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E-bike setting fire to an apartment building. CTIF / Chat GPT
25 Oct 2024

One e-bike incident for LFB every two days: 12 e-bike fire survivors are suing London landlords and battery manufacturer after a fatal fire

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In what may be the first legal action of its kind, twelve survivors of a fatal e-bike battery fire have filed lawsuits against their landlords and the battery manufacturer, The Guardian and other UK media outlets report. 

The fire, which broke out in the early hours of March 5, 2023, in a two-bedroom flat in London, England,  tragically claimed the life of 41-year-old man.  An investigation by the coroner determined the fire was sparked by a defective e-bike battery.

In September 2023, a coroner’s inquest into the death of the 41-year old confirmed he had succumbed to heat and smoke inhalation injuries. The inquest prompted the coroner to issue a prevention of future deaths report, urging the government to enforce stricter regulations on e-bike batteries and chargers to prevent similar tragedies.

The lawsuit, filed by the survivors, targets Leon Cycle Ltd., the battery manufacturer, for alleged negligence and breaches under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. It also names the property’s landlords, who have previously pleaded guilty to housing offenses related to the fire.

The tenants, all of Bangladeshi heritage, were paying £100 cash weekly to live in cramped, bunk-bed conditions, shared by a total of 20 individuals. One survivor, Nazmush Shahadat, explained his motivation for joining the lawsuit: “What happened that night will stay with us forever. I want to prevent a tragedy like this from happening to anyone else.”

 

LFB attended e-bike fires every two days during 2023

In response to the rise in e-bike-related fires, the UK government launched the “Buy Safe, Be Safe” campaign, advising consumers to avoid unsafe ebikes, e-scooters, and low-quality components often sold by unregulated online sellers. This initiative comes after an alarming increase in such fires, with the London Fire Brigade attending incidents every two days in 2023.

Daniel Cooper, a solicitor with Imran Khan and Partners, emphasized the urgency of the issue: “We represent survivors and bereaved families across the UK who have suffered due to e-bike battery fires. It’s vital to hold companies supplying defective lithium batteries accountable.”

Leon Cycle Ltd. was contacted by the Guardian in order to give a response to the lawsuit. 

 

Photo Credit: Symbolic illustration of an e-bike setting fire to an apartment building. CTIF / Chat GPT