There have been several incidents in the news of Tesla owners impacted by vehicle door malfunctions. In most situations, owners were simply unable to enter their vehicles. But in a number of scenarios, Tesla owners actually became trapped inside of their vehicle or died after it caught fire.
The exact circumstances of each incident remain under investigation. In numerous situations, the crash may have initially been caused by a Tesla vehicle in semi-autonomous mode. In recent years, Tesla has voluntarily issued a non-compliance recall after it was discovered that vehicle doors may malfunction and inadvertently open in the event of a crash.
What Is Causing Tesla Vehicles To Catch Fire?
Tesla vehicle fires can be complex events and may be the result of a variety of different factors. Tesla vehicles are electric and powered by enormous battery packs at the base of the vehicle. For the most part, Tesla fires are caused by severe damage to the battery in the event of a crash. Fires are much more likely if any part of the battery becomes punctured. There are several other potential reasons that a Tesla vehicle may catch fire.
- Battery Thermal Runway: Tesla vehicle battery packs are made up of a series of lithium-ion batteries. These batteries can experience a phenomenon known as thermal runway. This is a dangerous chain reaction that occurs when the temperature of one battery cell causes heat to be produced until the entire unit is on fire.
- Charging Issues: Damaged charging equipment or electrical faults during charging can potentially cause a fire. These types of fires tend to occur due to the use of improper third-party charging equipment.
- Manufacturing Defects: Tesla vehicles are complex pieces of machinery. Any manufacturing defect with the battery or electrical systems could potentially lead to a fire. In particular, there could be a faulty connection between cells.
- Software or Sensor Failures: Defects with the Battery Management System (BMS) of a Tesla could result in a fire. For example, a defect with the software may prevent it from being able to detect overheating or overcharging, leading to unsafe conditions.
Tesla and other companies pour a great deal of resources into making vehicles safe. But the tests they perform are often in idealized settings. It is difficult, if not impossible, to replicate all of the circumstances that may lead a battery pack to catch fire. If any type of defect contributed to a Tesla fire, the company could potentially face liability for resulting injuries. This is one of the reasons it is so important that the reason any Tesla vehicle catches fire is properly understood.
Why Are Tesla Vehicle Doors Trapping Occupants?
Unlike many traditional vehicles, nearly all parts of a Tesla rely on the battery in order to function properly. As such, numerous people have been locked out of (or trapped inside) their vehicle if it loses power. According to Popular Mechanics, “The frequently documented problem is tied to a smaller, separate 12V battery located in the EV that controls windows, door locks, and various other internal electronics. Even if a Tesla’s main battery is charged, the car can trap people inside if the secondary battery drains or malfunctions.” Tesla has been aware of this issue for some time. There are a number of hazards associated with vehicle entrapment.
- Medical Emergencies: People could be seriously injured if they are trapped inside of a Tesla in the midst of a medical emergency.
- Heat Exhaustion: Being trapped inside of a Tesla poses a high risk of heat exhaustion and other heat-related injuries during adverse weather conditions.
- Hypothermia: Tesla batteries drain faster in cold temperatures. Becoming trapped in a Tesla during cold conditions can create a high risk of injury or even death from hypothermia.
- Vehicle Fires: A vehicle fire can start quickly and often without warning. Even short-term exposure to a vehicle fire can result in catastrophic burn injuries or death. In fact, most fire fatalities are the result of suffocation from smoke exposure.
- Drowning: If a person is unable to exit their car through their door or open their windows, they could be at risk of drowning if their vehicle becomes submerged.
- Car Accidents: Being trapped inside of a Tesla on the roadway poses an extremely high risk of serious injury or death from being hit by another vehicle. Drivers are supposed to slow down to avoid vehicles stopped in the road, but this doesn’t always happen.
Each Tesla vehicle has secret manual door releases that can be used when the vehicle has no power. These are located in front of the window switches. However, there are a number of potential issues with this design. These switches are unlabeled and virtually never used by vehicle owners. Many owners aren’t even aware that they exist. The switches for passengers in the backseat are in an even more obscure location at the feet of the rear passenger seats. In the event of a fire or flood, the chaos of the situation can leave vehicle occupants dangerously confused about what they are supposed to do.
