Jeep Fires Cause Deaths
Fuel Tank Defect Causes Jeep Fires
The problem is that the fuel tank is located behind the rear axle. Most other manufacturers stopped that practice in the 1970s after the Ford Pinto recalls. Now only a few types of vehicles have fuel tanks exposed to impact in a rear-end collision, one of which is the Jeep.
Chrysler Denies Fault for Jeep Fires
Despite jury verdicts and pressure from the NHTSA, Chrysler has yet to admit liability for the Jeep fires. Instead, they say their Jeeps function just as well as similar vehicles on the market. Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne testified:
Even their proposed fix won’t solve the problem. In late 2014, Chrysler agreed to recall defective Jeeps and install trailer hitches. But the NHTSA says this fix won’t offer much protection in a high-speed crash like the ones that killed Remington Walden and Kayla White. At best, they offer “incremental” safety benefits in low- and moderate-speed crashes.
Until car manufacturers like Chrysler are held accountable for using historically risky designs, Jeep fires and other automotive defects will continue to kill drivers and their children. Lemon lawyer Dani K. Liblang with The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., represents the victims of these auto defects and helps them get the compensation they deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident, contact The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., to see if the automobile manufacturer may be at fault.
