Scooter accidents are not the only type of electric-powered vehicle accident in Los Angeles. Believe it or not, passenger cars have unique problems that place occupants and bystanders at risk throughout the Golden State.

Do You Have a Case?

When you or a loved one suffers harm in an electric vehicle mishap, including an e-scooter accident, you may have a claim against the at-fault party. However, in an electric vehicle passenger car accident, there can be more than one person in the electric vehicle. In both cases, there can be more than to go after, including the vehicle manufacturer and even a government agency for failure to maintain roads and sidewalks for safe use by riders and pedestrians walking around. When that happens, you call us because we may be able to help you win damages for your pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages from your losses.

If we don’t win, you don’t pay.

Blind People Are At Special Risk From Silent Cars

Are there all kinds of new issues, like a lack of engine noise? I am Michael Ehline, a Los Angeles car accident attorney. I am an expert in California car accident law surrounding motor vehicle defects, negligent road maintenance, and pedestrian claims.

Below, my car accident lawyer team in Los Angeles and I will tell you everything you must know about electric passenger car crashes, the California Vehicle Code, and how to recover maximum financial compensation if you lost a loved one or suffered injuries. The experienced and winning Ehline Law Firm Personal Injury Attorneys, A Professional Law Corporation, have helped thousands like you with injuries ranging from head injuries to whiplash to wrongful death allegations after an auto accident.

Our best personal injury lawyers can assist the victims in fighting insurance companies while they are repairing their lives to continue living with their newfound hindrances and bodily injuries.

Pedestrians and Electric Vehicle Collisions

Electric vehicles are unlike other cars, motorcycles, and trucks. They make little sound compared to other motor vehicles. People are walking, and bicyclists usually have time to get out of the way when a car puts them in danger.

The electric car is minus the explosions that cause fuel engines to work. So they run quietly. Because of this quietude, the oncoming vehicle gives little or no warning to people on the street. A practiced car accident lawyer knows whether walking or bicycling the car might not get noticed in Los Angeles.

While this may relieve the noise and pollution, it creates a more dangerous situation for people, not motor vehicles. Most of all, blind people are at serious risk, as they rely on sound to detect cars in their area.

Car Accident Lawyer Procedure In A Nutshell (Video With Transcript)

When this kind of vehicle approaches a pedestrian or bicyclist, one of two things can happen:

1. The healthy person sees the electric vehicle’s approach and gets to safety, making eye contact with the driver.
2. Another thing that happens is that they may not see the oncoming car. If the driver gets distracted, the person on foot can get run over. Impacts like this can result in serious harm, death, and property damage.

Of course, it’s not all bad. After all, there are definite advantages to electric vehicles. They save the environment and offer long-term savings over a fuel-driven vehicle. Also, they help reduce noise pollution. These cars become more popular as gas prices rise and environmental concern increases.

This means a more significant risk for adults, children afoot, and bicyclists. Because these cars do not come equipped with a combustion engine that makes noise, it may take some time before people on foot or bicycles become aware of the danger. And despite all their technological advancements, drivers may still be drunk or hit a rider in the bike lane.

Driver negligence and road conditions remain a factor, but added problems with vehicle brakes, batteries, and safety systems that are unable to recognize EMT lightbar warnings and traffic signals can also lead to car accidents.

Electronic/Electrical Powered Vehicle Safety

The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) became aware of the lack of noise from slow-speed electric vehicles in 2013. The low noise level opened a debate over the concern for pedestrian dangers.

Incredibly unique is their potential for harm to children, the blind, or partially sighted. The disabled or elderly pedestrian or bicycle rider and anyone with headphones is a sitting duck. Any of these conditions place a person at a higher risk of getting hit by one of these EVs.

Electric cars are the most dangerous vehicle to a blind pedestrian or average bike rider due to their lack of sound. Data shows that this risk is highest when the vehicle travels at a slow speed. Whether the car is pulling into traffic after a stop at a traffic sign or signal, the danger is pronounced. People on foot are in grave danger. This risk is also high when exiting or entering parking spaces and driveways, backing up, or slowing down.

Simply put, these vehicles make the least amount of noise. They may not make enough noise for people on the streets to hear. According to the NHTSA, the risk is double during these maneuvers by electric cars.

Furthermore, the NHTSA estimates that the number of annual pedestrian collisions could be decreased or avoided. According to the NHTSA, the total number of crashes yearly is about 3,000.

Of course, this assumes the number of electric vehicles stays the same. The number is unlikely to remain at its current level. It is estimated that by the year 2040, approximately 50 percent of all traffic on the road will be electric or hybrid. The current number is about 0.1 percent, or one vehicle out of one thousand.

Conventional Models

The most common models of electric vehicles in the United States include:

• Chevrolet Spark EV.
• Ford Focus.
• BMW i3.
• Fiat 500e.
• Mercedes-Benz B-Class ED.
• Nissan Leaf.
• Smart ED.
• Tesla Model S.
• Volkswagen e-Golf.
• Owner Related Danger.

Dangerous Batteries

Another danger involves the owner rather than a person walking, bicyclists, or motorists. These vehicles have a lithium-ion battery that powers the cars. While extreme safety measures have been taken, the cells contain hazardous materials. The chemicals have a volatile nature. The chemicals react explosively when exposed to moisture, even from the air or any water.

Battery Heat

Water causes the chemicals to heat up, causing the battery to ignite and burn at over 840 °F degrees. This ignition places the vehicle owner, passengers, and any other people in danger of severe burns or death. True, it is rare for this kind of battery fire to occur, but it does happen. And the more frequent the electric car becomes on the streets, the more battery fires will occur. Then, it will cause injury or death from water, moisture, or crash.

Death by Fire?

The more these vehicles we see on the road, the higher the risk of exploding battery fire injuries, or death. It is also not a clear case of a manufacturer defect. But sometimes, several factors cause the battery to ignite rather than an error or poor design.

Failure to obey the speed limit, drunk driving, fleeing the accident scene, road rage, and electric vehicles can all mix to create severe injury or death. So, what do you do to protect yourself and your family members?

Electric Vehicle Lawyer?

If you or a loved one got hurt by the driver of this kind of vehicle, you need a pro. You have the right to be compensated. This settlement includes medical costs, lost wages, and property damages. Also, it comes along with pain and suffering and other disasters.

Here, we discussed that when electric car owners or vehicle drivers and passengers collide, owners or others may suffer harm or die. We learned that because of this, a faulty battery could ignite. However, all vehicle accidents also require investigation. But in the rare case of a battery fire, you must do a detailed initial study of the flames’ origins. Since they are reasonably new cars, they could have manufacturer or design defects. They, too, often need expert negotiation skills to fight for the settlement you should get.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Los Angeles Electric Vehicle Accident Lawyers Today

Contact our law firm to speak with an experienced electric vehicle accident lawyer for a free consultation if you or a loved one were hurt in an accident with serious injuries. You can’t afford to take on an insurance company all by yourself. You need a charismatic, skilled Los Angeles personal injury lawyer to bring your claim swiftly. It would help to have a personal injury attorney who fights to win deserved financial compensation.

Ehline Law Firm is a highly-esteemed injury law firm. We have helped thousands of clients with over three decades of combined experience. You and your family can put our proven results to work for you too. We will evaluate your claim to determine the best course of action to help you get the compensation you deserve for an at-fault electric-powered car accident in Los Angeles County, CA, by dialing (213) 596-9642.

Citations:

Ehline, M. (2016). The Evolution of the Dangerous Electric Vehicle Fire. Retrieved October 11, 2016, from Concise Research of EV and fires.

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