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There is nothing like opening a box containing a brand new cell phone and using it for the first time. This is particularly true when you have patiently awaited the release of a phone for days, maybe even months. However, what if this sought-after cell phone ended up being so dangerous to the point that airlines forbid you from bringing your phone on a plane? Well, that dangerous cell phone exists, and it is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (also nicknamed the “biggest disaster in cell phone history”).
What is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7?
In August 2016, Samsung unveiled its latest touchscreen smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The Note 7 was advertised as a dust and water resistant phone with IP68 certification. It came in several different colors, and boasted a high resolution camera and an iris scanner. Cnet (a popular electronic review website) rated the Note 7 as one of the best phones of the year. That all changed, however, when the batteries of the Note 7 began catching fire.
Why is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 catching fire?
Most cell phones use lithium ion battery packs to power up. Inside these lithium ion batteries is a liquid, which is highly flammable. If the battery short-circuits, the puncture point becomes the path of least resistance for electricity to flow. The battery then heats up, sometimes resulting in an explosion. Unfortunately, for users of the Note 7, the flawed design resulted in batteries catching fire “often.” It was reported that the Note 7 has caught fire as many as 112 times after only one month following its release.
The Note 7 did not explode right away. In practically, every reported incident of a Note 7 catching fire or exploding occurred after the phone was plugged in and left charging.
While the Note 7 was not the only phone in history with a battery that caught fire, the commonality of the Note 7 exploding resulted in Samsung recalling the device because of its danger to society!
Samsung’s Recall of the Galaxy Note 7
In September 2016, Samsung initiated a recall and exchange program in the United States that allows users of the Note 7 to exchange their phone for another Note 7. However, the replacement phones also caught fire! As a result, on October 10, 2016, Samsung advised all owners of the Note 7 to power-off their phone and stop using it. Since then, Samsung has initiated one of the biggest recalls in consumer electronics history, with more than 2.6 million Note 7 phones being recalled.
Airlines have been warning passengers who own the Note 7 that the phone will not be allowed on planes. I encountered such a warning when I booked a flight this week to San Francisco using Southwest. Southwest sent an email advising that no Note 7 devices will be allowed on the plane.
On Friday, November 4, 2016, Samsung advised that nearly 85 percent of the recalled Galaxy Note 7 devices sold in the United States have been returned or exchanged for another device, with most opting for a different phone. I have been informed that current users of the Note 7 receive almost daily texts and emails requesting that the Note 7 devices be returned due to the recall. For those who insist on using the Note 7, Samsung is planning new ways to encourage the “holdouts” to stop using the devices. As an example, Samsung plans on releasing a software update within the next 60 days that will limit the battery charge of these phones to 60 percent capacity, and will also warn users of the risks of an explosion every time the phone is charged, rebooted, or turned on.
What About those who have been injured by the Note 7?
Unfortunately, users of the Note 7 who have been injured by the exploding device are not out of luck as these individuals are likely entitled to compensation for their injuries. Thus, we highly recommend those injured to retain a competent attorney immediately.
If you are one of the Note 7 victims, and you have been injured by an exploding Samsung device, or have sustained injuries as a result of a malfunctioning cell phone, contact a Los Angeles lawyer now to determine whether you are entitled to compensation. KatzLaw is determined to fight hard against cell phone companies and manufacturers so they can pay for injuries resulting from malfunctioning devices.
Call (844) KATZ-LAW now before it is too late!
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