Have you or your child developed breathing problems or other health effects after using a Juul vaping device? Have you or your child become addicted to nicotine or experienced life-threatening health effects from using e-cigarettes? You may have a right to sue the e-cigarette manufacturer.
When e-cigarette manufacturers misrepresent the safety of their products and deceptively market highly addictive e-cigarettes and Juul pods to children they should be held fully accountable for the harm caused. If you or your loved one has become addicted to nicotine, developed respiratory issues after juuling or been injured by a vaping device, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit and hold the manufacturer financially responsible.
Our attorneys at Joye Law Firm are reviewing cases involving adults and children who have been harmed by addiction to nicotine from using Juul devices or suffered an e-cigarette injury from a defective e-cig device. A Juul lawyer at Joye Law Firm can review your injury and discuss your legal rights during a free consultation. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys focus on pursuing compensation to help clients overcome the physical and emotional complications of difficult situations caused by the negligence of others. Our law firm is honored by the testimonials of former clients.
Call to speak with a Juul injury attorney at Joye Law Firm or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
What is Juul?
E-cigarettes have become popular in recent years as an alternative to regular cigarettes. Juul is a leading brand of e-cigarette with a large share of the market. Juul products are produced by Juul Labs, Inc., based in San Francisco.
Juul products are marketed as an alternative to traditional cigarettes, but the manufacturer’s marketing claims have drawn criticism and regulatory warnings. The FDA has not recognized Juul or any brand of e-cigarettes as a safe and effective method to help smokers quit using tobacco products.
Juul nicotine delivery systems resemble a USB flash drive rather than a traditional cigarette or vaping pen, making the small device easier to use discreetly and conceal. Juul devices can be re-charged by being plugged into a computer.
Juul e-cigarettes have become popular among children in middle school and high school and young adults, raising concerns among health officials about a new generation of young people addicted to nicotine. One out of five high school students reported using an e-cigarette in 2018, the FDA said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the rise in vaping among young people is likely because of the recent popularity of e-cigarettes designed like a USB flash drive, such as Juul products. Juul products have a high nicotine content and are sold in fruity flavors that appeal to youth.
Is Juul Harmful to You?
Juul and other brands of e-cigarettes do pose health risks including respiratory problems, chemical addiction, nicotine poisoning and other issues.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received many reports of Juul users developing addictions to Juul products, which deliver a concentrated dose of nicotine.
Nicotine is an addictive chemical, whether it is delivered by a traditional cigarette or an e-cigarette.
The FDA announced in April 2019 that it was investigating several dozen reports of e-cigarette users having seizures. The FDA said it was concerned the reports may represent a broader problem. Seizures or convulsions are a recognized potential side effect of nicotine poisoning, linked to ingestion of nicotine liquids contained in Juul pods and e-cigarettes.
The heated vapor in e-cigarettes contains flavorings and chemicals including propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. These substances are known to increase airway irritation when inhaled.
Health authorities are investigating hundreds of reports of respiratory illness among people who used e-cigarettes, with some incidents requiring hospitalization. The symptoms include:
- Coughing, difficulty breathing
- Nausea, vomiting
- Fever, weight loss, fatigue.
The respiratory incidents have not been linked to a specific brand of vaping devices to date.
The long-term health effects of juuling and using e-cigarettes remain to be determined because the products have only been available on the market since 2007.
The FDA warns that teens who vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes, which cause cancer.
Is Juul Targeting Children and Teens?
Juul Labs has attracted heightened scrutiny because of its marketing practices.
In September 2019, the Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter to Juul Labs, saying the e-cigarette manufacturer illegally marketed its products as less harmful or presenting less risk than regular cigarettes.
The FDA said that Juul products represent a significant share of the overall use of e-cigarettes by youths. Some of the popularity of Juul products among children appears to be a direct result of Juul’s school outreach activities and product design, the FDA said.
The FDA requested more information from Juul Labs after reviewing testimony presented at a recent congressional investigative hearing regarding Juul’s marketing activities. Investigators allege that Juul used a sophisticated campaign to target children and teenagers, including at schools and summer camps.
The FDA warning letter noted that Juul representatives had made misleading statements during presentations at schools that Juul products were “99 percent safer than cigarettes,” “totally safe” and “a safer alternative than smoking cigarettes.” The statements were especially concerning because they were made to children in school. The FDA said its concern was magnified by the epidemic rate of increase of e-cigarettes by youth and evidence that the products contribute to addiction.
Juul said in 2018 that it was stopping the sale of its sweet-flavored nicotine liquid pods at stores and would sell them online only. A study by the University of North Carolina School of Medicine indicated that the fruity flavors lead young people to try vaping or juuling.
How Much Nicotine Does Juul Contain?
Medical professionals have expressed concern because Juul delivers higher concentrations of nicotine than other e-cigarettes and vaping devices.
Nicotine is highly addictive and known to impair brain development and lung function if consumed by teens.
Juul e-cigarettes contain an internal heating device that converts a capsule of liquid containing nicotine and flavorings into a vapor, which the user then inhales.
The liquid content of a Juul cartridge is 5 percent nicotine by volume, which is more than twice the concentration of nicotine in other e-cigarettes. The amount of nicotine in a Juul pod is roughly equivalent to a pack of cigarettes, according to the National Center for Health Research.
Juul also uses nicotine salts in its liquid, which makes it less harsh on the throat when inhaled and allow users to vape higher amounts of nicotine for a longer period of time. The concentrated dose of nicotine increases the risk of addiction and means that Juul users may be exposed to unsafe levels of nicotine and experience nicotine-related harmful side effects.
Can Juul Pods Explode?
Some users of e-cigarettes have been injured by vaping devices exploding and causing blast injuries and burns.
A 2017 report by the U.S. Fire Administration identified 195 incidents of e-cigarette explosions and fires from 2009 through 2016. The explosions resulted in more than 130 acute injuries including 38 severe injuries involving third-degree burns and facial injuries requiring hospitalization.
The explosions occurred while the vaping devices were in use, being charged or being carried in a user’s pocket.
Contact a Juul Lawsuit Attorney in South Carolina
If you or your child uses Juul products or other e-cigarettes and you have developed nicotine addiction or other serious health complications, you may have a legal claim. Seek the guidance of a compassionate e-cigarette injury lawyer at Joye Law Firm.
You may have questions about how you can afford a lawyer. If Joye Law Firm handles your Juul lawsuit, we will do so on a contingency fee basis. You will not have any out-of-pocket expenses and you won’t owe a legal fee unless our attorneys secure compensation for you through a negotiated settlement or jury award. We only get paid if you get paid. If we are successful in obtaining compensation for you, we receive a percentage of the settlement or award to cover our legal fee and expenses.
Joye Law Firm has been standing up for people in South Carolina who have suffered harm as a result of others’ disregard for safety for more than 50 years. While previous cases are not predictive of future outcomes, our record of results does reflect the effort we invest in each case we pursue and our experience with complex product liability cases. Joye Law Firm has law offices in Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach and Clinton and handles cases throughout South Carolina. Call us today.
