Miami Injury Lawyer Blog
Officials said that the fire that destroyed a Tesla electric car near Seattle on Tuesday began in the vehicle’s battery pack. This type of fire created challenges for firefighters who tried to extinguish the flames. Tesla spokeswoman Liz Jarvis-Shean stated that the fire occurred when a large metallic object hit one of the battery pack’s modules in the Model S car. No one was injured and the fire was contained to a small part of the front of the vehicle. Tesla has touted that this vehicle is the safest in America. Shares of Tesla Motors Inc. fell more than six percent Wednesday after the flames coming from this vehicle could be seen on an Internet video.
The Tesla Model S battery is a liquid-cooled 85 kilowatt-hour battery and is mounted below the passenger compartment floor. It operates by using lithium-ion chemistry, similar to what is used in laptop computer and mobile phone batteries. Companies and investors have been particularly concerned about the batteries’ fire risks, especially given the issues in Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid cars and Boeing’s new 787 planes in recent years.
According to an incident report, firefighters appeared to have Tuesday’s fire under control, when the flames reignited. The crews began to use a dry chemical extinguisher when they discovered that water seemed to intensify the fire. Responders had to dismantle the front end of the car, puncture holes in the battery pack, and use a circular saw to cut an access hole to apply water to the battery. This was when they were finally able to extinguish the fire. The driver of the Tesla believed the incident happened as a result of him striking some metal debris on State Route 167 in a suburb of Seattle. He exited the highway after he struck the debris and this is when he smelt something burning and the car caught fire. Within three minutes of the first call, firefighters were on scene.
Tesla says car fire began in battery after crash, www.palmbeachpost.com October 3, 2013
The Coral Gables product liability lawyers at the Friedland | Carmona have been consumer advocates for over two decades. Drivers must have access to safety information about the vehicles that they choose to purchase and feel safe in those vehicles as they operate them about the roadways. All too often, defects in automobiles that create safety issues are not found until it is too late. The Palm Beach personal injury lawyers have dedicated over twenty years to helping their clients recover compensation for injuries suffered as a result of a malfunctioning part in an automobile. If you or a loved one has been injured in an unsafe vehicle, call a Fort Lauderdale motor vehicle accident lawyer today at (305) 661-2008 today for your free consultation. Don’t hesitate, call today!
The Miami automobile accident lawyers at the Friedland | Carmona handle all types of motor vehicle accidents throughout the state of Florida, including Boca Raton, Homestead, North Miami, South Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, Hialeah, Kendall, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach. The Friedland | Carmona handles all types of personal injury cases, including wrongful death, defective products, medical malpractice, slip and falls and construction site injuries.