Personal injury Library

Why Are People Suing Jeep Over Gas Tank Defects?

An Introduction to Jeep Explosion Lawsuits

After a rash of deaths and under pressure from the NHTSA, Jeep/ Chrysler have recalled millions of Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty SUVs sold throughout the 90s and 2000s. The cause of the deaths is, we believe, the improper placement of the gas tanks in these vehicles. Our contention is that they are mounted too far towards the rear of the vehicles. Our attorneys are actively seeking injury and wrongful death cases to pursue against Jeep.

Allegations

Vehicles are supposed to be designed to sustain minor accidents in such a way that passengers survive. Decades of engineering knowledge have produced simple rules about safe placement of the gas tank. If the tank is too exposed, otherwise-survivable accidents can become deadly. Most vehicles have the tank mounted in a safe area, known as the "survival zone," generally tucked in between tires, where the car designed to be the strongest. A particularly unsafe area, however, to place the tank is towards the rear because rear-end accidents are by far the most common.

We believe that the Jeep SUVs at issue here failed that basic rule. Choosing to have more cargo space in the back and the cheaper, more marketable solid rear axle, Jeep placed the gas tank at the far end of the vehicle with very little protection. The danger is simple physics---less deformable-by-design chassis material between the gas tank and an oncoming car equals more chance for an explosion.

Your Rights

Victims of this alleged design flaw can hire lawyers and file what are known as "products liability lawsuits." These suits allege that a company, like Jeep, failed to construct a feasibly safe automobile, and the vehicle caused them harm. The harm can be for person injury in the case of survivors, or for wrongful death for those who lost a loved one.

The goal of these suits is to get victims compensation for losses like:

  • Lost income
  • Medical bills
  • Emotional distress
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage
  • Funeral costs
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Disfigurement

Our Attorneys' Experience

If you or a loved one has suffered due to a rear-end collision involving a 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee or a 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty, our attorneys are here to help you hold the defendants accountable under applicable law. For the past 23 years, our attorneys have litigated and won against some of the industry's largest defendants, with success in cases involving defective throttles, explosions due to defective design, tire defects, and other design flaws.

Put our award-winning experience to work for you on a no-fees-unless-we-win basis. Call (855) 326-0000 to discuss your case with a Jeep gas tank defect attorney.

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