BUTANE LIGHTER LAWSUIT - INJURY & DEATH

Many butane lighters do not have a child safety device lock to prevent accidental butane lighter burns, fires and  explosion of the butane gas being released. We hope that this webpage will help instruct owners of the dangers of this type of butane lighter. Though most produced today in 2004, do comply with the CPSC requirements,thousands of these older lighters are still in homes throughout the United States.

TYPES OF BUTANE LIGHTERS

These multi-purpose lighters are also known as grill lighter, fireplace lighter, utility lighter, gas match, novelty lighters and micro-torch. The Major Brands of these types of multi-purpose lighters include Aim n Flame- by Scripto Tokai; Rite Aid brand Lighter; Ace Hardware's " Ace Butane Lighter" ; BIC Lighter, Cricket, Flamages and Donel Lighters. Most of these, except for Cricket, are manufactured in China, Taiwan, Korea or Philippines. There are approximately 20 Manufacturers of these lighters, many selling under private labels

WHAT IS A MULTI-PURPOSE TORCH LIGHTER

Multi-purpose or novelty lighters are hand-held, self igniting, flame producing products that operate on fuel (usually butane or a mixture with propane) and is used by consumers to ignite fireplaces, charcoal, propane, or gas-fired grills, camp fires, camp stoves, lanterns, pilot lighters, candles and other flames producing objects.

DANGERS OF MANY MULTI-PURPOSE BUTANE LIGHTERS:

Most of the Multi-purpose lighters sold over the last 10-15 years lack a needed child safety device to prevent a child from being able to produce a flame with the product AND a child safety device to prevent the accidental release of butane in the trigger position, half or partially down, which allows a stream of butane gas to be released WITHOUT THE IGNITION OF THE GAS. The danger of these butane lighters occurs when a child attempts to press the ignition trigger a second, or even third time without it igniting, all the time quietly forming a butane cloud around them, then on the next push of the trigger the igniter ignites the butane gas cloud creating a large fireball explosion, resulting in severe burns to the child, permanent scarring and even death.

The ON/OFF Switch on many of the models of butane lighters produced in the past do not comply with the CPSC requirements for child resistance in the regular cigarette lighter standard, since the ON/OFF switch is too easy for young children to operate and does not reset to the OFF position automatically after each operation of the ignition mechanism of the lighter.

REPORTED FIRES AND BURNS FROM BUTANE LIGHTERS :

According to a study by CPSC of butane lighters, a total of 249 fires were reportedly started by children playing with multi-purpose lighters from Jan 1988- Jun 1998. These fires resulted in 45 deaths and 97 serious injuries. A total of 178 of the 249 involved children, with 146 of the 178 being children under age 4 years.

Many of these fires and injuries happened when children found the multi-purpose lighters in accessible locations, such as, kitchen counters, stove tops, shelves, cabinets, grills etc...The resulting injuries and burns were CATASTROPHIC. Most lighters tested by the CPSC in their Sept. 30,1998 report, showed that they were manufactured WITHOUT ANY child resistant devices that would comply with the CPSC requirement for Novelty Cigarette type lighters. In fact 90% of the children in a test were able to operate the lighters in CPSC's test for child resistance.

BUTANE LIGHTER LAWSUITS & LEGAL ACTIONS?

The many makers of these "MULTI-PURPOSE LIGHTERS " knew that their lighter DID NOT COMPLY with the child safety device regulations and they had ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE of the dangers to children who accidentally come into contact their lighters. The evidence is WELL DOCUMENTED and OVERWHELMING. These are the type of cases that PUNITIVE DAMAGES were intended. Most of these cases also involve damages for medical expenses (past and future), physical pain and suffering, (past and future), mental anguish (past and future), and disfigurement damages (past and future). Lawsuits are based on several different theories of recovery under general products liability law.

If your child has been seriously burned or even worst has died as a result of a butane lighter fire or explosion, then you may have a right to file a products liability lawsuit against the makers of these dangerous butane lighters. Talk to a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer  FREE CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION at 1-800-883-9858 (Toll Free)