Vehicles may be equipped with side saddle gas tanks or have gas tanks which are mounted on the outside of the truck's frame; current trucks have gas tanks located inside the truck's frame. Trucks equipped with side saddle gas tanks are extremely dangerous due to lack of protection of the gas tank, and in the event of an accident the passengers may suffer serious burns and death from an exploding gas tank. The public was not made aware of the potential for serious injury and death that trucks with side saddle gas tanks posed. Many vehicles that have dangerous gas tanks can be fixed by the manufacturer for a small price, although many vehicle corporations knowingly choose to risk the lives of passengers than spend a few extra dollars to fix potential gas tank problems.

Exploding gas tank examples

Recently, General Motors (GM) settled 297 cases in which passengers involved in pickup truck accidents suffered severe burns and burn-related deaths. The company paid the victims and their families more than $495 million in settlements. The type of pickup truck involved in the horrific accidents was the C/K model. Approximately nine million of these vehicles were manufactured between 1973 and 1987 and were equipped with side saddle gas tanks. Many years later it was found that GM had been aware of the gas tank defects since the early 1970s. This is not the first time GM has gone to court for defective gas tanks; the company has previously settled gas tank explosion cases, although the amounts of those settlements have not been disclosed.

In June of 1999 General Motors was forced to pay a $4.9 billion settlement to six individuals who suffered serious burn injuries as the result of an accident while in a 1979 Chevy Malibu. The car's gas tank exploded during a rear-end accident. The plaintiffs, two adults and four children, were awarded a $107 million settlement and another $4.8 billion for punitive damages, as GM had been aware of the defective gas tank.

In June of 1978 Ford recalled approximately 1.5 million Pintos, due to a design defect of the gas tank. The gas tank made the vehicle more likely to catch fire in rear-impact types of accidents. Many people suffered serious burns to their bodies and other people died as a result of the defective gas tank of the Ford Pinto.

The Crown Victoria is a car that is used in many states as a police vehicle because of its affordable price and durable frame. Currently, hundreds of thousands of these cars are used for law enforcement purposes. Like the cars mentioned above, the Crown Victoria has a history of deadly exploding gas tanks. Exploding gas tank accidents have resulted in the deaths of many distinguished and respected police officers throughout the country, as well as the deaths of civilians. There are currently investigations being performed by the federal government into the design defects of the Crown Victoria and the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.

People who have been involved in motor vehicle gas tank explosions may suffer painful and permanent scarring and disfigurement, if they are even able to survive the accident. If you or a loved one has suffered serious burns or other injuries as the result of an exploding gas tank, you should seek the advice of an auto accident attorney immediately. You may be able to recover monetary compensation for your injuries, including medical bills, loss of wages, treatment by specialists, and other accident-related expenses.

As well, Jim S. Adler & Associates has offices at City Place Building, 2711 North Haskell Ave., Suite 2100 LB40, Dallas, Texas 75204-2887;  San Pedro Plaza, 7330 San Pedro Ave., Suite 700, San Antonio, Texas 78216-6237; and Bank of America, 12605 East Freeway, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77015-5619 (serving Channelview, Texas).