A recreational vehicle (RV) caught fire outside of San Diego, California, resulting in severe burns to the driver and forcing another occupant and a dog to look for other places to live. The incident showcases the dangers of car fires, and how difficult it can be to predict them and protect against them.
RV Engulfed in Flames, One Hurt
The incident happened late at night on August 31, 2016 in Chula Vista, California, just south of the city of San Diego and just north of the Mexican border. The 56-year-old owner of the RV had parked the vehicle illegally in a parking lot of a storage facility near the southern tip of the San Diego Bay. He and another man, along with a dog, were using the RV has their home.
When the owner went to start the engine, however, the vehicle burst into flames, which eventually spread to damage a van in the parking lot, nearby. The other occupant and the dog escaped without injury, but the driver was unable to get out before suffering severe burns on his back. He was rushed to the University of California, San Diego’s Burn Center, where he is undergoing treatment.
The fire department stated that the fire did not appear to be suspicious, but they are still investigating.
Car Fires Are Shockingly Common
Vehicle fires like this one are surprisingly common. A study by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), found that an average of 152,300 vehicles caught fire every year between 2006 and 2010, an average of 17 per hour. These accidents killed an average of 209 people per year, and injured 764 more.
Even though these numbers seem high, they are actually far better than an earlier study by the NFPA for the time period between 2003 and 2007.
Mechanical or Electrical Issues Often to Blame
The NFPA’s studies also found that about two-thirds of the car fires during this period were caused by mechanical or electrical defects.
These defects are especially dangerous because drivers tend not to be aware of the hazardous situation until it is too late. Perhaps even worse, there is almost no way to find out about the problem before it becomes a danger, and almost no way to fix it before risking an injury.
Products Liability Claims Can Get the Compensation that You Deserve
Situations like these are ripe for a products liability lawsuit. These lawsuits claim that you were injured through no fault of your own, but because of a faulty product, like the wiring in your car. In many cases, you are far from the only person to be injured – when something like a car is poorly made, those defects are rarely confined to that particular car, and instead often extend to all of the cars in that model, or that were made in that plant.
Get the Legal Help You Need
If you or someone you love was burned in a car fire, you might be the victim of a products liability problem. Contact Williams Elleby Howard & Easter in Cobb County today.
