Car fires can be catastrophic, injuring the driver, passengers, bystanders and firefighters alike with thermal burns. Car fires may not be as commonly seen today, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. The improved safety in newer cars may have decreased fires, but that doesn’t mean they are immune.
In 2020, car fires have decreased to nearly 173,00 from the colossal number of 456,000 car fires in the 1980s. But, why are there still vehicle fires today? Here’s what you should know:
Poor maintenance
A vehicle is just like a human body, if you treat your body right then you should expect good things in return, but if you mistreat and neglect your body then you can expect it to shut down and contract illnesses – car fires could be caused by neglect and mistreatment of a car.
A vehicle may slowly break down, spill fluids, crack or reveal wires that may start vehicle fires – older vehicles may be especially susceptible to car fires. If a poorly trained or neglectful mechanic were to improperly repair a vehicle, then there may be more chance of a car fire occurring.
Overheating converters and batteries
Depending on the type of car you have: fully electric or mechanical, then you could expect your vehicle to overheat, resulting in a car fire.
In mechanical cars, catalytic converters can overheat by overworking when trying to burn off exhaust fumes. If there are mechanical problems with your car, then it may be giving off extra fumes, causing the converter to overheat and ignite flammable parts.
Electric cars, however, may not have catalytic converters but can have battery issues. If a car battery experiences too much heat (because of electric issues or weather) then it may suddenly combust.
Issues with a car could be caused by poor maintenance, manufacturing errors or defects in the product which have resulted in your injuries. In such an instance, it may be possible for you to pursue a claim for compensation.