Vehicles are required to be designed with the safety of occupants in mind. Yet many injuries and deaths each year are caused when defective gas tanks cause fuel-fed fires and explosions upon collision.
Fuel Fed Fires
The damage from a car accident increases significantly in the event of a 'fuel fed fire'. This type of fire occurs when the flammable liquids in a car ignite, such as oil, gas & power steering fluid. If a car catches fire, it's possible that there was a design defect. The car should be inspected as soon as possible to determine whether the accident was due to a gas tank design defect.
Types of Gas Tank Defects
When involved in an auto accident, defective gas tanks can lead to serious and sometimes fatal fires. The most common defects we see involve the design and manufacture of the gas tank, including:
Gas Tank Placement
Commonly seen in rear-impact collisions where the gas tank was placed in a vulnerable location, such as below the rear axle or near protruding bolts.
Gas Tank Cracks
Cracks can cause fuel to leak when filling up the tanks, often the result of a manufacturing error.
Fuel Line Separation or Leaks
Fuel-injected engines require fuel to pass through fuel lines at high pressure. If there is separation or a leak, the fuel can spark or feed a resulting fire.
