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CASES & INVESTIGATIONS |
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GENERAL INFORMATION |
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Cars, SUVs & Truck Fires: How Fires Are
Investigated |
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| Fires are often
complex events whose origins and cause are difficult
to determine. Because of their destructive nature,
fires consume the evidence of their initiation
and progress. Important evidence can be compromised
and fire scenes are further destroyed by the
activities of fire service personnel, whose primary
responsibilities are to save lives and protect
property against further damage. |
| But
despite the difficulties surrounding an investigation
it is often possible to for trained individuals
to determine the cause of a devastating fire. |
In
addition to law enforcement and fire authorities,
there are frequently other experts called
in to investigate. They include prosecuting
attorney investigators, forensic laboratory
experts, engineering specialists (fire,
chemical, mechanical, or electrical), and
potentially private investigators representing
insurance companies, owners, tenants, and
manufacturers of the flammable chemicals
often found in homes and businesses. |
| While
the fire department has the primary responsibility
to establish a fire’s cause, if the it
is determined to be an accident, the scene
is released to the owner or the owner’s
insurance company for further examination. |
| First
the firefighters who arrive at the scene make
note the color of the flames, the color and
amount of smoke, the rate at which the fire
spreads, and even the sounds the fire makes.
These are alll clues as to what is burning
and how it is burning--because different material
burn differently. |
| Fire
service personnel protect evidence in many
ways, including by: |
- Limiting excessive
fire suppression, overhaul, and salvage.
- Avoiding needless
destruction of property.
- Flagging items
of evidence with cones or markers.
- Recording observations
through written notes or voice recordings.
- Covering items
or areas containing evidence with objects
that will not contaminate the evidence
(e.g., clean boxes or tarpaulins).
- Preserving transient
evidence (e.g., trace evidence, shoe prints,
tire impressions).
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| Once
the fire is over, fire investigators will sift
through the ashes and document the scene by
written description and photographs prior to
and throughout the disturbance or removal of
any evidence. They search for clues to the
origin and cause of the fire. |
| Investigators
are able to determine the original location
of a fire through clues such as char patterns, "direction
of melt," and heat shadows. These burn
patterns often point to the source of the fire
in tell-tale patterns. For example, fire burns
upward, in a V-shaped pattern away from the
starting point. |
| Investigators
also will try to determine exactly how the
fire stared. Causes generally fall into one
of three categories: natural, electrical, and
chemical. These causes are often determinable
with different clues. |
| The
preceding information was adapted from the
U.S. Department of Justice's National Institue
for Justice, "Fire and Arson Scene
Evidence: A Guide for Public Safety Personnel
Research Report," June 2000. |
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| Lieff
Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
LLP represents persons injured
in vehicle accidents. Click
here to submit your case. |
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"Texan's
death rekindles Ford switch issue"
March 6, 2007, Detroit News |
"Ford recalls 1.2M trucks over fire hazard"
August 3, 2006, USA Today |
"Ford Issues Recall"
August 3, 2006, San Francisco Chronicle |
"Ford recalling 3.8 million vehicles; Trucks and SUVs recalled for cruise control switch that could cause fires"
September 7, 2005, CNN/Money |
"Ford Trucks Catch Fire, Not Attention"
August 15, 2005, WFMY News |
"Ford Document: Millions of vehicles have fire risk part"
June 27, 2005, CNN |
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| Owners of the Ford vehicles who lost their vehicle
due to fire and also suffered other significant property damage (such as
the loss of their house) or were personally injured, are welcome to contact
an attorney at Lieff Cabraser experienced in handling fire recall claims
against Ford by clicking
here.
There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case. |
| You may also contact us by telephone toll free
at 1-866-313-1973 and request to speak to Ford fire recall attorney
Mark Chalos. We will also investigate vehicles made by other manufacturers
that caught fire and led to an injury or significant property damage. |
| At this time we are only accepting cases involving vehicles that caught fire and in addition to the vehicle being destroyed, other significant property damage occurred or persons were injured. Owners who wish to obtain more information about the Ford fire recall should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673 or NHTSA's auto safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236. |
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| Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, is
a national law firm of over 50 lawyers with offices in San Francisco,
New York and Nashville. |
| Our
attorneys are recognized for the successful
prosecution of lawsuits involving deaths,
personal injuries and property damage
due to defective products, including
in the field of vehicle safety. |
| Currently,
we are prosecuting multiple personal
injury lawsuits involving car, van,
pickup truck, SUV and other vehicle
accidents. We represent persons injured
and the families of victims of fatal
accidents involving SUVs, 15-passenger
vans, pickup trucks, heavy trucks, and
other passenger vehicles. To learn more
about the firm, click
here. |
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| Trademark Notice:
Vehicle Injuries.com is an electronic newsletter from Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
LLP, a national personal injury attorney | lawyer law firm. |
| Lieff Cabraser is not
affiliated in any way with any trademark owner. The use of any trademarks on
this site is for product identification and information purposes only. |
| About Lieff Cabraser:
Drivers and passengers injured in auto crashes and pickup truck and SUV rollover
accidents, or families of loved ones who died, may be eligible to file lawsuits
against other drivers at fault or against the manufacturer of their vehicle if
the accident was due to a safety defect. Safety defects can include a high risk
of rolling
over, tire tread
separation, seat
belt failures and other defects. Learn
more... |
| We have offices in San
Francisco, New York and Nashville.
Our car crash accident lawyers and auto accident attorneys have represented
clients in personal injury, auto accident, SUV rollover and vehicle safety defect
lawsuits across America, including persons living in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas,
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| Copyright © 2008 Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
LLP |
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