Car Fires Burns

The  National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently published an article entitled Human Survivability in Motor Vehicle Fires which outlines the grim statistics of motor vehicle fires:

• Deaths from automobile fires constitute the largest number of U.S. fire deaths outside of residences and rank overall among the top scenarios involving consumer products.
• Of the 1.6 million car fires reported each year in the U.S., one out of five (300 000) are vehicle fires.
• Three quarters (¾) of vehicle fires are caused by mechanical or electrical failures during normal operation.
• Less than 10% of vehicle fires are caused by collisions, but escape is more difficult in these situations and collisions account for the overwhelming majority (60–75%) of vehicle fire fatalities.
• Car fires cause some 3000 injuries and claim some 500 lives per year in the U.S.
• About two-thirds (2/3) of these motor vehicle fires are due to front impact, side impact, or rollover and about one-third of which result from other causes including rear impact.
• The rapid progression of fire and incapacitation of passengers were contributing factors in two-thirds (2/3) of vehicle fire deaths.
• It has been suggested that the number of fatalities attributed to motor vehicle fires is a gross underestimate because of ambiguous reporting methods, but there is no doubt that motor vehicles are a major component of the fire death problem.
• Given the fact that motor vehicles cause numbers of fire deaths comparable to those from mattresses or upholstered furniture, it is somewhat surprising that vehicles are not facing comparable regulatory scrutiny, either in the U.S. or elsewhere.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for regulation and oversight of motor vehicle safety, including fire resistance. NHTSA issued Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 301 to govern motor vehicle fuel system integrity, while FMVSS 302 regulates flammability of a vehicle’s interior components, such as dashboards, seating, carpeting, etc.

The problem with these standards is that there are grossly inadequate (1) because automotive manufacturers have challenged the standards and lobbied Congress; (2) the information on which they are based is outdated; (3) the testing used to create and revises these standards were inadequate. NHTSA’s own recommendations in 2000 demonstrated the need for updated FMVSS 301 and 302. Little has been done since then.

The Motor Vehicle Fire Research Institute (MVFRI)has conducted research and studies on several of these issues. To date, however, the same minimal FVSS 301 and FMVSS 302 exist.

Risk of Vehicle Fire

Consumers are at risk from car fires. Unfortunately, there is little awareness of this in the public domain. Car fires can lead to severe, permanent, debilitating burn injuries or even death.

Burn Injury Claim

We're here to help you in the event you have, or your loved one has, suffered a devastating burn injury or fire-related death caused by a car fire or other vehicle fire.

Contact our dedicated and caring personal injury attorneys today for a confidential discussion of your burn injury or fire-related death claim. We may be able to help, and would like to help you and your family get through this most challenging time.

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