The Top Four Things You Need To Know About Car Fires

Did you know that there are over 250,000 reported car fires ever year in the United States? Or that car fires result in over 2,000 serious injuries and fatalities annually? Many families have family plans and escape routes in case of a home fire or apartment fire, but very few people have a plan of what to do if they are faced with a car fire.

Here are four facts about car fires that will help you prevent vehicle fires, reduce your risk of injury in a vehicle fire, and help spread awareness of vehicle fires:

• If you escape a vehicle fire, you are not safe until you are as far away from the vehicle as possible. It may be common sense to get out of a car quickly when there’s a vehicle fire, but you may not know that you need to run at least a few hundred feet from the fire to be really safe. Car fires are often paired with explosions and car part shrapnel – two events that can lead to serious injury even if you’re no longer in the vehicle.
• Many car fires can be prevented by regular maintenance. The leading cause of car fires is poor maintenance – meaning that a huge number of car fires could be easily prevented by vehicle owners. It may cost a few bucks to get your car tuned up regularly, but it could save your car and your life.
• A significant number of car fire injuries happen when drivers try to put out their own fires. Car fires start small, but they can spread quickly. A car fire almost always requires professional help. Again – if a fire starts, get far away from the car and call the police to avoid burn injuries and smoke inhalation.
• Another big cause of car fires is auto design flaws. Not all car fires are caused by collisions or poor maintenance – some are caused by poor wiring and poor car design. If your care has been recalled due to car fires, be sure get bring your vehicle in, and if you have been involved in a car fire that you believe was started by a defective car, speak with a defective products lawyer today.