Manhattan, NY - 38 Injured in High Rise Apartment Fire Caused by an E-Bike Lithium-ion Battery

Faulty E-Bike Battery Fire Injured 38 Apartment Residents

According to Fox 5, a fire broke out on the 20th floor of the Midtown Manhattan high-rise apartment building at 429 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036. 

At around 10:24 a.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2022, members of the FDNY arrived to find the fire raging out of control. As firefighters worked to save those on the 20th floor, residents above the fire fled to the rooftop and remained trapped. Witnesses described fear as they watched people hanging out of a window hundreds of feet in the air. Firefighters were forced to use ropes to lower themselves down to two victims to lift them out of danger. The firefighters were able to rescue all residents, but 38 people were treated at the hospital, including five firefighters. Two were said to be in critical condition due to smoke inhalation. 

Fire officials determined the cause of the massive fire was due to a faulty lithium-ion battery that powered an electric bicycle. According to fire officials, rooms catch fire in seconds in those types of fires and quickly create dangerous conditions. The person who lived there was believed to have been repairing these motorized e-bikes, and they found five in the apartment they believed the fire started.

Filing Lawsuits For Lithium Battery Fire Injuries

Attorney contributor Laurence Banville is an experienced injury lawyer in New York. Laurence often represents victims injured in fires caused by faulty lithium-ion batteries. During a recent discussion, he shared when victims could file a lithium-ion battery fire lawsuit for compensation.

"Many of us don't think about the dangers of our electronic devices. However, most of the devices we use every day have Lithium-ion batteries in them. These include laptops, cell phones, e-scooters, and even electric bicycles. Sometimes these rechargeable super batteries explode, causing fire to their surroundings. Manufacturing defects can, and user errors can cause this to occur."

"Sadly, there have been over 5,000 fires caused by these batteries in the last three years. It is the responsibility of each manufacturer to make sure the products they sell are safe. This duty of care includes the design, manufacturing process, and marketing data. A manufacturer can be held responsible if a product has defects and safety is neglected."

"The manufacturer can be considered negligent if they continue to sell the product despite being aware of the risks. It's a good idea for victims to consult with an experienced lawyer to navigate the legal process. By filing civil lawsuits, injured victims can be awarded compensation."

Sources:

Fox 5 NY