Samsung has electively recalled one million phones now due to a serious fire and burn hazard. The recall affects all Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones that were purchased before September 15, 2016.
There have been 92 reports of batteries overheating in the Samsung phones. Of that 92, 26 of those reports involved individuals who sustained burns and 55 reports of property damage such as fires in vehicles.
The sleek new design of the phone may be to blame for the batteries overheating. The director of the Energy Materials Center at Cornell University and an expert on lithium ion batteries, says Samsung used a new separator piece to try and decrease weight and volume in the phones, however, the separator piece was too thin, causing a rise in battery shorts making them very hot and combustible.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has urged all owners of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to turn off their phones and avoid charging them. Replacement phones should be available in Samsung stores by September 21, 2016.
This is one of the largest technology recalls in recent years.
If someone is injured due to a defective product, a product liability claim may exist. A claim may be pursued to pay for damages caused by the defective product such as medical bills, missed time from work and pain and suffering.
It is a manufacturer’s responsibility to make sure their products are safe for consumers.
To learn more about your rights, contact the personal injury attorneys at Berger and Green for a free no obligation consultation.
Source:
USA Today, “Samsung recalls 1M Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones”
