It comes as no surprise in this day and age that there is plenty of scientific data proving the fact that cigarettes are bad for people, and they cause serious health complications and risks. That being said, there are still high numbers of smokers across the United States, who continue the habit despite the many pleas from physicians and various health organizations.
On top of the various health problems that go hand in hand with smoking, such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, throat and esophageal cancer, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and various other serious conditions, many people do not realize that cigarettes cause other concerns. In addition to second hand smoke posing 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 due to lit cigarettes being dropped on sofas or bedding. It is estimated by the American Burn Association, along with the United States government, that roughly nine hundred people in the United States die from fires started by cigarettes every year, and that an additional two thousand five hundred people are injured. A lit cigarette that is dropped onto soft material such as a sofa or bedding can smolder without being noticed 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 great deal of property damage that can displace one or more families depending on where the fire takes place.
One of the nation’s largest cigarette manufacturers paid out the first settlement for damages in a personal injury case when a toddler was severely burned due to a lit cigarette that was left in a car and caused a fire to start. It has been asserted that manufacturers of cigarettes should take certain precautions to enable the public to be safer when smoking their products.
To this end, manufacturers have started making self extinguishing cigarettes. These cigarettes are made of a specialized paper that will go out automatically if they are not puffed on at regular intervals. Self extinguishing cigarettes cost more to make than regular cigarettes, and some states now require all cigarettes that are sold to be made of the new material.
While self extinguishing cigarettes help to a certain extent, the nation’s largest cigarette manufacturer has also been sued over one of their 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 the cigarettes. This then led to the potential for greater risk of injury due to fire.
The grounds for the above mentioned lawsuit were based upon the fact that the manufacturer did not properly warn consumers about the extra risk because the paper causes pieces of tobacco that is partially burned to fall from the end of the cigarette. These embers can then easily ignite surfaces or cause burns.
While smokers must be partly responsible for their habits and their actions, and they should always exercise proper care when smoking, the manufacturers of these products should also take proper steps to warn the public about certain risks, and to provide products that are safer when possible.
As is the case in many different industries, tobacco companies all too often put profits ahead of people and do not want to spend the extra funds on creating safer products, improving warnings on product labeling, or creating new advertising campaigns. When this happens, a type of negligence has occurred, and legal action can be taken in an effort to recoup damages for injuries.
If you or someone you know has been burned or has suffered property damage because of a fire caused by a lit cigarette, you may be entitled to take legal action to seek compensation for the harm that has been done. 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.
For the most part, personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means you do not have to worry about how to afford a legal claim in advance. Most of the time, personal injury attorneys do not require any type of payment until the time your case settles. When you are faced with medical bills or the expense of having to repair or replace property damaged in a fire, this can be a tremendous comfort.
Compensation in cases such as this can be sought for a variety of issues including past, present, and future medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional harm, and in some cases for damaged property. In severe cases, punitive damages may also be sought. These types of damages are meant as nothing more than a form of punishment for those who are responsible, in an effort to help prevent future similar acts from occurring.
The injuries that are often sustained because of cigarette fires can be significant and can require a good deal of medical care and rehabilitation. Surgery may also be required, along with skin grafts and specialized follow up care. The road to recovery can be long, and some people may be left with permanent damage or scarring. It is for these reasons that is quite important to seek compensation for this harm in an effort to help right the wrong that has been done.
While a personal injury attorney cannot undo the damage that has been done, he or she can help you to get the justice you so rightly deserve and help you to rebuild your life. Big tobacco companies should not be allowed to continue to place the public in harm’s way just to make a quick buck. Taking steps to hold them accountable sends a clear message that they can no longer get away with being negligent to improve their bottom lines.