What to Know About Car Accident Fires

Posted on November 27, 2019 | Written By: iadminlaw

For residents of California, wildfires have become an all-too-common sight. The last several weeks have brought catastrophic flames throughout the state, and particularly in the Los Angeles area. Needless to say, these fires pose a major safety threat, and have invited renewed focus on the best ways to deal with fires of all kinds.

For example, what about car accident fires? It’s by no means uncommon for vehicles to go up in flames, sometimes due to major engine failings and sometimes due to collision with other cars or trucks. It can be petrifying to see your own vehicle catch fire, yet there are some basic steps you can follow to uphold personal safety.

Of course, if you’re ever injured in a car accident, whether fire-related or not, we urge you to seek representation from a car accident lawyer; reach out to our firm for details.

How to Deal with Car Accident Fires

What should motorists know about addressing car accident fires? Some tips from our car accident law firm include:

• If you see flames or smell smoke, immediately put on your signal and turn off the main road at your next opportunity; park your car in the first safe place you can find, whether it’s the shoulder or the median.
• Stop the car and immediately turn off the ignition.
• Promptly get everyone out of the car, and don’t let anyone delay or go back to the car to retrieve personal items.
• Move at least 100 feet away from the vehicle to avoid flames, explosions, and toxic fumes. Make sure you warn bystanders to back away, as well.
• Call 911 and let them know what’s happened.
• If possible, alert oncoming traffic, advising them to head in the other direction.
• Don’t try to put out the fire yourself. Instead, be warned that opening the door or the hood can actually fuel the fire, giving it more oxygen and more room to spread.
• Once the fire has been contained, check your auto insurance policy to see if it covers car accident fires. If you have any questions, reach out to a car accident lawyer ASAP.

These are our recommendations for responding to a car accident fire, but is there anything you can do to avoid a fire in the first place? That’s what we’ll discuss in the next section.

What Causes a Car Fire Accident?

There are a number of potential factors that can make a car catch fire, including collision with other vehicles. However, it’s important to note that the vast majority of car fires are caused by failure of key systems, such as the vehicle’s electrical system.

The single most important thing you can do to keep your car safe and fire-free, then, is to stay on top of routine auto maintenance. Make sure you take your vehicle to a trusted service center at least once every six months for an oil change and tire rotation; while you’re there, get a full vehicle inspection, ensuring any red flags or warning signs are promptly dealt with.

Additionally, it’s important to be alert to the signs that something’s on the fritz with your electrical system or your fuel system, and to act quickly when you observe any of these red flags:

• Repeat problems with blown fuses
• Spilled oil under the hood, particularly following an oil change
• Oil leaks under the vehicle
• Broken or loose hoses
• Wiring with exposed metal
• Cracked or loose wiring
• Loud noise coming from the exhaust system
• Missing cap for the oil filter

If you take notice of any of these indicators, it means your vehicle is at risk for potential fire; schedule a service appointment ASAP.

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer to Help

Hopefully, the guidelines we’ve offered here will help you to avoid any car accident fires; and if you do experience a fire in your vehicle, we hope we’ve equipped you to respond appropriately.

If you sustain injury or significant property damage due to a car accident fire, please know that a team of car accident lawyers may be able to help guide your insurance claim and seek the maximum monetary compensation. In particular, we encourage residents of California to keep I Accident Lawyer in mind.

Some reasons to choose our car accident lawyers:

• We only represent those who have been injured; we don’t represent insurance companies.
• We are available for consultation 24/7.
• We are happy to meet with you at home, in your office, or even in the hospital, if needed.
• We always fight for our clients to receive the maximum monetary compensation.
• We only get paid if you get paid and won’t bill you until we win your case.

If you have questions or need help in the aftermath of a car accident fire, we encourage you to contact I Accident Lawyer at your next convenience.