung Phones
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has lithium-ion batteries, manufactured in South Korea and China, that overcharge and can ignite.
This can be especially deadly as many people charge their phones at night while they sleep. This has caused houses to catch on fire. In other cases, people have suffered serious injuries when the phones have exploded in their hands or pockets or near their faces.
The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has even banned passengers from bringing affected Samsung models on airplanes (both in carry-on bags and checked luggage) due to the risk of fire.
The Massive Recall
Samsung recalled several smartphone models due to the dangers posed by their defective batteries. In September 2016, the company issued a massive recall on the Galaxy Note 7, one of the company’s highest-end phones at the time. It expanded the recall the next month. In December 2016, the company sent out an update rendering the phones inoperable.
In 2017, FedEx Supply Chain recalled lithium ion batteries that had been installed in refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phones. Most of the affected batteries were counterfeits, and none had been supplied by Samsung itself.
What Should You Do if You Have a Recalled Samsung Phone?
Check to see if your phone is on any recall lists. The two Note models mentioned above got the most publicity, but recall lists get updated all the time, and not every addition becomes a major news story. Just because your phone has not been involved in any high-profile incidents does not guarantee that it is not dangerous. To determine whether your phone has been recalled, you can check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) recall list.
If your Samsung phone appears on any recall lists, the CPSC recommends doing the following immediately to keep yourself and your family safe:
- Turn the phone off and stop using it. (This includes any Galaxy Note7s — even replacements you received during any previous recalls.)
- Contact the carrier or shop from which you bought your phone to receive a replacement or refund. If you are sending your phone back to Samsung, the company will send you a specially designed box to safely ship your phone back. You can click here to learn more.
It is important that you stop using your phone immediately. Do not leave it up to chance. Samsung admits that your phone is not safe to use.
Can You Sue Samsung for Injuries?
Manufacturers are liable when their products cause injuries to consumers. You can win damages from a product manufacturer even if you cannot prove that the manufacturer exhibited negligence at any point. Instead, you can file a strict product liability case, which only requires you to prove the following:
- The product injured you.
- You did not materially alter the product from its original form.
- You were using the product for its intended purpose.
If we determine you have a valid product liability claim, we will investigate your case, gather evidence, and plan out a course of action to pursue compensation. We might be able to negotiate a settlement out of court with the manufacturer. If the manufacturer is not agreeable to paying a fair settlement, a Newsome Melton product liability attorney can file a lawsuit and bring your case in front of a judge or jury. The Newsome Melton team understands product liability law and can use our knowledge and resources to help you get the compensation you deserve.