Though JUUL e-cigarettes were initially marketed as a safer option than traditional cigarettes, it has been found that vaping can lead to many of the same injuries as cigarette smoking. There are also certain conditions unique to e-cigarette users, such as EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury). This new illness describes several related ailments tied to e-cigarette use.
What is EVALI?
EVALI is a serious, sometimes life-threatening lung condition that affects users of e-cigarette products such as JUUL. The injury was previously known as VAPI (vaping associated pulmonary illness) and was first reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in late summer of 2019, after it was found that patients suffering series of similar lung injuries had all recently used an e-cigarette.
As of November 2019, the CDC has reported upwards of 2,000 EVALI cases and 39 deaths. The lung condition has similar respiratory symptoms to pneumonia including shallow breathing, coughing, and chest pain. It can also present gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, as well as fever, chills, and increased heart rate.
The majority of individuals diagnosed with EVALI have been young, with an average age of 24. This is unfortunately not very surprising, as there is evidence of many e-cigarette companies purposefully advertising to youth. A recent lawsuit found that JUUL was intentionally targeting young consumers with their marketing. The lawsuit demonstrated that JUUL specifically chose marketing images that appealed to young people, advertised products on websites specifically for children, and shipped products to underage customers who purchased them directly from their website.
The Dangers of Vaping
Vaping is now known to be just as harmful as smoking cigarettes, maybe even more, and can lead to similar injuries and conditions. If you or your child developed EVALI or other issues due to vaping, the JUUL e-cigarette attorneys of Kwartler Manus, LLC are available to discuss your case and help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Side effects of vaping can include EVALI and other issues such as:
- COVID-19
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- Acute Respiratory Distress
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- Popcorn lung - Bronchiolitis
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Collapsed Lung
- Heart Attack
- Cardiac Arrest (or other cardiac conditions)
- Heavy Metal Poisoning (including cobalt, cadmium, lead)
- Neurological conditions (including strokes, seizures)
- Respiratory disease
How can Kwartler Manus, LLC. help with your case?
We understand how exasperating it can be to heal from vaping related injuries — especially if the victim is your child. Living with such injuries can cause significant financial, mental, and emotional damages to the victim and their family. At Kwartler Manus, LLC, our JUUL attorneys are dedicated to assisting those harmed by vaping, and can help you collect the compensation that you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and other such costs. If you or a loved one were diagnosed with EVALI after using a JUUL product, contact us online or by phone (267) 214-8608 to schedule a consultation and learn your options.
