One Person Killed in Automobile Accident, Car Catches Fire
A four-car pileup left one person dead and one seriously injured in Seminole County, Florida. The accident occurred when a 31-year-old woman failed to stop in time to prevent from hitting a Jeep in front of her. Authorities said the woman did not see that traffic had stopped in front of her but they are unsure what caused her to not see the traffic stopping. The vehicles both caught fire and the passenger of the Jeep was burned beyond recognition. These vehicles are currently the subject of a recall because they are susceptible to catching fire if they are struck from behind; a result of the location of the fuel tank on the vehicle. As a result of the fire, the roadway near the area where the accident occurred will need to be resurfaced.
The Jeep Company stated they had cooperated fully with the investigation launched by the NHTSA regarding the fuel system in the Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The vehicles affected are from 1993 to 2004 model years. The company said they had conducted their own tests on the affected vehicles and found that they do not pose a serious threat in rear-impact collisions in terms of the location of the fuel system. However, if the police investigation in this accident presents evidence that the vehicle caught fire as a result of the fuel system being damaged in the rear-impact accident, the company could be held liable for their negligence in ensuring that the affected vehicles were safe.
Automobile accidents due to defective vehicles are not very common in any situation, but this accident shows that there is still a possibility for them to occur and it is the company’s responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are completely safe and there is no risk to human life as a result of the defects. Although the company did their own testing, it still does not rule out the possibility that damage to the fuel system in this particular Jeep model was a direct cause of the death of the passenger in the Jeep vehicle following this accident.
If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a defect in a vehicle that resulted in a serious accident, the company should be held liable for their negligence and an attorney can assist you in bringing justice against the company for failing to repair or adequately prevent the defects in their vehicles.
