Auto manufacturers understand the dangers of defective or leaky fuel systems, as even a tiny leak can cause oil vapors to escape and lead to deadly car fires and explosions. Engineers ensure they design safe vehicles and follow the recommended standards to minimize the risk of such incidents. Although car fires are rare, they happen, and they can lead to devastating consequences when they do.
Whether it is manufacturer’s defect or negligence, Ehline Law and our personal injury lawyers have over a decade of experience handling car accident claims and getting injured victims the compensation they deserve. Contact our Los Angeles car fire injury lawyer if you’ve suffered injuries in a car fire in Los Angeles to learn more about your rights.
Common Causes of Car Fires
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were 212,500 vehicle fires in the United States in 2020, resulting in 560 deaths and 1,500 injuries, and $1.9 billion in damages.
The CarsMetric 2022 data and research revealed Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, and Dodge as the top five vehicles with car fires in 2020. About 190,000 vehicles catch fire due to electrical or mechanical problems, while the rest of the vehicle fires start because of car accidents.
Plug-in hybrids and hybrid-electric vehicles are the most common vehicles that catch fire due to their highly volatile lithium-ion batteries that are susceptible to igniting damage or overheating problems.
There are several causes of car fires, and some of these include the following:
- Exposed gas tanks
- Overheated catalytic converters
- Defective car batteries
- Mechanical or electrical system failure
- Spilled flammable fluids
- Fuel leaks.
Car fires can be a serious distraction, leading to car accidents causing injuries and, in some cases, wrongful deaths. You must seek medical attention immediately if you’ve suffered injuries due to a car fire.
Common Car Fire Injuries
Common car accident injuries after a car crash include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, head or neck injuries, and many more. These are different from an accident victim’s experience in a car fire.
There are two major types of injuries that victims can sustain in car fires, and these include:
- Burns: When the fire burns through the vehicle and the injured victim comes into contact with it, they may sustain burn injuries. Depending on exposure time, a victim may sustain several degrees of burn injuries. The most critical burn injuries require amputation and life-saving techniques to help save the victim’s life. In some cases, it may result in wrongful death.
- Toxic exposure: Burns are not the only concern car fire victims need to worry about. When car fires run rampant, they release deadly toxic gases into the atmosphere, often collecting inside the vehicle and leading to lung damage, suffocation, and other respiratory problems.
California Car Accident Laws
Under personal injury law, injured victims may seek compensation if their car fire injuries occurred due to another’s negligence or their wrongdoing arising from the intent to harm.
However, to have a valid car accident claim, they must prove the four critical elements, including:
- Duty
- Breach
- Causation
- Damages.
A car fire can sometimes happen due to a manufacturing defect (mechanical or electrical failure in the vehicle). Under strict liability tort, car manufacturers are liable for ensuring the safety of their vehicles before selling them to consumers. In case a manufacturing defect results in injuries to a victim, they may have grounds to bring a personal injury claim against the auto manufacturer.
After an accident, victims must speak to experienced car accident lawyers to learn more about their rights. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can help navigate the local and state laws, guiding you on the available legal options.
What Damages Can You Recover for Injuries Due to Vehicle Fire?
The damages available in personal injury cases arising from vehicle fires depend on the circumstances surrounding the case. Every personal injury claim is unique, and injured victims need to reach out to experienced personal injury attorneys and let them evaluate their personal injury claims.
Although car accidents can be devastating, some of the worst injuries victims may sustain are burn injuries from car fires. They are painful, and depending on the severity of the burns, the victim may require intensive burn care at a specialized burn center.
Typically, accident victims may be able to recover the following damages following their injuries due to car fires:
- Medical bills (surgeries, specialized burn care, prescription medication, therapy and rehabilitation, future medical expenses, and more)
- Lost wages (Current, past, and future earnings)
- Life-long care and assisted living
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress.
How Can Ehline Law Help with your Car Fire Injury Claim?
Unlike many other law firms, Ehline Law has the financial resources to allocate toward investigating your accident and getting you the compensation you deserve.
Here are a few other reasons why Ehline Law is the perfect personal injury law firm to handle your car fire claim:
- Pursuing personal injury lawsuits is expensive and time-consuming, but you can recover much more if you have the legal resources and concrete evidence. On the other hand, settlements are far easier as parties avoid going to court and resolving the conflict. Our car accident attorney can evaluate your case and determine whether filing a claim or pursuing a lawsuit is your best option.
- Determining the liable party in motor vehicle accidents can be challenging as, in some cases, it may involve multiple parties. Accident victims who fail to identify all the negligent parties or the right party responsible for their injuries lose monetary damages.
- Our experienced car accident lawyer can help gather the evidence to establish the elements of a personal injury claim and bolster your case.
- Often, car accident victims are unaware of the legal process and face challenges or hurdles. In some cases, it ends up in a claim rejection or denial. We will comply with the legal process and file your car accident claim on your behalf, increasing your chances of financial recovery.
- Another major hurdle when pursuing a personal injury claim is dealing with the insurance company and its adjusters. An insurance company will use every trick in the book to reduce or deny your claim. Ehline Law’s experienced personal injury attorney in Los Angeles can handle the insurance company and negotiate a fair settlement for you.
Why Choose Ehline Law Car Accident Attorneys
There are a few reasons why our auto accident attorneys at Ehline Law are the best in Los Angeles, some of which include the following:
- Ehline Law is an award-winning law firm with our personal injury attorneys receiving multiple local and national recognitions, such as the Superlawyers Rising Star award (from 2006 to 2015), Premier Personal Injury Attorneys (2015), and more.
- We have recovered in excess of $150 million in compensation while handling more than 3,000 personal injury cases. Our extensive experience and state and local knowledge make us the best choice for your car fire injury claim.
- Our attorneys have helped draft consumer safety laws, which makes us better equipped to handle your car fire injury claim if your injuries occurred due to a manufacturer’s defect.
- Ehline Law has a reputation as an aggressive litigation firm that will not stop until they’ve recovered maximum compensation for their clients. Insurance companies are well aware of our reputation and our tenacity in pursuing claims. If they don’t give you a reasonable settlement offer, we’re not afraid of pursuing a personal injury lawsuit in court.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Ehline Law
If you suffered injuries in a car fire due to no fault of your own, contact us at (833) LETS-SUE for a free consultation, as you may be eligible for compensation. We also offer virtual consultations.