Car fires are not uncommon after an accident, and you probably know that airbags can cause chemical burns when they deploy, but you may not know that some vehicle defects can cause fires without a crash and even when the vehicle is not in use. If the car is parked in a garage or near the house, it can lead to a tragic house fire. If your burn injuries were the result of a defective vehicle, you need the help of a highly skilled personal injury attorney who has extensive experience handling product liability and burn injury cases.
Fuel System Defects
Fuel system defects are a common cause of post-accident fires. Examples include:
- Dangerous fuel tank design
- Dangerous fuel tank placement
- Fuel line defect
- Fuel pump defect
Spontaneous Car Fires
Spontaneous fires occurring when there is no collision and sometimes when the car is not in use at all, are often involve electrical systems or batteries. For instance, in November 2020, Nissan recalled 450,000 vehicles worldwide due to fire risk caused by brake fluid leaking onto a circuit board which could cause it to short-circuit and catch on fire. The automaker advised owners to park the vehicles outside and away from structures if the antilock brake light comes on for more than 10 seconds.
In October 2019, Hyundai and Kia reached a $760million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over an engine defect leading to spontaneous fires in certain models of their vehicles.
Just how common are defects that can cause spontaneous fires? Too common for comfort. According to a February 2019 report by ABC News, there had been parked-car-fire-related recalls since 2017.
Defective Airbags
It seems that the saga of defective Takata airbags will never end. In December 2019, it was discovered that yet another version of Takata airbags have a defect that can cause fatal malfunctions, including causing the airbags to explode.
Defective airbags can cause frictions burns when they deploy with too much force. Chemical burns can result from the chemicals used to deploy the bags.
If you or someone your love has suffered burn injuries due to a defective vehicle, whether the burns were crash-related or not, please search our directory for an experienced burn injury attorney in your area and schedule your free consultation right away.