A car fire can be a terrifying experience, one by which many have suffered painful and life-altering injuries. Burn injuries can leave an accident victim with disfiguring scars, the need for multiple surgeries and the permanent loss of mobility. Burn victims often describe the process of recovering from their injuries as some of the most excruciating medical procedures through which they have ever gone.
While many vehicles have safety features that prevent them from erupting in flames in a crash, the fact is that countless accidents do result in fires. If you or a loved one has suffered burn injuries in a car fire, you may be looking for information about how these events occur and how you can seek the compensation you need and deserve if the fire resulted from someone else’s negligence or reckless actions.
Damage, defect or disregard for your safety
Even if you are diligent about having your vehicle serviced, you cannot always control what happens in the mechanic’s garage. Inept service or defective parts may contribute to your vehicle’s flammability, and you may want to hold accountable those who are responsible for these factors. In addition, some of the following are often reasons why a vehicle may catch fire, whether you have an accident or are simply operating the vehicle normally:
- Damage or design flaws in the large batteries that operate electric and hybrid cars make a fire more likely.
- An engine may catch fire if a design flaw or poor maintenance causes it to overheat.
- A fire may occur after a mechanic spills fluids into your engine or if a defect in design allows flammable fluids to escape.
- A poorly designed or maintained catalytic converter may run extremely hot, even hotter than its normal 2,000 degrees, resulting in the combustion of other parts under the hood.
Of course, a vehicle crash can cause damage to any of these delicate engine parts, causing fuel leaks or other dangerous situations that may lead to catastrophic fires. When such an accident results from another driver’s negligence or recklessness, your focus may be holding that driver accountable through a Texas civil claim.
However, when a design flaw in a vehicle creates circumstances that lead to a vehicle fire, you may be facing the daunting task of going up against a large auto maker in pursuit of just compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering. Nevertheless, with skilled and experienced legal assistance, you may find that the playing field becomes level and your chances of meeting your goals improve.