{"id":353382,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:55","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/product-liability\/tobacco-smoking-injury-dangers.html"},"modified":"2024-01-08T17:30:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T22:30:55","slug":"tobacco-smoking-injury-dangers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/product-liability\/tobacco-smoking-injury-dangers.html","title":{"rendered":"Smoking-Related Injuries and Tobacco Company Liability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Smoking-Related Injuries and Tobacco Company Liability<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Tobacco smoking is a leading cause of preventable death, responsible for over 8 million deaths annually, including 1.3 million from second-hand smoke. It causes severe health issues such as lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory conditions, and costs the U.S. over $240 billion in healthcare expenses each year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Tobacco and cigarette manufacturers warn consumers about the dangers of smoking, but smokers continue using the products. Despite American tobacco companies providing warnings, they have some level of liability when consumers who use cigarettes get sick or die. This holds even though most smokers know about the harmful effects of using\u00a0tobacco products<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to the World Health Organization (WHO),\u00a0tobacco products and cigarette smoking<\/a>\u00a0kill more than 8 million people every year. This includes approximately 1.3 million non-smokers who die as a result of second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is tobacco smoke exhaled by smokers and inhaled involuntarily or passively by other people.<\/p>\n

Tobacco-related illnesses such as lung cancer, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis\u00a0cost hundreds of billions of dollars each year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC), smoking-related illness in the United States results in over $240 billion in direct healthcare costs for adults.<\/p>\n

In the U.S., an estimated one of every five deaths is smoking-related. Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined.<\/p>\n

If you’re considering going up against Big Tobacco, you’ll want expert legal help on your side. Tobacco companies are well-resourced with in-house attorneys to defend against lawsuits. A product liability attorney<\/a> in your area can review your situation and advise whether pursuing legal action is worth your time and effort.<\/p>\n

Just How Dangerous Is Cigarette Smoking?<\/h2>\n

Smoking and\u00a0chewing tobacco<\/a>\u00a0is the most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the U.S. Smoking is so dangerous that federal law has labeling requirements for cigarette packaging.<\/p>\n

Labeling Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Federal law requires cigarette manufacturers to place\u00a0warnings<\/a>\u00a0on every package of cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco.<\/p>\n

Legally, these warnings must be clear and direct. They must educate about the dangers of smoking and tobacco products. The labeling requirements require companies to include the following language and information:<\/p>\n