Fuel-Fed Auto Fires
Getting in a car accident is dangerous enough without having to worry about the possibility of your car being engulfed in flames due to a design defect. Fuel-fed car fires are a real danger and often do more harm than the actual crash. The Pennsylvania fuel-fed fire lawyers at the Philadelphia law firm of Reiff & Bily have been researching and handling numerous automobile related injury cases since 1979.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that during 2004, fire departments responded to an estimated 266,500 highway-type vehicle fires. These fires claimed 520 lives and caused $969 million in direct property damage.
The Ford Pinto is a prime example of how a defect can result in fatalities. The defect was in the design of the strap on gas tank that made it susceptible to leakage and fire in low to moderate speed collisions. Not only did Ford know of the defect and the possibility of a fuel-fed fire, but they continued to market the Pinto. Innocent lives were lost because Ford marketed a dangerous design. Ford ended up recalling the Pintos and tried to make them safer. Additional information on the Pinto recall is available.
Types of fuel-fed or crash fires include: car crash fires resulting from poorly placed gas tanks and unshielded fuel systems (like the Pinto), faulty wiring such as the ignition system wires and other car electrical system wiring can short out and spark, fluid leak car fires from damaged fuel lines, hoses, caps, and filters, or exhaust system fires resulting from an improperly installed muffler and exhaust system. A car crash is not always necessary to cause a fire.
A majority of the fuel-fed fires are caused by poor manufacturing or car design defects. These include: filler cap neck separation, fire from an added fuel tank that is not protected, fuel line tearing or separation of the fuel line from the carburetor, fuel pump, or fuel tank, fuel tank placement under the trunk floor, a lack of a barrier or shield to prevent a fuel tank rupture, lack of a fuel cut-off device, a lack of an anti-siphoning device to prevent continued gas flow after a collision, a puncture of the fuel tank because of poor design such as a protruding screw or other object, or a seam weld failure in the fuel tank.
The best way to prevent fuel-fed fires is to make sure you keep your car inspected. Watch out for leaks or damaged hoses in/under the car. Be alert to any sudden changes to your automobile such as the car’s exhaust is smoking, making a funny noise, or leaking fluids.
The Pennsylvania vehicle lawyers at Reiff & Bily work on a contingent fee basis, charging a small percentage of the recovery. They will not get paid one cent unless there is a successful recovery. They have handled numerous automobile accidents and fuel-fire cases and have successfully recovered in excess of $150 million dollars from their opponents for physical injuries and emotional damages.
If you are in need of an attorney because you or someone you love has suffered a serious injury as a result of a fuel-fed fire, please call the experienced Pennsylvania auto accident lawyers at the law firm of Reiff & Bily.
