Exploding E-Cigarette Blinds Teen in One Eye

Apr 22,2016

An exploding e-cigarette left a 14-year-old blind in one eye as he was handling it at a mall kiosk in Brooklyn earlier this month. Leor Domatov was visiting the mall with friends when a clerk at a vape kiosk allowed them to test out the devices. The clerk allegedly plugged an e-cigarette into the wrong battery while Domatov was holding it, and it exploded. He suffered cuts to his eyes and severe chemical burns to his hands.

Domatov is a 14-year-old in the eighth grade. In New York City, it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to anyone under 21. Domatov’s father plans to sue the kiosk owner and the mall for attempting to illegally sell the devices to his minor son.

Domatov’s exploding e-cigarette episode is just the latest in a string of incidents with e-cigarette devices. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to finalize regulations for the devices—a problem, considering that e-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). In 2015, 3 million middle and high school students said they used e-cigarettes, according to data from the FDA and CDC.

“These numbers make it pretty clear that these e-cigarette devices are being marketed to young people. Couple that with the hazardous nature of the devices and you have a recipe for disaster,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured by a defective product and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.