Although electric cars (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular, there are significant dangers associated with this technology despite its clear environmental benefits. In this blog post, we will look at the risks related to EVs and how they lead to EV accidents. If you are involved in an EV car accident, visit this website: https://www.acelawgroup.com/.
How dangerous are electric vehicle accidents, and what should you do if you are involved in them?
Both gasoline and electric vehicles have the potential to cause fatal collisions; however, electric cars are especially vulnerable to a variety of safety issues, such as the following:
- Battery fires: Battery fires are a severe issue since EV batteries burn at high temperatures.
- Safety for pedestrians: Electric cars are almost silent. Their silent operation lowers noise pollution but also puts pedestrians at risk, especially those who are blind or visually challenged and rely on sensory input to cross the street.
- EV malfunctions: Because this technology is new, there are a lot of unknowns. EVs, especially self-driving cars, are prone to software errors or features that fail to operate as intended. Unintended acceleration is an example of this, in which the motor accelerates without notice.
- The growing reliance on self-driving vehicles: The idea of “self-driving” itself is likely to make drivers excessively dependent on technology and less alert when driving.
- Electrocution: First responders and accident participants could be at risk of electrocution due to damaged high-voltage battery cells in EVs.
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Pedestrians’ Risk of Electric Vehicle Accidents
The fact that EVs remain silent when in use is one of their significant risks. A pedestrian who may not notice an EV approaching until it is too late if at all, may suffer severe, if not fatal, injuries from an automobile, even at low speeds. The consequences can be even more severe when you consider the possibility for drivers to be intoxicated, speeding, or distracted.
According to data from the 2017 U.S. Department of Transportation, pedestrian accidents involving electric and hybrid vehicles were 20% more common. For low-speed operations such as turning, reversing, braking, and accelerating into traffic, that number increased to 50%.
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Burn risks
Although gas explosions and fires can do tremendous damage, electric cars are not always safer. Since battery fires burn hotter and persist longer, they can be just as bad, if not more so.
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Problems with an Excessive Reliance on “Autopilot” Technology
The risks involved in electric cars with assisted driving technology are yet unidentified. This may give rise to dangerous circumstances that might risk life. An example is sudden unplanned acceleration, which occurs when a voltage spike fails to be stabilized by the vehicle’s electrical system, allowing the motor to accelerate inadvertently and independently.
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Stranded on the Road
The short range of electric vehicles is a further danger. A majority of electric cars have a range of about 100 miles before requiring to be recharged; if an EV’s battery runs out while traveling, drivers may be left without food, water, or shelter, especially in remote areas with no availability of charging stations.
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Filing a Claim for an EV Accident
You might be entitled to compensation if you suffered injuries in an EV accident. However, as electric vehicles are still an emerging technology, there is not much clear legal precedence on the subject, and electric car accident claims are complex.
It can be challenging to prove the basic rules of negligence, but they do apply. If an electric vehicle strikes a pedestrian and you are hurt because you failed to see it coming, the driver’s insurance provider can claim that you might have seen the car if you had been paying more attention.
In an EV lawsuit, determining the reason and who is accountable might be difficult. Complex technology often results in complex litigation, as witnessed recently with an abundance of Tesla lawsuits. Several cases have gone in favor of the defendant even though people had been gravely injured or died in accidents.