Fiery car crashes make for fantastic scenes in the movies, but definitely not real-life.
Having worked with clients that have suffered serious 3rd degree burns, I can tell you that any burn injury will be extremely painful and most likely have an affect on your quality of life.
Car fires in the occur more frequently than one might think. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, there are over 150,000 vehicle fires per year in the U.S. On average there were 17 vehicle fires every hour and an average of 4 deaths per week that could be attributed to a vehicle fire.
Am I at Risk?
The short answer to that question is yes-if you own or ride in any type of automobile you are at risk of being in a car fire.
Some car fires have been caused by:
- poor maintenance of the engine- leaky hoses and worn out parts can cause the engine to overheat or fluids to leak onto hot components of the engine and spark a fire
- leaky fuel lines
- collision with another car or object
- damage to the battery
- fuel tanks located behind the wheel axel or on the side of the vehicle
Are Some Vehicles Less Likely to Have a Car Fire Than Others?
Yes, while all vehicles have some risk of catching fire in a crash, vehicles that have the fuel in a vulnerable place have an increased risk of catching fire or exploding when the vehicle is in an accident. Occupants inside of the vehicle, who may already be injured from the accident, may not be able to free themselves from the restraints inside the vehicle or the vehicle itself before sustaining serious injuries or death.
If you or a loved one has sustained serious burn injuries due to a vehicle fire, call Personal Injury Lawyer Paul Thomson for a free evaluation of your case. Call today
(540) 777-4900 .