Determining Liability For Injuries Caused By Tesla Vehicle Fires
Depending on the facts of any case, Tesla could face liability if someone is killed or injured in a fire involving their vehicles. The cause of any Tesla fire could involve multiple defects with a vehicle. This could include a faulty autopilot system, which causes the vehicle to crash. It may involve defects with the lithium-ion battery pack. Of course, a defect with the vehicle’s door may trap occupants and make an escape needlessly difficult. Generally speaking, plaintiffs can assert three different types of actions in a product liability claim, including negligence, strict product liability, and breach of warranty. In negligence and strict liability cases, the plaintiff must show that the product was either defective or unreasonably dangerous.
- Design Defects: A product may have a design defect if (1) it created a substantial risk of injury. (2) It was feasible that the product could have been designed in a safe manner. (3) The defect was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury.
- Marketing Defects: A product may have a marketing defect if the manufacturer fails to warn about the non-obvious hazards associated with the use of the product.
- Manufacturing Defects: A product may have a manufacturing defect if it caused injury by not performing as intended. However, other products with an identical design do not fail.
Tesla has made a number of questionable design decisions with respect to their vehicles. Many people have been killed in accidents involving Tesla vehicles, especially after their Tesla caught fire. This is particularly true with respect to vehicles in autopilot. These vehicles are supposed to slow down for stopped traffic. But a number of vehicles in autopilot have collided with stopped vehicles or other fixed objects before catching fire. The company has faced a number of lawsuits following these accidents. After any injury from a Tesla vehicle fire, it is important to discuss your legal options with a skilled attorney.
The Benefits of Hiring An Injury Attorney After Tesla Vehicle Fires
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Tesla vehicle fire, hiring an experienced attorney can be a crucial step towards preserving your rights. Going through an accident can be traumatic and disruptive for both individuals and their families. Accident victims often sustain very serious and costly injuries. They may also need to take extensive periods of time away from work. There are a number of ways that an attorney can help following an accident.
- An attorney can offer expert guidance on the legal process, ensuring that you understand your rights and the legal process at every step.
- An attorney can investigate the unique circumstances of your crash and collect evidence. They can also take important steps to make sure that evidence related to any incident is properly preserved.
- An attorney can hold Tesla accountable through a product liability lawsuit in order to recover money for injuries, pain and suffering, and lost income.
- An attorney can take your case to trial if need be. Most cases settle out of court. But if Tesla refuses to settle for a reasonable amount, an attorney can present your case to a jury in order to get the best outcome.
One of the greatest advantages of hiring a product liability attorney is that they work entirely off of a contingency fee basis. They don’t charge any money upfront. Instead, they only get paid by the opposing party in the event that they are able to successfully resolve your case. There is a tremendous peace of mind that comes with hiring an attorney to represent you in the event of an injury. They focus on maximizing the value of your case so that you can focus on healing.
Getting Legal Help After Being Injured In A Tesla Vehicle Fire
We at Butler Kahn extend our deepest condolences to all of the families who have lost someone in Tesla vehicle fires. The sheer number of these incidents remains deeply concerning. There needs to be a thorough investigation into the full extent of the problem. If Tesla is as committed to safety as they claim, they should take additional steps to ensure that the occupants of these vehicles can safely escape in the event of a fire.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured or killed in a Tesla vehicle fire? You may have legal recourse. Our team of product liability attorneys is committed to helping accident victims get the justice and support that they are entitled to under the law. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions for our deserving clients. This includes a $150 million verdict for the family of a young boy killed in a Jeep fire. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime for a risk-free consultation at 678-737-2499.
*Please note that we are a small firm and we handle a small number of cases. We do that so that we can devote our full time and attention to our clients. That means we can’t take every case. For example, we only handle these types of cases when they involve very serious personal injures or death. Our firm decides whether to take a case on a case-by-case basis, so there is a chance that we will be unable to accept your case, either because the injury was not catastrophic, because immunity could bar the claim, or for some other reason. If we are not able to take your case, we will do our best to analyze your case and refer you to a law firm better suited to help.
Depending on the facts of any case, Tesla could face liability if someone is killed or injured in a fire involving their vehicles. The cause of any Tesla fire could involve multiple defects with a vehicle. This could include a faulty autopilot system, which causes the vehicle to crash. It may involve defects with the lithium-ion battery pack. Of course, a defect with the vehicle’s door may trap occupants and make an escape needlessly difficult. Generally speaking, plaintiffs can assert three different types of actions in a product liability claim, including negligence, strict product liability, and breach of warranty. In negligence and strict liability cases, the plaintiff must show that the product was either defective or unreasonably dangerous.
