Gas Tank Explosion Attorney

John T. Flood is an attorney in Texas who focuses on gas tank explosion cases. Call (361) 654-8877 to get compensation for your injury caused by a gas tank explosion.

It may sound like a scene from an action movie, but a gas tank explosion is a common occurrence that alters the lives of drivers and passengers every year across the country.

Causes of Gas Tank Fires

The importance of a gas tank to a vehicle involves more than just providing the fuel needed to travel. Gas tanks are sensitive, and defects create the potential for a deadly situation.

Positioning

A vehicle’s gas tank should always be positioned in front of the rear axle. When a gas tank is improperly placed, passengers are at risk for a car fire or explosion. The positioning of a gas tank is crucial in shielding highly flammable gas from reacting in the event of a collision.

Defective Construction

In addition to physical positioning, gas tanks should also be outfitted with materials that minimize the potential for fire or explosion. Materials such as fuel cell barriers and anti-puncture shields protect a fuel tank. Automakers that fail to include these added protections, or do so with inadequate materials that cannot sustain the impact of a collision, are knowingly putting the lives of vehicle occupants at risk. Furthermore, irresponsible placement of rods and brackets with the potential to puncture the fuel tank are also flaws in construction and design that can lead to a fatal vehicle fire.

Ruptured Fuel Lines

A fuel line connects the gas tank to the engine, transporting fuel. Ruptured fuel lines are one of the most common causes of car fires and explosions, as the improper transfer of fuel within a vehicle can result in combustion.

Punctured Gas Tanks

Punctured fuel tanks are a top reason for car fires and explosions. When a gas tank is punctured, leaking fuel can easily ignite regardless of whether or not there is a collision. The impact of a collision can cause punctured and unsecured fuel tanks to combust. Fuel tank fires and explosions involve violent and fast-acting fuel agents, which can result in some of the most serious injuries associated with auto accidents.

Car Fire Injuries

Life altering injuries suffered by victims of car fires and explosions can forever change lives in the blink of an eye. Injuries sustained in car fires can prevent a person from ever working again and/or require years of intense physical therapy or prolonged medical care.

Common injuries associated with fuel tank fires and explosions include:

• Severe third and fourth degree burns
• Deep lacerations
• Amputations
• Wrongful death

Texas Vehicle Fire Lawyer

Automakers have a responsibility to consumers to ensure vehicles are designed and manufactured in compliance with auto safety regulations and guidelines. If you or a loved one has been a victim of a malfunctioning or defective fuel tank, you do not have to fight large automakers alone. John Flood has successfully handled vehicle fire claims for over 30 years and stands ready to fight for victims whose rights have been violated by negligent automakers.

Were you injured by a gas tank explosion in Texas? Call attorney John Flood at (361) 654-8877 today for a free initial case evaluation. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Gas Tank Explosions

What can cause a gas tank to explode?

A variety of factors can cause a vehicle gas tank to explode, including:

• If metal rods and brackets are placed near or around the fuel tank, they can pierce and ignite the tank during a crash
• Fuel lines linking the tank to the engine operate at high pressure and this can cause fuel to escape
• Fuel lines are not properly sealed off
• Electric fuel pumps fail to shut off in a collision
• A gas tank is constructed with subpar materials

What types of injuries result from gas tank explosions?

Gas tank explosions can cause very serious injuries and often wrongful death. Some of the most common injuries include burns, amputations, cuts and lacerations, broken bones, scarring, spinal cord injuries, permanent disability, and more.

Who is liable for a gas tank explosion injury?

The manufacturer of the gas tank, the vehicle manufacturer, a service provider that serviced the gas tank, and more can all be held legally responsible for a motor vehicle gas tank explosion injury.

How much is a gas tank explosion case worth?

No one can guess the exact value of a gas tank explosion case; however, an experienced automotive products liability lawyer will be able to evaluate the facts of your particular situation and let you know an estimated range of recovery. Various factors can affect the amount of compensation, including the severity of your injuries.

What should I do if I was injured by a gas tank explosion?

If you were injured in a gas tank explosion or a loved one was killed in a motor vehicle fire, you should contact an experienced vehicle defects lawyer like John Flood, after receiving medical care and stabilizing yourself, or by having a trusted family member reach out.