Lawsuits have been filed against Tesla by people who were injured or died in fires after car accidents.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Tesla induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured in a Tesla fire after a car accident, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
What is the problem?
Teslas and other electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by lithium-ion batteries. The batteries in a Tesla are lightweight and recharge quickly, making them ideal for vehicles, but the benefits come with fire risks.
Why Are Tesla Fires So Hard to Put Out?
It is much harder for firefighters to put out a Tesla fire compared to a gas-burning vehicle fire. Firefighters typically spend hours at the scene, dumping thousands of gallons of water on the burning Tesla.
Firefighters face a risk of electric shock and severe burns, because fires involving Tesla’s lithium-ion batteries can hit temperatures exceeding 5,000ºF. The burning chemicals also produce toxic gases.
Furthermore, spraying water or foam may cause a violent flare-up, or multiple flare-ups. It is not uncommon batteries in a Tesla to re-ignite multiple times after the fire appeared to have been extinguished.
Tesla Door Handles May Retract, Trapping Drivers in Fiery Infernos
Tragically, people have died when their Teslas caught on fire after car accidents. In some cases, the drivers survived the accident but died in a fiery inferno because bystanders were unable to open the doors to rescue the victim, due to the Tesla’ motorized door handles retracting.
Tesla Fire Lawsuit Blames Doctor’s Death on Door Handles
In October 2019, the family of a Florida doctor who died when his Tesla Model S caught on fire filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The lawsuit called the vehicle a “death trap” due to the inaccessible door handles, and no other way to open the doors in an emergency.
The lawsuit was filed in the Broward County Judicial Circuit Court of the State of Florida — Case Number 19-021110.
Tesla Fire Lawsuit Filed After Teenager Dies in High-Speed Crash
In January 2019, the parents of a teenager who died in a high-speed crash filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla, blaming his death on an intense fire when the batteries exploded.
The lawsuit was filed in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of the State of Florida — Case Number CACE19000422.
Tesla Fires Reported When Vehicles Are Parked
In May 2019, Tesla issued an urgent update to the battery-management software for thousands of Model S and Model X vehicles after multiple reports of fires when the Teslas were parked and unplugged. The reports included a Model S that caught on fire in a parking garage in China, and another Tesla Model S fire in a parking lot in Hong Kong.
NTSB Says Tesla Fires Pose Risks to 1st Responders
In January 2021, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a Safety Report warning that firefighters and other emergency responders may not be adequately prepared to deal with fires involving Teslas and other electric vehicles.
List of Tesla Vehicles
- Tesla Model 3
- Tesla Model S
- Tesla Model X
- Tesla Model Y
Do I have a Tesla Fire Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Tesla induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured in a Tesla fire after a car accident, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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