Today’s sophisticated electric vehicles are growing in popularity as a way to reduce gas expenses and decrease carbon emissions. Although they may be effective for this purpose, they could potentially be riskier in the event of a motor vehicle accident. Continue reading to learn about electric car safety, what to do if there’s a crash, and how a personal injury attorney in Atlanta, GA can help your family.
What Happens When An Electric Car Is In An Accident?
Electric vehicles are powered by high-tech internal combustion engines that perform better on safety tests than gasoline-powered engines. But this inadvertently creates a new issue. The batteries used to store unused power are made of lithium-ion, which poses a high risk of explosion or fire.
This is due to the fact that this kind of battery is energy-dense, which means that there’s a great deal of power crammed into the small battery casing. This kind of battery performs well in an electric vehicle, but the likelihood of there being a fire in a crash is significant.
Electric Vehicle Safety Tips For Drivers
If your electric vehicle was involved in an accident, the following safety tips are recommended by the USFA and FEMA:
- Act as though the vehicle powered on at all times, even after the accident
- If you are able, take the key out and move it at least 16 feet from the outside of the car
- If you are not injured, move away from the vehicle as quickly as possible after the collision
- Contact local authorities to report the accident and any injuries that may need medical attention
- Inform the police and emergency responders that one or more vehicles involved in the crash are electric
It’s critical that you have an electric vehicle properly repaired after an accident because even undetectable damage to a lithium-ion battery can cause a delayed release of toxic chemicals and gases into the air.
Get Help Following An Electric Vehicle Crash From a Qualified Atlanta Accident Attorney
It’s important that you get experienced legal assistance after being hurt in a car accident, whether or not it involved an electric vehicle. Chalker Injury Law can provide you with compassionate, zealous legal advocacy after a catastrophic crash leaves you and your family with little to nothing left. Call our office now at (678) 319-9991 or toll-free at (800) 393-8595 to learn more.