According to the U.S. Fire Administration, approximately 16 percent of all U.S. fires occur within vehicles, causing over 200,000 car fires each year. These fires have the potential to cause countless injuries, including asphyxiation, burns, and even death. However, most motorists remain unaware of their risks, despite the dangers and risk factors.
Are you aware of your risks? Do you know what to do if your car does catch on fire? Do you know where to turn if your family does get injured?
To protect your family, it’s imperative to not only know the potential risks, but also what to do when these risks become a reality.
Vehicle Fire Rates and Risk
Due to optional extras and electrical add-ons, as well as the desire to push cars harder and harder, vehicle fire incidents have gradually increased over the past decade. The National Fire Protection Agency estimates that 33 cars catch on fire every hour. Although not all fires are severe enough to cause bodily harm, an estimated 1,500 people a year suffer some sort of injury and more than 300 people are killed. These numbers are enough to cause driving anxiety on their own, without the need for additional statistics. Unfortunately, car fires are too commonly dangerous to stop here.
In order to truly show your risks and the alarming prevalence of vehicle fire dangers, the National Fire Data Center has created topical reports from data collected from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). This data includes the following reports to illustrate how and why vehicle fires are out of control:
- Approximately one in seven fires responded to is a highway vehicle fire.
- Fire departments respond to over 60,000 highway accidents each year where a car fire has played a significant role in the destruction.
- Eighty-six percent of highway vehicle fires occur in passenger vehicles, as opposed to commercial vehicles.
- Sixty-one percent of highway vehicle fires originate in the engine, running gear, or wheel area of the vehicle. These fires cause 35 percent of fire accident fatalities.
- Electrical wiring insulation and flammable liquids in the engine have been found to be the most common ignition points in a car fire. Approximately 28 percent of the time, fires begin when the wiring insulation ignites and burns, and 18 percent of the time, the fire begins as a result of flammable liquids igniting.
- Mechanical failure is the leading cause of car fires, contributing to over 44 percent of the incidents; second leading cause is unintentional driver error at 32 percent
Extinguishing the Fear and Anxiety After a Vehicle Fire
Car fires can be extremely dangerous, and even if you successfully escape, the odds of suffering injuries are frighteningly high. Don’t allow poor manufacturing or someone else’s mistake affect your family’s future. Contact us today for a free consultation and evaluation of your claim. You could be entitled to more damages than your insurance company is letting on. Call now to see how we can help make sure you get the full settlement you deserve.
Do you want to protect your friends and family from a car fire tragedy? Use your social media connections to keep your loved ones safe by sharing this page on your Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus profiles. You never know if it may help save a life.
