6 Things To Do If Your Vehicle Catches Fire

Jul 26,2016

A fiery freeway crash near Gilman Hot Springs shut down a stretch of the 79 freeway last month. According to CHP logs, a Honda and a dump truck collided on the 79 near Gilman Hot Springs, north of San Jacinto. The dump truck suffered a fuel leak, causing both of the vehicles to go up in flames.

Firefighters extricated one woman from her vehicle, and she was taken to the hospital with major injuries. It is unclear which vehicle caused the crash or if the other motorist was hurt in the fiery freeway crash. Authorities closed down the 79 between Ramona Expressway and Gilman Springs Road. Caltrans was on the scene diverting traffic to allow for the cleanup and crash investigation. All lanes except one southbound lane were back open later that day.

If your vehicle somehow catches fire while you are driving, here are 6 steps to take immediately to keep yourself safe:

Signal and pull over to a safe place as quickly as possible.
Stop the car and shut off the ignition.
Get yourself and any other passengers out of the vehicle.
Move away from the vehicle to a safe area. Get at least 100 feet away.
Call 911.
Unless you are a trained professional, don’t try to put the fire out yourself.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in a truck accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.