Nashville Accident Leads to Safety Improvements
An accident which occurred in Nashville in November of 2013 was one of two incidents which have prompted Tesla Motors Inc. to offer a voluntary underbody retrofit to owners of its Model S sports sedans. On November 6, 2013, the driver of a Tesla Model S pulled onto the median of I-24 South because the front end of the car had caught fire. The fire started when a tow hitch which was lying in the road punctured the vehicle’s battery pack.
The Nashville Model S accident was similar to an accident which occurred in Kent, Washington a month earlier. In that situation, the driver of a Model S ran over metallic debris in the road. The debris punctured the vehicle’s battery pack and the vehicle caught fire.
In both Model S fires, the occupants of the vehicles were able to escape from their cars without injury. In each case, when the battery pack was punctured, a display inside the vehicle indicated that battery performance had decreased and that the driver should park the vehicle. In both cases, the driver immediately pulled off of the road, parked the vehicle, and exited it. Both fires were contained in the front section of the vehicles because of the way that the Model S is designed.
Both fires were examined in an investigation by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). After the NHTSA looked at (i) the information which had been collected about the two Model S fires and (ii) the company’s plans to offer underbody reinforcement to Model S owners through a voluntary retrofit, it closed its investigation. The conclusion that the NHTSA reached regarding the Model S is that there is no identifiable safety defect trend which would necessitate a recall of the Model S. The NHTSA does recommend that vehicle owners participate in the voluntary retrofit.
The Tesla Model S is an electric car, and the battery packs are located on the underside of the vehicle, near the front. The voluntary retrofit involves installing high-strength shields underneath the vehicle to provide better protection against battery pack punctures. The original design of the underbody of the Model S encased the battery with an aluminum pan. The retrofit involves three additional pieces of underbody “armor”; a hollow aluminum deflector bar, a titanium plate, and a solid piece of aluminum that will act as a ramp, enabling the Model S to go up and over a solid object in the roadway without being damaged.
The Model S fires and the subsequent response of Tesla Motors, Inc. serve as an example of how companies can take responsibility for their products and protect the consumers who own them. Unfortunately, not all automobile manufacturers are proactive in handling concerns regarding the safety of their vehicles. Sometimes, numerous accidents and fatalities occur before a vehicle with a serious problem is recalled.
Whether you have been injured in an accident which involved a defective vehicle or a negligent driver, a Tennessee automobile accident attorney can help you to obtain the recovery that you deserve. If you or someone that you love has been injured or killed in an automobile accident, it is important that you speak with an attorney right away. The experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC will sit down with you to learn about your case, answer your questions, explain your options, and help you decide how to proceed. To learn more, call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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