Car Fire Stalls Interstate Traffic in Roseville
A car fire caused extended delays on westbound Interstate 80 in Roseville on November 29. It happened in the vicinity of the Douglas Boulevard entrance ramp at around 1:00 in the afternoon. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a white pickup truck caught fire along the right-hand side of the road. The truck was thought to be a Dodge Ram, but there is no confirmation of that by authorities at this time. The two right-hand lanes were reopened about 46 minutes later at 1:46 p.m., but traffic continued to creep along due to delays on both I-80 and Highway 65. The CHP said the occupants of the pickup were removed from the vehicle, and the fire was extinguished. The CHP is investigating why the car fire began.
Car Fire Statistics
According to the National Fire Protection Association, car fires are responsible for 20 percent of all blazes. Approximately, 181,500 car fires occurred in 2018. This was up from that of the previous year, where 168,000 car fires occurred. This is accompanied by roughly 345 deaths and 1,300 injuries, as well as $1.1 billion in damages. About 83 percent of all car fires occurred in passenger vehicles, and 17 percent occurred in SUVs and pickup trucks. Approximately 10 percent occurred in other non-passenger units with freight trucks, causing about 9 percent and 1 percent in farm and construction vehicles. The main time of day for a car fire is in the afternoon and early evening from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The lowest number of car fires occur in the early morning hours from 4:00 to 6:00 a.m. The number of fires is uniform throughout most of the year, but there is a slight increase from May to August. It is uncertain whether the higher heat found during this period may be responsible for the increase. The vast majority of vehicle fires are unintentional, and the cause of 23 percent of automotive fires is never determined.
Reasons for a Car Fire
It is challenging to trace the origin of a car fire. Some of the most common reasons are:
- Roughly 21 percent of vehicle fires are due to equipment failure.
- Many such fires are due to design flaws, especially in the mechanical and electrical systems.
- Leaks in the gas tank are responsible for some fires.
- Electrical systems are the origin of 40 percent of car fires. This can include the heater, aftermarket add-ons, heated seats, or batteries.
- Tires are a source of a car fire in about 6 percent of cases.
How Overheating Can Cause a Car Fire
Overheating is a major factor in fire ignition. For example, an overheated engine can cause the temperature of various fluids to increase. This increase can cause the fluids to spill out over the engine block and ignite. Catalytic converters are another potential culprit since they tend to generate a considerable amount of heat. If the catalytic converter is not maintained, it could cause a fire. Fires that occur in the engine are extremely dangerous and responsible for about 35 percent of all deaths.
What a Law Firm Can Do
Car fires lead to devastating consequences in many cases. Our law firm makes every effort to determine the cause of the fire. To do this, we send our investigators to the scene of the accident to see why it happened. In approximately 80 percent of all car fires, it is possible to find the cause of the fire. We use experts who examine the vehicle to determine where the fire began. They check the design of the electrical and mechanical systems for flaws that may have been instrumental in igniting the fire. If the manufacturer was responsible for the fire, a liability case can be claimed. To gather more data, our investigators speak to witnesses at the scene, obtain any video footage depicting the accident, and review police reports for errors. Once the investigator’s conclusions are ready, they release them to our attorneys, who structure a strong case for the client.
Car Accident Lawyers in Roseville
I’m Ed Smith, a Roseville car accident lawyer. For over 37 years, I have helped residents of Sacramento and Roseville obtain the compensation they deserve in auto accidents. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach me online.
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I’ve helped clients in many types of injury cases, including wrongful deaths and brain injuries, among others.
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